Olfa cutting mat
 

My sister had just bought a big Olfa mat, when she passed away, I got it. It's been in the cardboard box it came in for the past 2 years. Started using it a couple of days ago, changed my blades three times and it keeps skipping threads when I cut. Can this be the mat?

It should be a nick in your blade......so try cutting on another mat to confirm. If blade fine, see if your mat has truely flattened. Being rolled in a box for 2 years may need time to unwind and lay flat.

you can soak the mat flat if necessary. usually done after many cuts done on it. I have really had mine for twenty years or more, still fine. check the blade.

The three blades I changed were all from different packages. The mat was flat all the time, not rolled. It has hardly been used. I've had a Fiskars for years, but have used it for cutting fleece blankets for the church. Will probably have to get that out again.

Does the soaking make it a little softer?

I think the point Jane was making is that after its been rolled for 2 years, while you might think it's flat it might not be laying completely flat.

Like nativetexan, I've had mine several for more than 20 years and they are all fine to cut on.

It was never rolled, laid flat all the time in a flat box made just for a mat. Or does rolled have another meaning.

I've never had that problem with any of my Olfa mats. By any chance, might you have two blades stuck together when you are putting them in to your cutter?

Could it be your table? It's easy to check...take your 24" ruler and stand
it on its side so it's perpendicular to the table and see if there is a gap
(usually in the middle). It there's no gap, do the same thing with the mat
on the table.

It could be that it needs it's moisture rejuvenated. Here is the link to soak your mat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cyd4jJTmek

Try flipping the mat over and cut on the side without the lines. See if that makes a difference.
Nothing is more frustrating than having a tool "misbehave"!

https://www.olfa.com/media/video/qui...-Use-Care.html
said to keep it supple. they hand out this info at quilt shows so lots of quilters take care of their mats this way.

I agree it could be the surface your mat is on. Weird but it does matter. One mat at our sew group no one could cut on, skipped cuts, awful. We moved the mat to a different table surface and there was no problem with the cuts. We still don't know why. I have a rotary cutter that won't cut fabric, even with a new blade. I keep it in my quilting supplies to show others at classes. They can't believe it. Some even put new blade of their own in it. Still doesn't cut. ?????

Yes, this has happened to me at a quilt shop when the mat was on a plastic folding table. Those surfaces are not always flat.

Soaking it should help, I think the drying out theory might be right! Hope it works for you!

Have you tried turning the mat over and using the other side?

I have cleaned mine but never knew to soak it thanks for the tip. Only been 12 years. LOL.

I love my Olfa mat. I have two. One I've had from the beginning and it is about 20 years old. The other I got from a friend who used it a lot and it probably is at least 20 years old as well. That one is a large one. I've never had any problems with either. My hunch is it could be the surface that you have it on. If it is a large one and there is a bow or uneven surface it might affect the cutting. I always make sure I have a good solid surface to put them on. I had a Fiskars mat as well a few years ago and it warped in the first year I had it even though I stored it properly and kept it out of sun etc. If I ever got another mat I'd get an Olfa given the good service they've given me.