Olfa mat not 'healing'

[Dalronix]

I bought a rotating Olfa mat last week and yesterday I noticed that a cut I made in it hasn't 'healed'. Do some cuts take a while to close up?

I have been using a 24 x 36 Olfa mat since July this year when I starting quilting and it doesn't have any lasting cuts in it that I can see.

[K. McEuen]

How new is your rotary blade? If it is older, it may be leaving a bigger cut and pressing tiny little threads into the cut because you are having to press harder. Either that or you are cutting in the same place several times is all I can think of.

[Dalronix]

How new is your rotary blade? If it is older, it may be leaving a bigger cut a....

The same one I've used since July, Karen. I haven't changed it because I haven't noticed any loss of cutting ability.

I will change the blade today; I don't want any more permanent cuts in my very expensive Olfa rotating mat.

[starlover]

I lent my mat to a friend and got it back with a deep crease in it. Had read that using a nylon scrubby would remove any hidden threads and let the mat heal, It worked! I was stunned, but now have a scrubby in my quilt supplies. I used one of the crochet kitchen scrubbers, but I'd assume the ones for a bath would work as well.

[Sandy Navas]

I've also read that if you put them in the bathtub with soapy water and scrub then dry and lie flat they will 'heal'. I think Karen's idea of the blade change is great! I was cutting something today and kept going back and forth over a spot that just wouldn't cut right . . . YUP, you got it - there was something pinned to the fabric and I was trying to cut through the pin. There goes another blade!

[Dalronix]

...Had read that using a nylon scrubby would remove any hidden threads and let the mat heal, It worked! I was stunned,....

I'm stunned too! You and Karen are right: almost microscopic threads in the cut. The nylon scrubby (being an MM (Mere Male) I had to Google that! ) got the bits out.

Thank you, folks.

[Granny Judy]

Adding the scrubby info to my tips!! My mat is really getting up there in age and needs a good scrub!!

[Dalronix]

It's completely healed now! I checked it with a magnifying glass and can't find where the scratch was.

Judy, I did use a teeny amount of water with the scrubby (I used a bath/shower one - thankfully my daughter is here for the holidays and was asleep when I used it). I don't know if that was the right thing to do or whether it not it helped.

If I seem excited it's because I am. I don't like damaged things.

[HandsomeRyan]

I learned something today. Great information being shared here.

[Madeforyouinma11]

I learned something today. Great information being shared here.

Me too! I have a couple of cuts that didn't heal and I just thought it was from using it so much. I am going to try the nylon scrubbie and see what happens.
Thanks for the great info!