Cutting Table Alternatives

[MarlinDave]

Not sure if this a tool or an accessory. My sewing-type green cutting mat is shot. Punched through it too many times. Is there a permanent building material type cutting surfacev I can use? The table has a 2 x 6 top and I take the cutting mat to another table sometimes to cut. 

[fredk]

You really cannot beat another self-healing mat. Anything else also gets cut up or blunts blades and needs replacing as well. If you shop around you can s-h mats quite cheaply. I just bought another A2 size for £8.50 (about $10?)

I used to do some cutting on a large piece of 6mm thick tempered glass. But that was heavy and it blunted blades pretty quickly. MDF or hardboard is cheap but gets sliced up quickly and needs replacing often

[Hags]

I go to thrift stores and good will. Occasionally you  can find them there. Otherwise, mywife is a quilter and use her hand me downs.

[MarlinDave]

I wonder if this Uline product is the same stuff. No grid lines! But I don’t use that much anyway. 

 

https://www.uline.com/BL_2820/Workbench-Mats

[Cattledude]

I use a 4'x4'x1/4" sheet of HDPE on my cutting/layout table. I'm on my second sheet after 25 years...

[Hags]

I've thought of HDPE, I wonder if you could run a sander over it when it got rough.

[Burkhardt]

2 hours ago, Cattledude said:

I use a 4'x4'x1/4" sheet of HDPE on my cutting/layout table. I'm on my second sheet after 25 years...

Is it something you can get at the big box stores or do you order at building stores, online ect.?

[Klara]

12 hours ago, 327fed said:

Punched through it too many times.

I'd buy another cutting mat and remember to not use it as a base for punching...

[MarlinDave]

Good idea. What’s the best base for punching?

[JayEhl]

You can find HDPE from used kitchen equipment stores, But if you want to go with mats, JOANNS fabircs has them on sale 1/2 price pretty frequently if you have that kind of store.