A Buyers Guide to Self Healing Cutting Mats

The Self healing cutting mat, often overlooked and underrated but probably the most important item of any hobbyist’s toolbox. You probably already own one and realize the benefits of having one. If you don’t, then this post will give you all the info you need on self healing cutting mats.

A Self healing cutting mat is made up of millions of tiny particles that are compressed together to form a solid surface. As a blade penetrates the mat it causes the tiny particles to move around the blade. They return to their original position when the blade is removed, causing it to “self heal”.

Ok, so now you know what a self healing cutting mat is, but do you know which mat is best for leathercraft? What mat is the best value for money or how to care, clean and store your cutting mat. If you would like to find out more read my post below.

What is a Self healing cutting mat used for.

A Self healing cutting mat is used for stacks of different projects and crafts from sewing, quilting, leathercraft and model making. The mat acts as a protective barrier that is placed on top of your work surface shielding it from damage done by cutting tools. Without a cutting mat your work desk, table, kitchen counter or even your floor surface would be ruined in no time.

Rotary cutters and a normal craft utility knives can be used on self healing cutting mats, but they need to be kept sharp at all times. Blunt blades have a wider fuller blade edge and don’t allow the mat particles to move around the blade. This will cause the mat surface to retain the cutting marks and won’t self heal.

Types of cutting mats.

Generally you can separate cutting mats into 2 types of surfaces:

Soft Surface mat
Hard Surface mat

Soft surface mats are usually self healing and are made from PVC, vinyl, rubber or plastic. These mats are made up of multiple layers or plies (just like plywood.) How many layers depends on the quality of the mat. The middle layer or core layer is made slightly thicker than the outer layers as this helps to prevent the knife cutting all the way through.

Self healing mats are usually 3mm thick but can also be made as thick as 8mm depending on their use. Mats thinner than 3mm are not great for crafting and can lead to the cutting knife penetratin the mat. A rotary cutter could be used on such a thin mat as it doesn’t apply too much point pressure on the mat surface. A utility knife which is much sharper and pointed will put more pressure on the mat surface when making a cut.

Hard surface cutting mats are not really self healing mats. As their surface is hard, the cutting tool does not penetrate the surface of the cutting mat but rather skims over the top of it. Therefore no cut is made in its surface and therefore no self-healing takes place. Hard surface mats can be made from glass, timber, marble and can be used with a variety of sharp tools. These mats are much more hard wearing and last forever but will dull your blades a lot faster.

Cutting mats are made in a variety of different colours, green, blue, black, grey, white. Double sided cutting mats can have one colour on the front and a different colour on the back surface. This is good for different light conditions or if there is too much glare off of one colour. Some cutting mats are transparent or translucent and are great for using with light boxes.

If you like to do your crafting while on holiday you even get a foldable self healing cutting mat that you can buy on Amazon or art & crafts stores. Simply fold it up and pack it away and take it with you.

What size cutting mat can you buy.

Cutting mats come in standard sizes, the most poplar are 36 x 24″ or 18 x 24″ or 12 x 18″ or 12 x 9″ You shouldn’t need any bigger or smaller than these sizes. If you would like a very specific size you can get mats custom made. Here is a link to a company called Rhino Cutting mat They are a UK based company that makes custom sized self healing cutting mats.

Here is a table of the standard cutting mat sizes

Cutting board size	Measurements in mm	In inches
A0	841 x1188mm	33.1 x 46.8
A1	594 x 841mm	23.4 x 33.1
A2	420 x 594mm	16.5 x 23.4
A3	297 x 420mm	11.7 x 16.5
A4	210 x 297mm	8.3 x 11.7

Table of standard cutting board sizes

What to look for when buying a cutting mat.

You could buy a normal non healing cutting mat for as little as $8 but it will probably have to be replaced every 6 months as they are much thinner and don’t handle cuts very well. The self healing cutting mat, although more expensive, is the only way to go. (in my opinion)

Firstly, plan out your workspace where you will be working and doing most of your cutting. You and your mat need to comfortably fit into your work area without taking up too much space. You will also need to allow space for materials and tools etc. Also think about where and how you store your mat when not in use.

