Rotary cutting boards and rotary blades

[Stargreen]

which mat lasts the longest? How can I make my mat last longer? My rotary cutter is going dull too quickly. From what I saw on a tutorial it may be the mat and not the cutter.

[Stargreen]

As a follow up, which mat and cutter does Jenny use in the tutorials? How often are each changed. I want mine to be that easy!!!

[bubba]

I had my last mat for well over thirty years and there really was nothing wrong with it....I just wanted a bigger one and I wanted it to be a Martelli. They are made to be used in fabric stores/quilt shops so I know, well hope, I will never have to replace it. Plus, it's reversible!

[K. McEuen]

Make sure that you get a self-healing mat. Some mats that are sold are harder plastic type and those will dull a blade badly the first time you use it.

[Bubby]

Trying not to cut in the exact same place all the time will help your mat last longer. Also, occasionally wipe your mat down with a damp cloth. My cutting mats last for years and I do a LOT of cutting. Remember to store your mats flat. I hang mine on the wall behind the door of my sewing room.

[Carrie J]

Self healing is key, mine have all been switched out and are double sided, so many long hours of usage now.

[RiverMomm]

Self healing is the way to go. A lot of people rave over the Martelli mats. If money isn't an issue, then buy this brand. Martelli does have occasional sales. Martelli Catalog: Cutting Mat, Large, 26" x 38"

I have an Olfa mat and very happy with it. Amazon.com: OLFA 9891 RM-MG 24-Inch x 36-Inch Self-Healing Double-Sided Rotary Mat: Home Improvement

Fiskers also offers a cutting mat. I don't know the quality of these mats. Amazon.com: Fiskars 24X36 Inch Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat

I remember a while back, a forum member saying she bought a cutting mat that was white and it dulled her blades very quickly. I don't remember the brand but maybe it was a mat to protect the table and not one to use rotary cutters on?

Check your mat and see what brand you have. If you have one of the self-healing mats, then check to make sure you only have one blade in your cutter. This might sound funny, but those blades really stick together. If you have two blades, they will dull and cut badly very fast.

If you decide to invest in a new cutting mat, I will give you the best advice someone gave me when I first started quilting: Buy the biggest mat you can afford. Did I listen then? No. Did I have to reinvest and get a bigger mat later? Yep.

[mpattylou]

The white mats that Joanns sells don't seem to last long. I went thru 3 before I quit buying them (I know...I am a slow learner, but I did like their size -- x 60"...they come rolled up in a box). Self-healing is a must. The 24 x 35 (or is it 36) is a good size.

[toggpine]

The mat I currently have must be close to 20 years old. It is one of the opaque/white ones. I have nearly cut the lines off of it. Granted at 20 years old, it may very well be made of different materials than the ones on the market today. It is very close to being retired to something else as it has some deep tracks in it from repeated cuttings at the same points over the years.

I do have an olfa (green) one. I didn't like the way the cutter seemed to sink into the mat. Now, again, it could be I just haven't used it enough, or that it's 10 years old and it hasn't been cut on more than a handful of times and I'm not used to the feel of it.

The other thing that can dull your blade is excessive pressure. Use the lightest touch necessary to cut through the layers of fabric. I'd also agree with buying the largest mat you can afford or fit. You can always turn the mat to use the other side if you can only reach half of it.

[RockinLou]

I have Olfa mats and Fiskars, same with the cutters!

I prefer my Olfa, and one of my mats is 15 years old! It is still just fine to use, and gets lots of use and love. I have had he same rotary cutter for just as long and adore it.

My Fiskars mat works fine, but it feels stiffer, or harder, compared to the Olfa, and so I think that would dull blades more quickly.

As for cutters, I like the ergonomics of the Olfa more than the a Fiskars, though I really think this is a personal fit kind of question. It's probably that I like the weight and feel of my ancient Olfa cutter because it's what I learned to rotary cut with all those years ago!