Green self healing cutting mat

Pinkbooger

I am moving my model building inside so I am going to need to get one. Does Hobby Lobby sell them?

 

I am moving my model building inside so I am going to need to get one. Does Hobby Lobby sell them?

I couldn't build with out mine I do need to get a new one I went to put my touch-n-flow into a  bottle of tenax while not looking and ended up knocking it over needless to say the mat didn't like it and it ate a hole right through it

I like the self healing mat because it keeps blades sharper longer and the tips don't breakoff the blades as easily as they do on glass or other hard surfaces.  I also buy a couple of clip frames at the dollar store.  I use the glass and backing for different cutting needs.  I've had my mat for years.  And for a buck or two, these clip frames are great for my needs.  They're recyclable too.  FSM even used my clip frame suggestion in their Reader Tips section a while back.

https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=645&ei=868RWpuyOoWB0wL2j7LoBw&q=clip+frame&oq=clip+frame&gs_l=img.3..0l9.1356.3871.0.4135.12.11.1.0.0.0.234.1059.0j7j1.8.0....0...1.1.64.img..3.9.1065...0i5i30k1j0i8i10i30k1j0i8i30k1.0.QYeufiLW8cw#imgrc=fFiADPtos2-1UM:

You can soak them in water overnight to heal the cut marks. I do this to mine about every year.

Hi Fermis . 

 I also have a piece of alabaster colored Marble that I will use occasionally . It is great , But I am still using tempered glass . Basically .

Aha !

   I too have that ubutiqous green Mat . Mine is five years old and almost looks unused .

 I got it because I needed something gentler on my blades than Tempered glass .

  T.B.

Tojo72

It makes my bench look cool.

 

Truth told, I do have one, but it's under a sheet of 1/4" glass...so it really isn't doing anything other than looking cool! The grid does come in handy from time to time though. Having worked on various surfaces over the years...I do not see myself ever using anything other than glass.

I got a white mat online that covers most of my desk. I think the name is something like cutting mats online or something similar. As I recall, they will do custom sizes. I like the contrast with white for most of my plastic parts.

My mat is blue.

My . I use the green mat for almost everything as was said above. I also have a small round glass cutting board ( ~ 12")  that I got at Giant food store for a couple of bucks that I use for cutting masking tape strips for seat belts and canopy strips. I also use it when working with CA glue. Put a puddle on the glass and use a dental pick to transfer to parts. When the remaining CA hardens, just pop it off with a chisel blade. Same thing goes for hand painting small items. Put a drop on the glass instead of working from the bottle. When it dries, scrape off with chisel blade.

Jim  

Yep, i think they really do help. I recently got a new one and opted for a large one, 36x24 inches. But i also have a small one i use for cutting labels and i can keep that clean.

I also have a large sheet of clear plastic on top so i don't get glue or paint on the mat.

I do a lot of scratchbuilding, so I really like the grid printed on it for generally keeping things square. I go through one a year. My latest one, I spilled a bottle of thinner on it and its all warped. Need a new one.

The self healing mats have several benefits,

It keeps your blades sharper longer.

It keeps your cutting surface smooth since you are not scratching/cutting into a surface that does not "heal".

The printed on grid and rulers come in very handy for cutting masking tape.

It does not leave any residue on masking tape.

Your blade does not slip when cutting unlike cutting on glass.

They last for years.

I would also recommend a glass surface to cut on as well.  It does not have to be large.  A sheet of glass from an picture frame approx the size of a sheet of paper will do.

Cutting on a glass surface will allow for more precise cuts when using templates such as circle templates or similar.  The glass will dull your blade faster.  Your blade can slip mid cut so you have to take care and go slower.  Also you can create a light box that your glass can sit on so you can allow light to pass through for all sorts of cutting needs where you need to see through your cutting medium.

Any cutting I do on the mat is PE and making strips of masking tape. On occasion I'll trim very small pieces on the mat using the flat rubber surface to hold the piece. Pretty much everything else is done in my hands shaving with and xacto. I cut the pieces off the spure with cutters.

Most of the cutting I do is taking pieces of the sprue or cleaning up pieces which is mostly done while holding everything. Is that the kind of cutting you are referring to? I guess it would be nice to have something to cut on instead of a towel on top of a wooden bench. 

Pinkbooger

I will take a look the next time I am out shopping. Who has the best price on them or is it pretty much the same everywhere?

 

Pretty much the same but at HL you can use the 40% off coupon.

Before the mat I used one of those thin flexable cutting boards you can get from a dollar store to do my cutting....I think I got it from a dollar store, but they are inexpensive either way.

I will take a look the next time I am out shopping. Who has the best price on them or is it pretty much the same everywhere?

I'm like Steve, yep, have two of them, one at home and the other here at the shop.  Keeps knife nicks off the formica tops.  They will show cuts, but I usually will flip it over and only cut on one side.  I like 'em for building frames on kits that all the frame pieces are separate, lets me square everything up when glueing.  Next time in HL, take a look, they carry two or three sizes.  Not one of the necessary things but nice to have at times.

I've had my green mat for years. My workbench is a large folding table with a hard surface. Cutting directly on the table would ruin the table and ruin the X-acto knives. I would never give up my green mat. 

I finally bought one of those mats a year ago after 51 years of building.

Does it help?, Yeah, I guess so. It keeps my tabletop from getting damaged to a point and it helps me keep everything in one place somewhat.

Is it self healing? No, I see every cut I made.

Do I like it? Yep.

Can I do without it? Yep.

Would I buy one again? Yeah, if I had a spare $20 looking to be spent and I didn't need it for paint or other items.

Don't worry about your questions PB, it's good to knoe there are people picking the hobby up and we all had the same thoughts and questions.

Steve