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-   -   I just cracked my cutting mat! (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/i-just-cracked-my-cutting-mat-t224131.html)

q.alba 06-20-2013 08:03 AM

I just cracked my cutting mat!
 
Darn! I dropped my Olfa cutting mat and it cracked about 12 inches in on one end and the crack is about 4 inches long. I can work around it and it could have been worse but how aggravating!

tessagin 06-20-2013 08:19 AM

That bites! Almost as bad as dropping a good pair of scissors! Bent the tip, took it to a blacksmith who tried to get the tips back where they should've been but never were the same. Pitched in file 13.

BellaBoo 06-20-2013 08:24 AM

The mat was dried out! Keep you self healing mats like new by soaking in room temp water over night and air dry. I give my mats a good soaking once a year.

QuiltPat 06-20-2013 09:11 AM

Ohh! Try this: turn over and smooth split back together, cover itch duct tape, turn to front and then weight it down overnight with books. This should extend the use.

IQ2 06-20-2013 09:44 AM


Originally Posted by BellaBoo (Post 6133361)
The mat was dried out! Keep you self healing mats like new by soaking in room temp water over night and air dry. I give my mats a good soaking once a year.

where do you soak it? My mat is 24x36 and my tub wouldn't fit it flat.

SmickChick 06-20-2013 09:59 AM

One of mine is cracked too. I figure I should take it to the table saw, and reduce its size. At Paducah there was a vendor that handed out tutorials/hints/etc. on soaking your matt in the bath tub. I guess that mine was dry also.

narnianquilter 06-20-2013 11:07 AM


Originally Posted by IQ2 (Post 6133481)
where do you soak it? My mat is 24x36 and my tub wouldn't fit it flat.

I soak mine in our kids pool every summer! It's kinda funny to see but we get the big plastic pool each year for like $10 and the kids love it. So while it is up, I just dump the mat in and let it soak! Put it in in the am, the sun keeps the water warm and then I pull it out before we go to bed that night!

Tartan 06-20-2013 12:00 PM

My 18 inch mat has a piece of packing tape on the back to keep the crack from growing. I soaked mine and it still got dried out but it is about 20 years old so it will soon need to be retired.

Jingle 06-20-2013 12:58 PM

I don't have a place big enough to soak my mat. They weren't soft when I bought them. I have had them for about 13 -14 years.

mudose8 06-20-2013 03:44 PM

Mine had a crack that eventually broke off. I think I used E-6000 or something like that and glued it back together, weighted it down till it dried. Thanks so much for the tip on soaking the mats, never new that!


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