Cutting Board question

[hornet]

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??

[Canute]

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.

[FredSC]

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.

[russ]

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

[wallyh]

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

[jbshan]

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]

Thanks folks, I am convinced. Heading down to the hobby store to get one now!!!

[dgbot]

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

[Jack12477]

I have one also - a small 6x8 and a larger 12x14. Works great !

[mtaylor]

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. 

[michael20]

Micro Mark sells them, They come in several sizes too. They are nice.

  

   Happy modeling,

   Marty G.

[popeye2sea]

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.

[hornet]

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=

[Modeler12]

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

[justsayrow]

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.

[Captain Poison]

Recently just bought a thick cutting board 18x 12 inches at Amazon at 19.99 free shipping..