A good self healing cutting mat should meet the following requirements:

It should be double sided. What this means is that you can cut on either the front or back surface. Both front and back surfaces should have measurements and guidelines on them. Mats that can be used on both sides are better as they last much longer than single sided mats.
It should be non slip. This allows the mat to grip/ stick to your work surface when cutting. This will lessen the chances of cutting yourself if the mat does slip.
Should have measurements preferably in inches and millimetres. The mat should have various guidelines, measurements and angles imprinted on it.
Surface texture of the mat should be smooth and matt. If the surface is too smooth it can produce some glare and reflect light. This can cause strain on your eyes and inaccurate cutting. If the surface of the mat is too rough it might result in your blade snagging on the rough surface.
It should be a minimum of 3mm thick so that it can handle all kinds of cutting knives.
Should fit the size of your work area.
Should be easy to clean and washable to help extend the life of the mat.

How much do cutting mats cost.

Cutting mats vary in price according to size and different thicknesses that are available. Not all cutting mats are created equal. I have seen self healing mats on Amazon from anywhere between $25 – $50. That might seem expensive but they are worth every penny.

A normal non healing mat can go for a little a $8 on Amazon but you have to weigh up the fact that you will need to replace it every few months.

What tools can i use on a self healing cutting mat.

It largely depends on the crafts you are into. The most common knives used on cutting mats are the rotary wheel and utility knife. Using other heavy duty knives should be tested first to see if any damage is caused to the mat surface. Heavy duty knives like round knives could cause significant damage to the mat.

Storing your cutting mat.

1. Always store your cutting board flat when not in use to prevent it from warping.

2. Alternatively store it on a wall so that its stays flat and is out of the way.

3. Always keep your mat out of direct sunlight as it may warp.

4. Never fold, bend or roll your mat when stored. This will result in your mat becoming warped.

5. Never try to iron on your cutting board flat as it will also cause it to warp.

6. Do not leave your mat in the car in baking hot temperatures as the mat will warp. Once your mat is warped its very difficult and sometimes impossible to get it flat again.

7. Never store the mat upright on the ground on its thin edge.

8. Some mats should not be stored in very cold temperatures as they can crack and break.

What to do if my cutting mat has warped.

If your cutting mat has been exposed to the sun it can expand and become warped. It might even change size slightly but you can test this by checking the measurements on the mat. Some mats cannot be flattened once they have warped as the damage is too extensive. Others can be straightened depending what materials they are manufactured from.

I have seen some videos on Youtube where mats are gently heated to remove warps. Here is an outline of the process but i can’t guarantee this method will work for all cutting boards. Here are the steps:

Place your warped cutting mat on a flat even surface.
Place a thick cloth/ towel over the warped area of your cutting mat. The cloth should be slightly larger than the warped area.
Turn on your iron and set the temperature to its lowest heat.
Next iron over the cloth which is placed over the warped area. Check that the surface of the cutting mat does not get hot. It should be slightly warm but never hot.
Next place heavy books or weights over the ironed area. The weights or books should be larger than the warped area.
Leave the books or weights on the warped area for 1- 2 hrs.
Remove the weights or books. Check if mat is flattened.
Repeat this process from steps 2 -7 as many times as necessary.

Tips for Caring for your self healing cutting mat.

In order to preserve the life of your cutting mat you should do the following;

Rotate and flip your double sided cutting mat regularly. This will prevent you from cutting in the same areas on your mat and allow the surface to heal.
Clean your mat from time to time with cool water and a very mild soapy solution. Remove all excess strands and excess scraps off the board and wipe with a damp cloth. Dry your mat after its cleaned. This should be done at least once a month.
Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources or hot surfaces.
Never use dull/ blunt blade on your self healing cutting mat as it will cause damage to the mat surface. Replace your blades as soon as the start to go dull.

Top 4 Self healing cutting mats

Here are my choices of the top 4 Self healing cutting mats. All of these mats have a 5 star rating on Amazon and are top quality cutting mats.

Conclusion

There you have it, all the info you need on a self healing cutting mats. Hopefully you can now make an informed choice when buying one. Hope you found the post useful and learned something new at Leathercrafttoolbox.