hornet Posted February 21, 2015 Share #1 Posted February 21, 2015 I have never owned a commercially made cutting board. I have always just used a piece of melamine on top of my workbench to work on. I have recently been reading about 'self healing' cutting boards but they seem to be used more for hobbies involving cutting material and cardboard rather than timber. They seem to range in price up to around $80 (depending on size). I am wondering if others use them, are they worth the money, are they durable and which brands are the best quality??? Or am I better off sticking with my melamine board?? Quote Hornet Current Build: - OcCre Shackleton’s Endurance. Completed Ship Builds: Caldercraft - HM Bark Endeavour. (in Gallery) Caldercraft - HMAV Bounty (in Gallery) Caldercraft - HM Brig Supply (In Gallery) Aeropiccola - Golden Hind - Constitution Clipper Seawitch (maker unknown - too long ago to remember!) Corel - Victory Modeller's Shipyard - A Schooner of Port Jackson - In Gallery - Brig `Perseverance' - In Gallery - Cutter `Mermaid'- In Gallery - Sirius Longboat (bashed) - In Gallery - Sloop Norfolk - In Gallery Completed Cannon: - French 18th Century Naval Cannon - Napoleonic 12 pound field piece - English 18th Century Carronade Non Ship Builds - Sopwith Camel - Artesania Latina - Fokker DR1 - Artesania Latina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canute Posted February 21, 2015 Share #2 Posted February 21, 2015 Hornet, I've used a cutting mat for years. Cut wood, plastic, card stock on it. And they're a little insurance, too. Spilled glues and paints on it. Cleaned up OK. I think the mat will protect your blades better than the melamine. Try out a half page or page size. They're not too dear. hornet 1 Quote Ken Started: MS Bounty Longboat, On Hold: Heinkel USS Choctaw paper Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1 Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section Member Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredSC Posted February 21, 2015 Share #3 Posted February 21, 2015 I use them and they work really well. I don't know how they get to be "self healing", but they really are. I may have it wrong, but I think about 36" square goes for about $30. They are durable until you get so much glue, paint, etc., on them that replacement is a good idea. I'm on my fourth build with the same one. hornet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ Posted February 21, 2015 Share #4 Posted February 21, 2015 I have one and I do not know what I did without it. I got it at Hobby Lobby for 20 bucks or so I think. They vary in size and I am thinking of getting one slightly larger. It is a good value. Russ hornet 1 Quote T'aint a hobby if you hurry Completed projects Cross section model by Russ 1/48 scale Biloxi schooner model restoration 1/24 scale Biloxi oyster skiff 1/24 scale Biloxi schooner 1/48 scale POB Current project Biloxi lugger Captain Roy 1/48 scale POB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyh Posted February 21, 2015 Share #5 Posted February 21, 2015 I've used an Olfa gridded cutting mat for years (same one). It's 12"x18", never needed a bigger one,I just looked this one up at Jo-Anns (a sewing and craft shop). It's $22.99 but Jo-Anns almost always has a 40% off coupon to use. Wally Modeler12 and hornet 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbshan Posted February 21, 2015 Share #6 Posted February 21, 2015 They're pretty good at 'healing' a knife cut, but saws and drills leave a permanent defect. I've used both blue and green, from the art store, Stadtler and Alvin brands, 12 by 18 inches. hornet 1 Quote Joel Sanborn http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/9953-lexington-by-jbshan-dlumberyard-164-from-the-seaways-practicum-by-clay-feldman/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornet Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted February 22, 2015 Thanks folks, I am convinced. Heading down to the hobby store to get one now!!! Quote Hornet Current Build: - OcCre Shackleton’s Endurance. Completed Ship Builds: Caldercraft - HM Bark Endeavour. (in Gallery) Caldercraft - HMAV Bounty (in Gallery) Caldercraft - HM Brig Supply (In Gallery) Aeropiccola - Golden Hind - Constitution Clipper Seawitch (maker unknown - too long ago to remember!) Corel - Victory Modeller's Shipyard - A Schooner of Port Jackson - In Gallery - Brig `Perseverance' - In Gallery - Cutter `Mermaid'- In Gallery - Sirius Longboat (bashed) - In Gallery - Sloop Norfolk - In Gallery Completed Cannon: - French 18th Century Naval Cannon - Napoleonic 12 pound field piece - English 18th Century Carronade Non Ship Builds - Sopwith Camel - Artesania Latina - Fokker DR1 - Artesania Latina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgbot Posted February 22, 2015 Share #8 Posted February 22, 2015 I bought one since I did not wish to mar my sisters coffee tables I am using them for a work spot. I picked up one by X-acto and love it. I have used when doing my card models and love it. When I return to Chicago I will try to find a bigger one to put on my work table. The 12x12 is perfect for the stuff I am doing right now. David B hornet 1 Quote Work in progress USS Maine in cardstock.http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/7446-uss-maine-by-dgbot-hmv-card/#entry220003 Completed Blockade runner Teazer http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6063-blockade-runner-teazer-by-dgbot-card-stock/#entry175967 Completed The Monitor Lehigh http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6920-the-monitor-lehigh-by-dgbot-card-model/#entry203680 Completed Kingston Class MCVD http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/forum/10-kit-build-logs-in-progress/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack12477 Posted February 22, 2015 Share #9 Posted February 22, 2015 I have one also - a small 6x8 and a larger 12x14. Works great ! Quote Jack "No one is as