What is the best surface to cut with using an X-Acto Knife?

Question

I'm making stencils, and cutting on my wood desktop. When I lift up my stencil, there are deep carves/cuts engraved in my desk! Is there a better surface of some sort that i can cut without scratching or damaging it? Any tricks or suggestions would be greatly appreciated :]

Answer 1

I always use a cheap plastic cutting board from Wal-Mart. It doesn't splinter like wood and it doesn't dull your knife as a glass type surface would.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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RE:
What is the best surface to cut with using an X-Acto Knife?
I'm making stencils, and cutting on my wood desktop. When I lift up my stencil, there are deep carves/cuts engraved in my desk! Is there a better surface of some sort that i can cut without scratching or damaging it? Any tricks or suggestions would be greatly appreciated :]

Answer 4

copymist has the best idea... what you need is a "self-healing mat" which will protect the surface below, be usable over and over (since it "self-heals), and also not dull your blade too much.

You can buy them in various sizes at fabric or quilters stores, or in office supply stores (near the drafting supplies).
You can even buy one, then cut it into smaller pieces so that you can rotate the mat while you're cutting.

Another possibility, especially when cutting out plastic stencil material, is a sheet of glass.

Cardboard, wood, etc., aren't good not only because you don't want to destroy or mark them, but also becauase they will dull your blade more quickly --don't forget paper and cardboard are actually wood, and cutting through wood will always dull a blade quickly.

(You could also use a stencil burner instead of a blade... there are various types. Those would need to be done on glass or another heat resistant and very smooth surface.)


Diane B.

Answer 5

get a cutting mat from the craft store. Either the quilting section or the art section. Saw them at Office Depot too. They are a "self healing" mat with a 1" grid on them. Ive seen white or green. The cardboard will work in a pinch but if you are cutting a lot, get the mat. I use one on my studio table as a regular work surface. That way if I need to cut something I dont have to worry about the surface of my table.
Makes for more efficient use of time and having it right there helps me not to break my creative flow.
Happy Christmas!

Answer 6

I've worked a little with polystyrene and found a long serrated knife worked best and then a fine grit sand paper to smooth any corners or unevenness. I was using it as a mold to lay fiberglass over, so I don't know what to tell you about the spray paint issue. Good luck.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Try cardboard. It's nice and cheap and reuseable up to a point.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

doubled cardboard is a good solution. Also they do make cutting mats specifically for this purpose.

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