Sorry - that just won't work. rotary cutter blades are round razor blades. Any surface other than a self-healing mat will dull the blade on the first cut.

You don't have to cover the entire table with a mat! A 24x36 is plenty big for most work is only about $30 at Hancock's of Paducah, and you can probably find that size for less on sale at a JoAnn's or a Walmart.

I'd go with the small mat until you can buy a big mat too.

Have you checked craigs list? I've also seen them ocassionally at estate auctions.

I got my Olfa 24 X 36 from Joann's with my 40% off coupon and paid around $30 for it. It was the best investment of all my quilting supplies. I have had it for two years and it still looks new. I had a smaller fiskar mat and I threw it away after 3 months. I want the spinning rotary mat next!

For any newbies out there that hasn't tried jnockels rotary blades on ebay, you won't find a better deal. I bought five blades from him last summer and realized the other day that I am still using the first one! It is just now starting to skip.

Rebecca

Here is a link that might be useful: Rotary blades on ebay

Thanks Rebecca for posting the site. I ordered from him before and was very pleased and then computer crashed and I lost the site.
Rosa

You can keep your eye out for any LQS that's replacing their own mats.. Sometimes they will sell the old ones.
The ones I've seen that were really big had plenty of good space left and could have been trimmed down to a decent size.

I agree that you shouldn't skimp on a good mat. I used a 24 x 36 for years and just recently upgraded to a table size. A good self healing mat is a necessity, not a luxury.

I bought a nice sized one at walmart for not a lot that is marked so you can use both sides. So far its as big as I need,maybe might get another some day and butt them together,but so far its fine.

Also check out yard sales.I got my biggest mat 28x56 at a yard sale for 3.00 in brand new condition,as most people coming to the sale had no idea what it was or what it is used for.Lucky me!!
Kathi

My 24x36 came from a local quilt shop that was having a 'going out of business' sale several years ago (along with a substantial amount of my stash!). Frankly, it's the largest mat I've ever needed and I use it for cutting matboard for framing as well as for fabric.

Caroline, I don't know how you plan to butt two mats together, but be careful. If you cut in the 'butt crack' (teehee), you'll cut your table; if you cut across it, your cutter will skip up to a quarter inch.

i want to get a rotary blade for straighter cuts. do i need a cutting mat?

Yes, if you’re cutting fabric with a rotary cutter you’ll need a self-healing mat.