Question about cutting mats. Some claim to be self healing but cost twice as much. What type to do use and/or recomend? Ta, Lyn. xx

The green Olfa to me is the best and is definitely self healing, been using a rotary cutter for the last 22 years. Do not know how to cut with scissors any more! I stll have the old plastic cutting board but it is getting brittle now!

All the cutting mats I've seen have claimed to be self healing. The ones that are colors like green or pink give off fumes that give me headaches. I can't even walk by them in the stores. I have white ones that are of a different plastic than the green ones. One of them I've been using for 12 years and have been cutting on the same spot on it. I've been noticing that sometimes threads are getting caught in it so it must be getting grooves. So I just turned it around and am cutting on the other side of it. I paid $75 for it, but it doesn't make me sick.

I have the 87x57 self seal, on part of my working top. Must say that it is great. I used to also have a long cutting runner, which was cut to fit the whole top, but when I had a fire in my sewing room it had to be thrown out. Must get another. hugs Yvonne

I have the green ones by Olfa, and it is amazing how they self seal. My cutting table is topped with them. I bought them at Joann's using the 40% off coupons, so that was not too bad. My cutting desk top, has a back flip up, to add another 8 inches to the depth. I have mats that I can reconfigure to cover the top if it is open and large, or closed and smaller. This is an old computer desk, that my husband hired a friend to convert just how i wanted it to be a cutting table. It is wonderful! But, it's never this neat - not anymore!

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1 comment

by ramona 29 Aug 2012

I have fiskars and olfa and bought them with the coupons at Joanns. Gotta love those coupons. Hey, Christmas is coming....pass the word...maybe Santa will bring you one.

I have 2 cheap $6 self healing mats which are marked in centimeters about 56cms x 56cms that I bought at the Reject shop.One is under my machine & the other is on my bench.They are used to protect the wooden surfaces ,from paint ,nail polish ,rotary cutters & any other messy craft that I might do & are still in good nick

1 comment

by lilylyn 28 Aug 2012

I have 2 of these as well and use them for cutting also. They are great for the price.

I HAVE A DRITZ ONE IT IS 36 INCHES BY 30 INCHES AND IT SITS ON MY TABLE AND I USE IT EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE .IT IS MAYBE 5 YEARS OLD AND LOOKS NEW .I CAN'T SHOW YOU A PIC AS MY CAREMA IS AT CAMP LOL

I have a fiskars 16 x 22. My only complaint is I didn't buy one big enough...I got it not thinking I would use it much. Boy was I wrong.

You get what you pay for. The self healings are much better. Rachel

I like the self healing...for example if I use my plastic mat to cut fabric the threads from the cut edge actually get caught in the sliced part of the mat and makes it harder to remove the fabric. Also it kind of pulls more threads loose and distorts the fabric slightly. With a self healing the slice closes up right away and doesn't snag the fabric threads. Clear as mud right?
Muffy :)

I have both plastic and self healing. The self healing are so much better to use with the rotary cutters. I also like the rotating when doing cut-outs. I do not think there is much of a difference between brand names. Have fun cutting! Live Laugh Download Stitch!