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Cutting Mat and Steel ruler
Article by Steve Bamford
Special thanks to Will Hendriks for introducing these items to me.
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All modellers have one thing in common....we have overcrowded work areas with very little room for actual cutting of plastic sheet. Here I have a couple of items that are very inexpensive, but very effective. The mat is a "self healing cutting mat" that measures 8" wide (20cm) and 6" high (15cm). You can find these mats in some hardware departments, but a better place to look for them is more towards the sewing department. Sewers use larger sizes of these cutting mats for sewing and dress making. I special ordered mine through the hardware department. The price was about US$4. The larger sizes of these mats can be VERY expensive, so be careful to check the price to avoid sticker shock at the cashier. Besides the fact this mat fits into anyone's tiny work area...it also fits inside a kit box, in case you're one of the modellers like myself that sometimes also builds at the kitchen table.
The second item is a tiny steel ruler 6" (15cm) long. Originally I bought a 12" (30cm) ruler, but I found that size of ruler to be useless, because my work area gets so overcrowded with projects. This tiny 6" ruler is the ideal size for our hobby.....seldom will you cat anything longer than 6". This ruler was purchased in a stationary store for about US$4. The back of the ruler is covered in non-slip cork.....a very effective idea.
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Photos and text copyrighted by Steve Bamford
