Melted my mat!!

19 years ago

AARRGGHH!!

Yesterday I melted my cutting mat! Brought it to school so the students could trim out their projects, and left it in the car for the afternoon after class. The hot sun warped the mat so it "melted" down over the back seat. Definitely reminds be of the dangers of ever leaving pets or plants or groceries in the car, even for a short time.

Of all people on the planet, I should know better. I worked on some of the first Fiskars cutting mats back about twelve years ago, and actually was the one who created the little warning label about NOT leaving your mat in direct sun.

Not sure if it is salvageable, any recovery ideas for a rippled cutting mat?

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Comments (8)

bluebars
19 years ago
Bummer. I left mine in the car when it was cold. It was not laid flat and it cracked right down the middle.
I don't think I would try to revive a rippled one, just buy new. Of all people on the planet, you probably deserve a new one LOL.
Maybe if some of it is not rippled, you could cut it into a smaller mat.
BlueBars
rosajoe_gw
19 years ago
My was warped just from being in the back of the van during the summer for a 45 minute trip.
I was able to iron over a thick towel and left books on it overnight.
It did help but is still not perfect but is usuable.
I don't know about melted though!!!!
Rosa
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nassongrad_nh
19 years ago
The key is to heat it back up GENTLY on a flat surface, preferably with even weight on the top...and do NOT move it until it is cool again. Be careful about what you put on top since you can create new ridges in the top if the weight is not even. Your measurements will probably not be accurate, but at least you will be able to cut on it.

put it on a table in the sun and weight with books all over the top

put it on a flat sidewalk or paved driveway in the sun and weight it with lumber, books or a piece of glass

put it on a table, warm it with a hairdryer and weight it with books, etc

There are more suggestions at the link below. This is quite obviously not a rare problem!! Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: warped cutting mat help
biwako_of_abi
19 years ago
Strange, I had never thought about that, but just this morning I was a Rosie's Calico Cupboard with a couple of Japanese friends (whom I have infected with the quilting bug) and noticed a sign above the cutting boards that warned how bad extreme heat is for these boards. I didn't realize that they could be warped beyond repair. How ironic that you were the one who created the warning label for Fiscars mats!
User
19 years ago
Nasson's ideas are good. A blow dryer also comes to my mind to soften it back into a flat shape. Don't you just want to scream when you do something like this to yourself?
nanajayne
19 years ago
I am glad for the post as I warped mine in a moment of stupidity when I used my iron to press open a small pc. on a small pressing mat that just happened to be setting on my larger mat. The steam was too hot!! Obviously not the thing to do. I am going to try the hairdryer trick. I am not sure about the one left in the car. Sound almost too much. Good luck! Jayne
weste
19 years ago
I laid mine on the sidewalk in the hot sun with a heavy object on top. It was like new.
greco
19 years ago
If you end up needing a new mat, if you can wait get the coupon from Michael's ad for half off any one item and get it there. I did that to get the extra large mat for $20 instead of $40.