Cutting surface

**acctingman** · #1 07-10-2011, 07:11 PM

What do all you pros use as a "cutting surface" for when your cutting up your kits?

Thanks!

**goodduck** · #2 07-10-2011, 07:17 PM

Cutting mat you get from art and crafts store.

**rickstef** · #3 07-10-2011, 07:32 PM

self sealing cutting mat, they come in various sizes, and colors, and you should be able to find them in craft stores, or hobby stores or order the mat online

Rick

**n810** · #4 07-10-2011, 08:15 PM

I first started with a piece of glass. DO NOT DO THIS! It will only lead you to a model ruined by blood and some stitches.

**Zakopious** · #5 07-10-2011, 08:21 PM

I use a translucent Chop Chop kitchen cutting mat which I purchased at a drugstore.
These are available for about $4 where ever kitchen supplies are sold.
I have used mine for several years and it shows signs of use but is still good.

See:
Amazon.com: Chop & Chop Flexible Cutting Mat Set - 11 × 15: Home & Garden

However, I score on a cardboard pad.

**Sakrison** · #6 07-10-2011, 10:10 PM

I use a craft store cutting mat on top of a piece of 3/8 inch glass. The mat is good for cutting; the glass provides an absolutely flat surface for assembly, alignment, and so on.

**opalmox** · #7 07-11-2011, 10:03 AM

I have a glass mat for photos that I use, and I also have a couple of self mending cutting mats that I use, just depends on where I'm at, and what I'm working on at the time.

In the past, I've used old folders as a mat... I wouldn't recommend this as it will eat up blades in a hurry, but works in a pinch, especially if I have an idea that I want to try out real quick.

**SCEtoAUX** · #8 07-11-2011, 10:31 AM

Yep, some self healing cutting mats for cutting and the stiff cardboard backing from a pad of paper for scoring.

**doctormax** · #9 07-11-2011, 10:40 AM

A cutting mat for the first models i build i used the back of a rubber magnetic fridge calendar no so great it was getting cut anyway but it done for that first model. for a ruler i used some bands that steel arrived in till i went and bought myself steel rulers on ebay. it was crazy it was cheaper to buy two steel rules from China than buy one in a shop in Ireland. So i got myself two eight inch steel rules need them to as i forget where they land after i fire then at my co resident mouse

**rockpaperscissor** · #10 07-11-2011, 01:12 PM

I started out using a glass sheet. Although I now use a self healing mat as a cutting surface, I think glass makes a cleaner cut since it is a hard surface, but it kills blades quicker. One time on vacation, I forgot my mat, and used a sheet plastic spiderman placemat purchased at the dollar store. Only cost a buck, and it worked pretty good.