A self-healing cutting mat (or rhino cutting mat as they are also known) is an extremely useful tool for any professional in the signage industry, as well as printers, designers, dressmakers, and many other artisans. They provide a large cutting surface that is safe for a rotary cutter and can be used over and over again without leaving marks. They can be purchased in standard sizes, from medium to large, and are often available in custom sizes to fit a particular production table or counter.
However, there are times when it is necessary to cut the rhino carpet to size. Maybe you’ve moved it from a larger table to a smaller one, perhaps custom sizes weren’t available or were more expensive? So what’s the best way to cut a self-healing cutting mat to size?
clean cut
If you want to keep clutter to a minimum, scoring is the answer. Mark a long ruler, apply bending pressure, and then mark again. It will cut quickly and cleanly this way.
Fast and messy
A circular saw will get the job done in no time if you don’t mind cleaning up the mess! Make sure you have your industrial vacuum on hand.
Curved edges, irregular shapes
If your production space has curved edges or an uneven shape, try cutting the mat in place to fit the shape with a router. Hold the mat in place and use a flush trim bit, tracing it around the table. This is also quick and easy, albeit a bit tricky.
Once you’ve trimmed your rhino cutting mat to exactly the right size, your production table is ready for cutting, trimming, and all those other tasks. If you have some reasonably sized clippings, don’t throw them away. They can be used to make mini cutting mats for smaller jobs, or portable cutting mats for when you are out and about and need to do some last minute trimming alterations. Even a small piece of A4 size is useful, so cut the cuts into usable pieces and save them for future use.
Of course, many places that supply self-healing cutting mats will cut them into custom sizes at no additional charge, so check first when purchasing a new one. You could easily save yourself the hassle of cutting yours to size and get a perfect fit for your table.