Cutting mats

**Bothwell Voyageur** · 01-03-2019, 19:33

Anyone suggest an alternative to the expensive mats for use with a rotary cutter?

I have a small one but ideally I would like something 8-10ft long at least so that I don’t have to shuffle it along under my fabric. I have board laid out on the floor but it seems to dull blades pretty quickly.

Tried the underside of some vinyl flooring but it was too soft. Maybe I can find a smooth vinyl so I can use the top side.

**SteelPlayer** · 01-03-2019, 21:44

I use a 26X36 cutting mat and a technique of creative folding. I see no reason to have a larger mat than I can't accurately make a cut on.

Besides I don't have a work space large enough to do a single 10' cut. Assuming I did I would probably be using a plywood bench and an industrial size cutting mat.

**HoosierT** · 01-03-2019, 21:48

Tempered hardboard work great and it’s dirt cheap at your local store.

**MAD777** · 01-03-2019, 22:03

I bought a 2ft X 4ft plastic, 1/8" thick from US Plastics. It was amazingly affordable, even with shipment. Good company too.

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**GilligansWorld** · 01-03-2019, 22:06

Dollar store roll up cutting boards for kitchens.

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**MoldyFrog** · 01-04-2019, 01:40

I'm there for creative folding as well to work with my 2' x 3' board I have. Fold and cut it generously with a few extra inches. Then re-measure, mark and more accurately hand trim to size. It's easy for me to get an area of the living room or kitchen open enough for a 8' or 10' length as long as it's not too wide.

I've looked at the giant custom roll-able cutting mats that companies will custom make but they are not cheap or at least too rich for me. Hardboard is what is usually mentioned although that will eat the blades faster than a self-healing mat will.

**Rifleman** · 01-04-2019, 07:46

I use one of the white cutting boards from Sam's (I think they are HDPE).

**Bothwell Voyageur** · 01-04-2019, 10:03

Thanks for the responses, unfortunately nothing that really meets my needs though maybe I will give the plastic a go. I'm making long straight cuts against an 8ft aluminum ruler and since I have to lay the fabric out for marking I don't want to have to then fold it back up for cutting. I like not having to lift the wheel off the cut line once I get going.

**slugbait** · 01-04-2019, 10:37

One distinct advantage of a cutting mat is the fact that there are grid lines on the mat- these are very useful. In my she-cave I have an old drafting table covered with a 3'x5' mat- I love it.

**HoosierT** · 01-04-2019, 14:03

Originally Posted by Bothwell Voyageur

Thanks for the responses, unfortunately nothing that really meets my needs though maybe I will give the plastic a go. I'm making long straight cuts against an 8ft aluminum ruler and since I have to lay the fabric out for marking I don't want to have to then fold it back up for cutting. I like not having to lift the wheel off the cut line once I get going.

Did you take a look at the tempered hardboard I mentioned? it's a 4'x8' sheet that has worked very well for me with both a rotary cutter and a razor blade (cutting DCF).