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What is everyone's experience with the two?We are getting ready to move into a new shop with more room.So we will have the luxury of 3 more cutting tables.I have always used glass for the tops of the tables but get tired of trying to keep them scratch free.As you know as soon as your blade hits the scratch the tip is gone.I guess I'm just leary(sp?) of the cutting mats durability as far as cutting on all day non stop.Any input is appreciated as always. Steve
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Steve- I've never used glass or the mat. Before I ever opened I had all my work tables covered with thin sheet metal. I had the local heat/ air come in and measure the tops. Couple days later they came back with the metal crimped to fit- that was nearly 4 years ago and they have held up beautifully- of course there's tons of knife marks but that has no bearing on my projects. Easy to keep clean and makes doing magnetics a breeze. They didn't charge me anything- everyone here helps each other to get started- but I doubt it would have cost very much anyway.
-------------------- Linda Schmidt Vital D'Signs Greers Ferry, AR signlady@ozarkisp.net Posts: 160 | From: Greers Ferry, AR | Registered: Sep 2001
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I bought a 4x8 mat from product sign supply. I had it on my wish list for a year while I waited for a chance to ship it flat with a shipment of 4x8 substrates since they didn't reccomend rolling it up. I decided to buy 2 so I'd avoid that hassle when it gave out. I also realize I can flip it over when it gets real bad.
The first one has not been flipped over yet in 4 years. I'll probably never need the 2nd until I build another table. I like glass on my light table for cutting film & rubylith, but I like a table I can set heavy stuff on w/o extra worry not to break glass.
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Hi Steve, I have one of the 4 x 8 cutting mats. Mine has a grid printed on it in 1" intervals. Makes it nice for easy measurements, cutting straight lines, etc...
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Use Celtec or Sintra or whetever the PVC you buy is called. I saw a guy break his glass table and almost lose a toe. Then he had to spend 30 minutes getting all of the glass up safely. Crazy. It may be smoother and easier to use glass, but the first time it breaks, you'll be sitting there going "Holy FREEHOLIES!!!"
-------------------- Steve Burke Cascades Inc NS Canada
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you Posts: 359 | From: NS Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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I can vouch for the SpeedPress mats, they are like HEAVEN to cut on. Also, get the grid for under it - when I switched to the grid I was able to eyeball lots of small signs and not need layout lines!
-------------------- Best Regards, Mark Smith EstiMate Sign Pricing Software It's Not Luck. It's EstiMate.™ http://www.EstiMateSoftware.com 1-888-304-3300 Posts: 724 | From: Asheville, NC, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Do you people who use the Matts use them for application as well? Do you find it anymore difficult to lay down vinyl if for say your doing a banner? We have Glass on our large 5 ftx20ft table, and I just recovered it this past Christmas after 5 years at a cost of over $1300.00, now it's 3/8 thick and only in 2 pieces. but I have another smaller 4ftx16ft table that I need to cover and I'm building another table now that will be about the same size as the larger one.... by the way we have 4 people working nonstop on those tables so they have to last and take abuse.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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I love my speed press mat. Makes life much easier.
Glass is dangerous and eats x-acto blades. A good alternative is a piece of coated aluminum to mask on if the matt gets a bit rough and begins to create bubbles.
-------------------- Alan Ackerson LetterWorks Design and Graphics alan@ack2.com Posts: 776 | From: Oak Ridge, NJ | Registered: Aug 2002
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We have the SpeedPress mats too. They are about 10 years old and have help up very well! We have tried different surfaces over the 25 years and this one seems to be the best solution so far. We have the ones with the grid and that comes in handy for lining up the ruler to cut straight edges. I also am a quilter and I have one at home too. Another thing I have mentioned before is the big 6" wide clear quilters' rulers. We have them laying around the shop in all sizes but I probably use the 24"X 4" one the most. They are clear plastic with painted lines every 1/4" and MUCH safer than a yardstick when it comes to cutting along the edge with a exacto or snap-off-blade. You can get the best ones at a fabric store, but there's a few varieties available at WallyWorld.
[ March 04, 2004, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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The safest rulers are the Big Yellow ones with the finger Guard.... A footnote to this story is that if you use a regular Alluminum Ruler, be prepaired for cutting off your fingers, cause it will happen, at least to your help, Just last week an employee cut the top of his finger almost clean off, was he using the safety ruler? Nooooooooo was he trying to cut coro with one swipe? Yesssssssss.... said with sarcasm. you should have seen the blood that came from this guy, it was everywhere, you'd think that a masacre took place. He's back to work now, and you should see how he handles the ruler now.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Neil, Have you tried a coroplast cutter? They cut in the direction with the flutes really slick. Got one at at Las Vegas about 7 years ago from Super Frog. Still need the exacto to cut against the flutes though.
-------------------- Mike Duncan(from the left coast) Astoria, Oregon Posts: 367 | From: Astoria, Oregon 97103 | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've only replaced my glass top once in 9 years, and only because I changed tables. From my experiences, I just don't use the knife like i'm cutting through an overcooked steak, and it seems to last fine...
Just my $.02.
-------------------- Pete Sharkins MotoArts Decals and Signs New Kensington, PA motoarts@yahoo.com * All vinyl, all the time * Posts: 138 | From: New Kensington, PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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I've got the SpeedPress 4x8. I have made thousands of cuts on it. I also make banners and I lay it over the mat, tape out the edges and lay it up! No problems with bubbles for me.
Good luck,
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I never had a cutting mat that covered the full table. So, I found them to be more annoying than useful. Right now I have all my tables covered in pvc. It's not bad to work on, but it has to be replaced often. The 3 tabletop covers I've used and liked are wood, acrylic and glass. Of those three choices, I liked glass best for weeding & graphic prep. Acrylic or an old sign face is great for a heavy duty production table that will take a lot of abuse and cutting. Wood is economical for very large tables. When wood starts getting roughed up a fresh coat of paint smoothes everything out.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm glad you mentioned acrylic Checkers. For 10 years I had great results with clear 3/16" DR acrylic (like come on the big spools at the sign supplier for thermoforming faces). I don't remember why we put that on there originally, whether it was left over from a job, or maybe it was a used face, but it was an immediate hit.
Knives do score it but nothing would break it. Plenty firm for weeding, applying and all around production and assembly work. If it got really messed up with paint from doing a screen job or something, break out the DA sander and give it a polish - takes out all the score marks too. So search out your scrap pile and save a landfill.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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