I have been having a lot of fun drawing large things with my newly rebuilt and enlarged CNC router this weekend, and and finally getting around to experimenting all the drag knife stuff I purchased years ago. I was looking at cutting mats and I found one in the 36"x48" range, but I was wondering if there are other options. Is anyone using a drag knife? If so, what was a good cutting surface you have found?
Hi Craig, On the odd occasion I use a drag knife, I usually use a sheet of thin MDF as a base - ideal If you're using a Roland style drag knife and cutting labels or other 'sticky stock" where the backing paper is not penetrated. However, with those big Stanley type drag knives, that's a different story - they are more likely to cut into the MDF (does that matter?). I probably wouldn't use a cutting mat myself though. I might even try gluing some card stock (1 to 2mm) onto the MDF at some point. Attached file shows 3 gaskets (0.4mm) cut using an MDF base (not that the pic tells you much).
Thanks! That is the kind f drag knife I have. I do have some 1/2" MDF somewhere. I will give it a shot. For my drawing surface I uses a piece of that "dry erase" type of sheet goods you get at Lowe's in a 4x8 sheet. It works great.
I've used acrylic or polycarbonate under my drag knife. Lexan (polycarbonate) can be bought in pieces at the big box home improvement stores.
