Self-healing mat - Is it beyond healing?
07-09-2012, 05:09 PM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,628
Self-healing mat - Is it beyond healing?
I know I push too hard when I cut. I also walk hard & wear out heals, chew hard and have TMJ. I think I just like to live at full speed but now it's getting serious... There's actual grooves in my self healing mat. Last night when cutting out pieces for mariner's star, sometimes the fabric would sink down into a groove in the mat - very messy. The edge of the fabric would fray as I pull it out & didn't always cut all the way through. And yes, I am using a fesh blade in my rotary cutter. Is there any way to save this mat or is it too far gone? How long should they last? I've had this one for at least 10 years.
07-09-2012, 05:17 PM
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,182
There's info on the Olfa site about how to care for your mat and increase its life - http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...tting-mat.html - apparently fibers get caught in the cut marks and keep the poor mat from healing. I need to try this on my mat too. Thanks for reminding me.
07-09-2012, 05:28 PM
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
It is entirely possible to wear out a self healing mat. I think I have gone through at least 6. Yep.... I press too hard, don't clean them as often as I should ... and cut too much in the same place... don't change my blades as often as I should all of which are bad habits.
07-09-2012, 06:28 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
If you are that hard on mats, and decide you want to replace it .. You might want to consider a different kind of mat other than self healing. I purchased a Beba ... Translucent plastic. I was also very hard on mats, but I dont have a problem with this one.
07-09-2012, 09:33 PM
#9
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,628
I know I should know better... I just never gave it much thought until it started eating my fabric! Thanks for the link Dunster - it will help me take better care of my new one, when I get it shortly.
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