ALVIN GBM Self-Healing Cutting Mat 12 x 18 inch | Double-Sided Green/Black | 5-Layer Gridded Surface for Arts, Crafts and Sewing - Model GBM1218

This mat is sturdy and stays in place during use. I bought 2 to meet my size needs and they work perfectly. They came in a flat box, which is good as they were not rolled up. It did take a week for delivery. I was eager to have them as I had a new sewing machine and so wanted to cut something to sew up. I did have a large and wonderful mat; I wish I knew which maker. My first mat was lost to me in the Eaten fires. I first bought a mat from NOT Amazon. The seller hadn’t sent a month later. So I said buy what is reliable do Amazon. This mat is a good choice and I am pleased to have it.

I am impressed by the quality of this mat, as well as the performance. The primary advantage this advertises over others is the ability for the board to "heal" scar marks. I have used many products that have claimed this, but other than end grain maple hardwood, I have not used any product that has actually done it, until now. While this board does not heal as well as end grain maple, it does a surprisingly good job. By doing this, the service life of the mat is extended (as scar markings eventually ruin a mat/board and make clean cuts no longer possible). So in the long run, this mat could save you money with a longer service life over other products. The overall build quality is excellent, and I clean the mat using a disinfectant (accelerated hydrogen peroxide) in which it has held up very well to being cleaned with. Another plus of this mat over others I have used is that it is very easy going on knife, razor, and utility blades. It slows the speed in which they dull at, which is convenient if you use this kind of product a lot. The only downside I see is the price. It's not cheap, but it is a well-made product that holds up to usage, has border lines on it which are super useful for many different applications, is easy-going on cutting tools, and lasts a long time. So to me it is worth the price.

Another update, August 25, 2012: I still have nothing but great things to say about this mat...I did notice the price has gone up on it, but I would expect that as nothing stays the same price year to year...I have had no problems butting the 2 mats together to make for one large cutting surface. I did put some of the rubberized shelf lining one can purchase from the dollar store under them as an added "help" in making sure they don't slide around while I am cutting...the 1st board I bought is almost 2 years old, and I must say the surface of it is still in great shape! I would consider myself pretty heavy duty into quilting...I use the mat probably every couple of days, and when I use it, I use it...So, summing up, I still highly recommend this mat. I also say even with the price increase, it is a bargain if you compare the cost of an Olfa mat to it... Update: June 14, 2011- I just ordered a 2nd mat, not because the 1st one is worn out, but because the price is too good to pass up, and I can put them together to have a really big cutting area. The 1st mat I ordered does have some areas where it is obvious that I cut at that measurement often, but it has had no impact on how the mat works. I also compared this mat with Fiskars and Olfa brand mats, and this mat is much thicker, more pliable, and has not remotely warped on me. I use this mat a lot with my quilting, it is a great size, and so far has held up wonderfully! The price is much better than other brands, same size mat surface. Having the black side as well as the green also comes in handy. I just received my 2nd mat, and it is just as good as the 1st one, and most importantly has no chemical odor! Highly recommend this mat!

I got this as my desk pad or mouse mat, whatever you want to call it. Mouse slips on it OK, it's really up to the feet they have. I'm used to the friction so it's not a problem. I also like to tinker with gadgets or music instruments that might be heavy and metal, all electronics work is also done on my desk. It's a great dual purpose mat for anyone whose desk is their main everything surface. They're not very expensive, you get 2 sides to go through and you can cut on it, drop solder on it, burn it, whatever and your desk is fine. Sure after some wear you might have some BAD areas to use your mouse but in general I just do not do work in that little area.

