My cutting mat was damaged by someone who didn't know better pressing down extremely hard while cutting outing. Can this be restored?There are from 2-3 lines of fuzz and deep cuts down one side. It's a Fiskar and like new otherwise. Thanks for any help! :(

I thought they were self healing. I press hard on mine and it doesn't do that. Maybe you should return it.

I've had this mat several years and I never leave any indication of cutting too deep altho I think I press pretty hard somtimes. This lady must have put all she had behind her strokes. I can't even imagine pressing that hard. I'll try the net solution and see what results I have . Thanks ladies! :)

Don't forget...send an e-mail to the manufacturer of the cutting mat. They have web sites and all sorts of suggestions on how to care for them. They may even offer to replace it. One think I learned, was to flip it over and use the other side as the material is the same all the way through.

June in Cincinnati

if you didn't see her using it maybe she used something other than a rotary cutter, I too press pretty hard sometimes and I don't have any scars.

I think I read somewhere that if you're using a dull rotary cutter that they will scar the cutting board. I can tell, when I see tuffs of batting or fabric stuck on the cutting board, it's time to change blades. I usually just clean the cutting board up with some netting and all is well again. I've never known a board to be 'hurt' so bad that it doesn't repair itself. I'd certainly write the manufacturer and ask for their help!

I have had fuzz lines in my cutting mat before. After cutting batting, there was quite a bit of fuzz there. I took netting and it came right off and repaired itself. Let us know if the netting helps. If not, definitely call or write the manufacturer.

What kind of netting are you all using to rub these mats down with? :oops:

I hate to have to admit this :oops: but you can actually do this to a cutting mat. When I first started quilting I am mostly self taught so was all "learn by trial and error" mostly error :lol:

Anyway I had my blade done up too tight so had to use too much force to get it to move, chopped up my mat pretty good, once I realised what I was doing just turned it over and used the other side. Am starting to see daylight in places now so is getting time to get a new one, can't complain though, it has done me 12 years since I loosened my blade :lol:

A razor knife will do permanent damage... uh, so I saw once :roll:

The netting for under skirts (can't remember what it's called) works good, but so do those fluffy bath scrubber things... I can't remember what they're called either... :lol: SUPER FINE sandpaper works well on them once in a while. (Can't remember who makes it though... :lol: )

Tulle would be the under skirt stuff...is the bath thing a loofa? loofah? well, anyway, I know what you are talking about! :D

crinoline netting is tougher than tulle. I think tulle might be too soft. You can buy the crinoline netting for about $1 per yard at Walmart.

Yes!! Tulle!! (Hang on to your memory as long as you can!! :lol: ) No, not loofah sponges. The ones that look like they're made of colored tulle, (Little girls usually try to get us to buy one of every color each & every trip to the store.... mine do at least... & they're teens!!!) :lol:

You know what I mean though... I just hope everyone else can figure it out as well as you did!!

I just know them as mesh shower puffs, but I just read the back of my shower gel, and they use the term "body pouf". Sounds like a highfalootin way to get you to spend more money. :wink:

I'm fairly suren my rotary was used to make these grim slashes on the mat. I'd been cutting fabric for her all afternoon and the cutter was cutting well. Time to go and she asked me if I'd like to leave everything there overnight. I could tell she was very interested in what I was doing and itched to get her hands on the doing. I asked her if she was going to cut anything that night and she said no. I knew she needed some supervision before cutting. The next morning she told me she had been bad and what had happened. Deep, deep slashes. I've tried all the suggestions you ladies had and nothing touches the problem - the cuts are too deep. Next I'm going to try the Fiskars Co. and I'll let you know the result. Thanks for that suggestion. Not a matter of life or death but I thought it would be nice to remedy this but I'll turn the mat over or buy a newbie. Back later and you kids are the mostest! :)

the very fine sand paper works well. don't press down to hard with it! :D

Thanks - I've tried everything but the sandpaper so far. I'll give this a good try. I did email the Fiskars Co just now and we shall see if they have a remedy. I'll post it when and if I get one. I do so appreciate all the response. :-) :-) :-)

marmar,

Mats can be damaged. I've used mine for years now and it is beginning to catch threads. They are 'self-healing' to a point. Some notions catalogues sell round mat 'buffers' or reconditioners. They are about $9, but the bath scrubbies work well as does a scrubby-backed sponge.

L

Mine was called a "lather builder". Wonder who gets paid to think up these names?

Marmar, suggestion No 1....ask her to replace the damaged mat since she admitted she was the culprit. I think, had I done that I would have offered to pay for it. Quilting equipment is not cheap, or else why did she not have her own equipment? I would be a bit more than annoyed. She took partial responsibility. Let her buy a new mat and you can give her the damaged one to practice on for a while.

I hope you get a new mat. Fiskars will respond by e-mail quickly. they did for me.

June

I agree with June. I mean accidents do happen, but if I had of damaged somebody elses property like that I would have had the new article in my hand ready to replace said damaged item. To my mind anything else is just not done.

Although I have to admit to having my gear treated like that when trying to help someone else out. So sadly have had to make a rule for myself, Don't lend anything unless I am happy to take the risk of losing it. Is very sad how some people ruin it for others.

Hello this morning! I've calmed down a bit and realize this isn't the end of the world by any means. I haven't heard from Fiskars yet and dp hope they respond. This lady has never done any sewing and I offered to help her with a baby quilt for a great grandson. She is very eager and I think will learn very quickly. She had not seen a cutter and mat used and I think the temptation was too great after I had gone home. The slashes do look better and seem to have closed a bit. I did try the netting and the sponge with scrubber to no avail. The fine sandpaper helped a bit and I use it again in the morning. I remain happy with all the response . This is a wonderful forum for us. :) :) :) :)

You can use one of those bunched net kitchen dish scrubbers too. Or you might try one of those net shower body scrubbers they are finer netting but strudy too. :)