Cutting battlemats?

[Sir Clausel]

Hi everybody

 

Does anybody have any experience with this? The ones with a rubber bottoms like this?

 

Which way is easier? Knife or scissors? And does the cut edges fray after? if so is it smart to burn the edges to prevent it?

Edited October 6 by Sir Clausel

[Firedrake Cordova]

Disclaimer: I've never done this, so what follows could be "nonsense".

 

I'd imagine a sharp craft knife (or box cutter) and a steel ruler would give a straighter cut than scissors, although it might be better to do multiple partial-thickness cuts with light pressure, rather than one full-thickness cut with a lot of pressure.

 

I'd imagine the edges of the neoprene layer were liable to fraying once cut, although I'm not sure how to prevent that "safely".

[Sir Clausel]

Yeah that exactly what i thought to. But hopefully someone has done it before :)

[Sky Potato]

Brand new scalpel blades, and a long metal straight edge? I’d use a long spirit level. And as Firedake has identified, multiple light cuts.

 

I would suggest a hot knife, but I’ve no idea how neoprene would respond to heat cutting. The hot knife will seal the fabric on top of the neoprene to stop it fraying. Maybe get a cheap mousemat to try both a scalpel blade and a hot knife?

 

That’s “hot knife” as in the name of the device, as opposed to a knife that is hot, by the way. They’re about £25 or £30.

[Sir Clausel]

Yeah thats what i thought would be best. But I dont want to buy the hot knife. So i will need to find an alternate way to stop the edges from fraying.

[NovemberIX]

I'd say talk to your local fabric shop, but a straight edge and a rotary cutter are what I'd recommend, just do a single straight firm cut.

[INKS]

Why do you want to cut it? Because the size of the battle field changed? Would it not be easier, possible better because of fraying to just put something over it so that it is now the right size? 

 

If you do need to cut it then use a straight edge and a sharp exacto knife / blade.

I would sew or take it to a place that does sewing and have that edge stitched by someone so it doesn't fray.

[Sir Clausel]

 

I'd say talk to your local fabric shop, but a straight edge and a rotary cutter are what I'd recommend, just do a single straight firm cut.

Wont that just ruin the fabric by tearing it ?

 

 

Why do you want to cut it? Because the size of the battle field changed? Would it not be easier, possible better because of fraying to just put something over it so that it is now the right size? 

Mostly do to the fact that if i bought a normal sized mat i can cut it to ruined size pieces for 3 boards instead of buying sets. So to save money :)  

[NovemberIX]

 

Wont that just ruin the fabric by tearing it ?

Nope, as long as the blade is sharp it should be a good clean cut,  OLFA makes a good tool, but Fiskars is pretty widely available. That being said, I sorta just remembered, you also need a cutting mat underneath unless you're fine with damaging the surface of what you're cutting on.