I underestimated the size but it's perfect. And huge. Love the black, looks sexy on my black desk. Nice work surface all around. Was a little concerned about the carcinogen warning; is the hand washing thing just a CYA (cover your a--) instruction? Should I also be careful to rinse things I've made on it, especially if I intend to wear them? These warnings sometimes seem more harmful than helpful...I'd like to know if something actually has a higher than .01% chance of causing cancer with regular use, but too many warnings just makes the significant warnings less noticeable. Even Starbucks has carcinogen warnings in CA. Hard to know what's a real concern unless you look into the actual literature. Update: This may be of some use. Just straight-up vinyl is on the Prop 65 list. http://www.dow.com/productsafety/finder/vinyl.htm http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/vinylchl.html http://oehha.ca.gov/air/toxic_contaminants/pdf_zip/VC-final%20doc.pdf (airborne) -"As with all chemical substances, the health effects associated with exposure to VAM depend on the exposure level and duration. VAM is not considered to be highly toxic." -"VAM can penetrate the skin, but does not do so readily. Prolonged skin contact may cause sensitization and an allergic skin reaction in a small proportion of individuals." -"However, the tumors that were observed in laboratory animals at very high exposure concentrations for their lifetimes are not considered to be of relevance to humans exposed to low concentrations under typical use conditions." -"Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between vinyl chloride exposure in pregnant women and an increased incidence of birth defects, while other studies have not reported similar findings." I expect an adult will be fine even if they eat off of it occasionally, though no point in tempting fate. Personally I'll probably just use it with slightly more care than normal. Various sources suggest that it is mainly a risk for babies or when inhaled at high lifetime levels. I'm more concerned about all the chemicals my neighbors use on their lawns that run into the water, quite frankly.

Excellent quality, and I especially like that the full measurement scales are printed along all four edges. That’s essential for lineup of your steel ruler for cutting paper. I also really like that both sides (green on one side, black on the other) are fully printed with the markings. This ensures that if you happen to gouge the mat (I’ve done it with past mats) with over aggressive cutting of difficult things, then you’ve got the fresh other side. It arrived in a timely manner in a big box rolled once. After a couple of hours it’s now flat as can be on my table. No complaints! Yes, a bit more expensive, but the quality is there and as I said you’ve basically got both sides to fully use in case one side gets damaged.

Looks great. I have not used it yet for cutting, but I am confident that it will work. Minor point: I had thought I was purchasing a metric (centimeter) mat, but oh well.

When I bought this, I didn't realize it was 2 sided. Why aren't all self-healing mats made this way? Such a logical solution, taking the cutting mat to the next level. One side is green & the other is black. Measurements are accurate, but the user must be accurate & consistent when using a cutting mat. Since it is 2 sided, one can say that you are getting 2 mats for the price of 1. As for durability, I have found that if you are a light to medium user, you'll be fine. If you are a heavy user, ie., 100's of cuts per day, it doesn't heal well and leaves slight ridges where cuts have been made. The size is very good for cutting & piecing quilt blocks, as well as many other projects that aren't big. It is also a good size to fit nicely on a table top. In addition, I use it for trimming edges of fabric, cutting ribbon, & other decorative trims, cutting leather, even marking fabrics for hems, buttons, zippers, hooks or eyelet placement. There are 100's of other uses to discover too!

This is a great cutting mat. It may be worth noting that the product picture is inaccurate and the mat itself is very small, without any diagonal lines on it. The mat is solid and well-made, with one side a black colour and the other green. This mat looks great and works great. The most impressive thing about it is the 'self-healing' abilities, which are rather impressive. I have made hundreds of scratches of varying depths to see how it would hold out. The mat doesn't completely heal from most scratches, regardless of how deep they are. However, when I have made really deep scores into the mat, they have dramatically faded to be more like normal scratches, in a matter of just a few hours. The only problem is that the lines fade off when scratched, but it takes quite a lot of scratching to affect the functionality of the mat. This is a great product that should last a while due to its self-healing properties.

Absolutely fantastic cutting mat. I use this regularly in my mobile phone repair business. It withstands all manner of cutting, scraping and glue residues. Highly recommend.

Great little cutting mat, just a bit larger than a standard sheet of paper, so it works well on my cluttered desk!

I do a lot of packing and and shipping and have always used double layered corrugated cardboard as a cutting mat. The table I cut on is 36"x 84", so the size of the mat is perfect for my setup. From cutting cardboard, foam board, sandwiches, this thing has been amazing. If you are thinking about getting a large cutting mat, this is the one. Price and quality cannot be beaten here. These mats save your blades from dulling at the tip and allow for more accurate cuts. I use this almost every day and will follow up this review in a few months to review its durability. Thumbs up so far!

Tapete con buen tamaño, y medidas por ambos lados, es grueso y algo pesado. Sirve y cumple lo que promete, pero debo agregar que en la etiqueta menciona que el material con el que fue hecho puede causar cáncer. Por lo que lo uso con medida y guantes.