smart as all of us" - Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird The craft comes from the head --------------------------------------------- Current build: US Constellation Non-ship builds: USCG UH-65A Dolphin M16 Multi-gun motor carriage diorama M4A3 Sherman Tanks dioramas 1936-1939 Mercedes Benz 540K 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II JSDF Light Armor Vehicle Figures: The Last Bridge: Raider Reaper Edge of Universe: Ianis The Last Bridge: Vadim with cart Completed build log(s): 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne, Willie L Bennett 1888 50 ft Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht Scratch Build The Sullivans (DD 537) Liberty Ship SS John W Brown USS England (DE 635), Artesania Latina Titanic Lifeboat Gallery: Swift , Armed Virginia Sloop, Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch , 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne Other: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted February 22, 2015 Share #10 Posted February 22, 2015 I'm cheap. I have an old bamboo wood cutting board from a garage sale. When it gets chewed up, I just run the orbital sander over it. Canute and hornet 2 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael20 Posted February 22, 2015 Share #11 Posted February 22, 2015 Micro Mark sells them, They come in several sizes too. They are nice. Happy modeling, Marty G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popeye2sea Posted February 22, 2015 Share #12 Posted February 22, 2015 I have one manufactured by the Alvin company, 18 x 24" It is double sided, one side is green the other black and it is printed with a 1/2 inch grid, 30 - 60 and 45 degree diagonals, and ruled on the horizontal and vertical to the 1/4 inch. I have owned it for a while now. If the first side wears out I'll just flip it over. Canute 1 Quote Henry Laissez le bon temps rouler ! Current Build: Le Soleil Royal Completed Build: Amerigo Vespucci Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornet Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted February 22, 2015 Brian. I ended up getting a Jasart 300 x 450mm self healing mat from Officeworks. Cost me $35. Seems sturdy enough. Link below http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/SearchDisplay?searchTerm=cutting+mat&storeId=10151&langId=-1&pageSize=24&beginIndex=0&sType=SimpleSearch&resultCatEntryType=2&showResultsPage=true&searchSource=Q&pageView= mtaylor, Canute, Brian the extraordinaire and 1 other 4 Quote Hornet Current Build: - OcCre Shackleton’s Endurance. Completed Ship Builds: Caldercraft - HM Bark Endeavour. (in Gallery) Caldercraft - HMAV Bounty (in Gallery) Caldercraft - HM Brig Supply (In Gallery) Aeropiccola - Golden Hind - Constitution Clipper Seawitch (maker unknown - too long ago to remember!) Corel - Victory Modeller's Shipyard - A Schooner of Port Jackson - In Gallery - Brig `Perseverance' - In Gallery - Cutter `Mermaid'- In Gallery - Sirius Longboat (bashed) - In Gallery - Sloop Norfolk - In Gallery Completed Cannon: - French 18th Century Naval Cannon - Napoleonic 12 pound field piece - English 18th Century Carronade Non Ship Builds - Sopwith Camel - Artesania Latina - Fokker DR1 - Artesania Latina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modeler12 Posted February 24, 2015 Share #14 Posted February 24, 2015 Great, you got what you asked for, and it will be useful, believe me. I was about to mention another source, Hobby Lobby, if there is one in your area. It has one called a '23 x 35 inch Rotary Cutting Mat'. $30. Seamsters use them all the time, so the price should be better at one of those kind of shops. I bought one eons ago and don't remember what I paid, but they do a good job. Like others mentioned, don't expect them to fill in holes when you drill through it. I believe the material is polypropelene which is used in lots of commercial applications. As a plastic it has a tendency to 'fuse' together when minor cuts come through. But don't expect major gaps to be filled. If you were to cut all the way through the mat, I doubt it will come back together again Quote Jay Current build Cross Section USS Constitution http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10120-cross-section-forward-area-of-the-uss-constitution/ Finished USS Constitution: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/103-uss-constitution-by-modeler12/ 'A picture is worth a . . . . .' More is better . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justsayrow Posted February 24, 2015 Share #15 Posted February 24, 2015 If you do head to Hobby Lobby, they have a standing coupon for 40% one item on their website and mobile app. $30 becomes $18. Modeler12 1 Quote ==================================== Currently building: Model Expo AMERICA, A/L KING OF THE MISSISSIPPI Completed: Mamoli Victory cross-section, Revell LSM (Plastic, in memory of Dad), A/L SANSON tug, MS Longboat (awesome model Chuck!), Dumas 1949 Chris-Craft 19' Racing runabout, A/L SWIFT, MS ELSIE, Constructo ELIDIR (now LOUISE), Midwest Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack, Amati 1:80 Yacht ENDEAVOUR, Mamoli CONSTITUTION cross section, Revell VIIc U-boat (1:72 plastic), lotsa other plastic ships Next up: who knows - there are too many to choose from! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Poison Posted February 24, 2015 Share #16 Posted February 24, 2015 Recently just bought a thick cutting board 18x 12 inches at Amazon at 19.99 free shipping.. dgbot 1 Quote Completed.... Charles W. Morgan,Sea Horse,USS Constitution,Virginia 1819,San Fransisco II, AL HMS Bounty 1:48 L'Herminione 1:96 Spanish Frigate,22 cannons 18th C. 1:35 scale.Scratch-built (Hull only) Cutter Cheefull 1806 1:48 (with modifications) Current Project: Orca (This is a 35" replica of the Orca boat from the movie Jaws) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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