does anyone have any feedback on those self healing matts from speed-cut?? i use a pc of 1/8 sintra but seem to go thru them every few months...after turning them around and over. guess i'm just a madwoman with those exacto knives! thanks for any input.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
One shop went to a commercial refrigeration supply house and bought some of that heavy poly strip stuff they hang in the doorways. Evidentaly it comes in rolls and is custom cut into strips for the doorways so that the forklifts can drive thru. He covered his benches with it and it holds up beautifully!
Just a thought!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
I've had one on my weeding table for probably three years now and it's still performing fine. I do a lot of cutting amberlith and Edge positive material as I paste up multiple images for my screenprinting. I'm not sure who manufactured the particular one that I have though. It is marked in inches and has a full grid printed on it. Before buying this I was doing the same thing you are except being a screenprinter Ive had a large variety of plastics to try first. The matt works the best hands down. You might shop around. I've seen simular products at local fabric supply stores also. I have no idea on the priceing though.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1358 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
the one i saw in speed press catalogue has the grids on it too...i think it's about $90 and its 165 gauge w/ grids...i think i'll have to order me 2 of those.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I got one, a 4x8 with ruled grid for my bench top and I don't know how I ever worked without it. The same day I bought a couple of those extruded aluminum rulers with non-slip backing. What an improvement.
You'll never regret it. I have 2 of the gridded ones on 4x8 tables and can cut anything, anytime, without damaging my table or my knife. The grids eliminate 90% of layout lines, too, if I tape the blank(s) in place.
-------------------- Best Regards, Mark Smith EstiMate Sign Pricing Software It's Not Luck. It's EstiMate.™ http://www.EstiMateSoftware.com 1-888-304-3300 Posts: 724 | From: Asheville, NC, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have 3 of them. They are 4 x 8 with 1" grids. The oldest one is about 5 years old and gets cut on daily. Not the same brand you're mentioning though.......not sure if I should mention suppliers names or not. If you want to know I'll e-mail you the name and web address. I think they cost about $130
-------------------- Ace Graphics & Printing Camdenton, MO. USA
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I bought one and it's worth every penny. Works great and blades stay sharper. I'm new, so not sure I can post name of place I got. E-mail me if you want. They custom cut it for me and sent me the extra pieces. The measuring grid goes underneath and is optional.
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Got my 2 for about $90 - $100 each from product sign supply. I also love it, don't know how I got along without it. I was told they don't reccomend rolling it to ship. Since I can't drive someplace to get my sign supplies, I had to wait untill I was getting a 4x8 pallet of substrates shipped in. I do have a substrate supplier locally so it took a year untill I needed a 4x8 pallet, figured I'd get 2 mats cause of the logistics. I got them 1 on top of the other & at the rate its going I'll never need the second one unless I build another 4x8 cutting table. By the way I was short on clean storage space for extra sintra sheets that seem to be around a long time before getting used, untill I finally figured out I could put several sheets under my cutting mat. For such an obvious solution I'm surprised it took me 5 years to figure it out.
posted
Not to get off topic, but I thought I'd mention an alternative table top. I got some used sliding glass doors for free, so I removed the aluminum trim and found that each door was double paned, so I separated the panes, and made a tabletop to fit. It's 34" wide x 6 ft 5" long, and works quite nicely. I painted the plywood under it white and drew a grid every 6" with a fineline marker. If I had the room I could have made one 12'10", or even longer since I had 4 panes to mess with. Ended up giving the other pieces to another shop so they could make one too. In retrospect, if I had made the framing differently, I could have sprayed the back with translucent white and turned the whole thing into a big light table. At any rate, the glass works fine for cutting. I also use a piece of that quilted rubber matting to put under panels to keep them from sliding around ...its the stuff they sell for shelves at RV stores and flea markets.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I love working on glass myself, however the place I work now likes the mats that we are talking about also. In five years I think we have gone thru 3 counting the one I have now. I make a ton of showcards and tons of cutting all day long. The first lasted about a year. I learned not to cut so hard and they last quite a bit longer now.
They are nice to work on , I have never bought the kind with lines just mark on them with a stabilo.
We have a 5 x10 and a 4 x 8.
-------------------- Al Checca The Sign Shoppe 934 Wood Street Latrobe PA 15650 Posts: 34 | From: Latrobe PA Just outside Pittsburgh PA | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey Karyn, We just ordered 2 new ones for our 4x8 tables... one of our guys spilled paint on one (stained)...but they both neede to be replaced anyway...we order them thru SPEEDPRESS.... 2x4....$21.95 4x8...$89.95 4x10...$119.95 5x8....$119.95 5x10...$139.95 I think these prices are current but check? ... 1800-647-7446 on the web www.speedpress.com Good Luck Rick@Trick
-------------------- Rick Whitmire Trick Communications & Signs Box 1124, Hudson, WI Posts: 132 | From: Hudson, WI | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you are cutting with a knife, I prefer glass.
I use the mats though, because it allows the use of an Olfa Rotary Cutter. The Olfa is so much quicker and easier than a knife, as long as you are not doing detailed cutting. I also think the mats last longer using the Olfa. My SpeedPress mat is 5 years old, and still going. I did flip it over last year.
-------------------- Don Hulsey Strokes by DON signs Utica, KY 270-275-9552 sbdsigns@aol.com
I've always been crazy... but it's kept me from going insane. Posts: 2316 | From: Utica, KY U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 1999
| IP: Logged |
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic