How To Flatten Drafting Mat

Press the razor down firmly at the top corners of the boards.

How to flatten drafting mat.

Once the item is wrapped around the tube image facing out place rubber bands around it so it won t unravel. If your paper is less than 30 inches 1 4 inches is typically fine. Use a straight edge razor to cut the backing and mat boards. I was careful that the mat didn t get too warm.

What about heating areas with a hair dryer and while it s still warm plop some heavy books on it. Cut 4 strips of self adhesive linen hinging tape. I was able to straighten it flat again by laying the mat on a towel on a table covering it with another towel then using a steam iron on the lowest temperature at which it would still steam ironed over the towel and mat. Remove the paper backing from one of the strips and place it in the top corner vertical with the sticky side up.

But i think there is a solution here this might seem counter intuitive but one way to get a mat to lay flat again is to add back a little heat. Make your first hinge. The length of the strips depends on the size of your artwork. Pull the razor slowly and steadily towards you stopping at the bottom corner.

Creating this opposing new curl shape will in effect straighten the curled plastic. To flatten a rolled map or poster start by unrolling it facedown on a flat surface and placing a cardboard tube at 1 end of it. Even if you think your floor is clean sweep it one more time. Fight curl with curl unroll the mat as flat as you can get it.

Then flip it over and reroll the mat. Leave the mat between the metal sheets until they return to room temperature. Place your mat on a smooth flat surface outside in the sun on a warm sunny day until it flattens check it every 15 minutes. Now your mat is ready for installation.

Check the mat s flatness and then repeat the process if necessary until the mat is flat. Roll the mat back up and read the stop and read. Not what you want to have happen to your expensive cutting mats. Now roll your mat back out.

Keep doing it until entire mat is flat and covered with heavy books. Next roll your map or poster around the tube with the image facing out. After it relaxes and is flat move it to a flat cooler area in the shade or indoors until it cools and becomes more rigid. Keep the same pressure throughout your cut and be very careful not to dip out or in from the penciled line.