Alternative cutting and punching mats?

[Aventurine]

I seem to be allergic to the plasticky stuff of the cutting mat I handled today.  Does anyone use something else?  What did people use before the synthetic cutting and punching mats anyhow?  Rawhide?  Felt?  Soft wood board? Damp clay slab?  Wax tray?

[oltoot]

Truck mud flaps

[Littlef]

a cheap option is to just get a kitchen cutting board from walmart. 

[Aventurine]

Two perfect solutions.  Thank you!

 

[fredk]

end grain wood, a piece of tree log

[Aventurine]

@Fred, I like that idea.  Hmm, we have oak and hickory stumps on the property.  Too hard?  We might be able to get a big-enough slice of fallen tree from someone's yard in town after the next wind storm,  and dry it properly.  Magnolia, Bradford or Callery "pear", Ginkgo, soft maples.  Maybe cottonwood? It's very soft.

[Hags]

Scrap leather...