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Learn the right technique for clean, precise cuts and cost-effective results.
Cutting rubber is easier than you think. There is a proper way of doing it so that you don’t damage your material or—worse—damage yourself. Learning how to cut rubber will help you avoid professional alteration fees. But, it’s not just about knowing how to cut rubber—it’s about knowing how to cut rubber properly. This way, you will end up with an elastomeric sheet that isn’t just more affordable overall, but is also cleanly cut. Whether you have thin sheet rubber or a heavy-duty rubber sheet, our DIY method will be just as effective, no matter the thickness of your soft rubber sheet. By learning how to cut rubber, there will be no need to seek out the additional help of rubber product suppliers, rubber roll manufacturers, or any other rubber-producing entity. Importantly, though, if your project requires dye-cutting or water-jet cutting you should definitely contact your rubber roll manufacturer and request further assistance. Otherwise, can rubber be cut easily? You’ll soon find out! This guide is for the non-professional looking for a do-it-yourself solution. Follow our guide below to ensure your mat is cut correctly.
What Is the Best Tool to Cut Rubber?
A sharp utility knife is what is the best tool to cut rubber. This tool is highly accessible because it’s relatively affordable. And it does the job well. To give you a better idea of what you’ll need as you begin your project, below is a list of required materials. As with most DIY projects, this list of materials is short, and its items are both affordable and accessible. These are the materials you will need:
- Sharp Utility Knife: A fixed blade works better than a retractable utility knife. Be sure the blades are sharp, not dull. The sharper the blade, the smoother the cuts; the smoother the cuts, the quicker and safer the project. You may want to have blade replacements or a blade sharpener at hand in case repeated cuts dull your blade.
- Chalk: It’s always best to mark the line with something that can be easily seen and washed off. We recommend marking the line with chalk and washing the chalk off once you’re done. Avoid using more-permanent methods of marking, like pens or sharpies, since these lines are meant to be temporary guides and not permanent decorations!
- Straight Edge: You will need a straight edge to ensure that your drawn line is straight, as well as to guide your stroke when cutting rubber. Conducting this step well is the key to producing a smooth- and straight-edged sheet of rubber. A yard- or meter-stick will work fine, but we recommend using one made out metal, as metal is more robust than other typical ruler materials. Combined, these factors make for a more consistent cutting experience and final product.
- Gloves: Having a pair of protective gloves is imperative to protect yourself from your sharp blade. As a standard, employees of rubber sheeting suppliers always use gloves when cutting rubber (sheet), so you probably should too.
- Soapy Water: This one might seem odd, but it’s a really valuable item to have on hand. Sometimes, you’ll be working with a flat rubber sheet with an exceptional thickness, such as rubber 2-inches or rubber 1-inch thick. In these cases, the black rubber roll may be too difficult to be cut cleanly—jags of rubber might stick out of your sheet’s sides. That’s where the soapy water comes in. You can dip your blade into the soapy solution prior to cutting, thereby coating the knife in a quasi-lubricant that reduces the amount of resistance your knife experiences as it traverses the rubber.
How To Cut Rubber
How to Cut Rubber Flooring
Neoprene 60A Rubber Strips & Small Parts – 1482 Size Options
- Can handle outdoor weather conditions
- 60 durometer neoprene with smooth finish
- Great as industrial seals, gaskets, and bumpers
- Can operate in temperatures between -20° F and 212° F
- Can be used in applications that may involve the presence of oils and chemicals
Neoprene Rubber Sheet: Neoprene, AKA polychloroprene, was one of the first synthetic rubber products ever made. Neoprene was invented during World War II as the access to natural rubber was affected. Neoprene rubber sheets are stronger, harder than natural rubber and less expensive than silicone rubber products. Neoprene sheet rubber is a vulcanized rubber sheet, which uses sulfur to cross-links chains of chloroprene molecules that make neoprene.
High Product Quality: Neoprene 60A rubber sheet is well-made, reliable, and performs as expected. Neoprene rubber sheets are often associated with durability, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction. This high quality rubber sheet is built to last and designed to meet or exceed the needs and expectations of our customers. Every great rubber product is able to solve a unitary problem well. Neoprene
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 1/8″ x 36″
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 1/16″ x 36″
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What Is the Best Way to Cut Rubber Mats?
Rubber mats is by laying the mat on the ground, marking a line representing the cut you want to produce, then cutting along this line as many times as needed. For more detail, we’ve outlined this process in a simple, four-step guide on how to cut rubber. Our method is definitely what is the best way to cut rubber mats.
1. Lay the mat flat on the ground. Then, using a straight edge, mark your knife’s intended pathway. Do this several times until the line is visible, as well as straight.
2. Now, firmly place your straight edge on this line, and use your sharp utility knife to score the line two to four times. Cutting rubber can take longer for thicker materials so you may need to score it more than normal. And remember, if you need to, dip your knife in a soapy solution.
3. Next, grab the rubber sheet by its edge that’s closest to the line you’ve just cut. Lift this edge, and bend it toward you. Where you’ve cut, the rubber sheet should open like a ravine fracturing the ground. And if you’ve done it right, the opened cut should look straight and smooth.
4. Lastly, lay the mat back flat on the ground, and score the line a few more times—working until the cut is complete.
EPDM 60A Rubber Strips & Small Parts – 1140 Size Options
Closed Cell Rubber – EPDM – 39″ x 78″
EPDM 60A Rubber Strips & Small Parts – 1140 Size Options
- EPDM rubber with a smooth finish
- A black weather resistant rubber that is ideal as an outdoor liner or pad
- EPDM material is in stock in 1/16″, 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ thickness
- A blend of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM rubber) and SBR
Excellent Chemical and Weather Resistance: The special properties of EPDM sheet rubber allow it to withstand chemicals in addition to weather-related hazards such as UV rays and ozone. As a weather resistant rubber, this EPDM sheet rubber is commonly used in industrial applications and machinery that are exposed to the elements. Damage from rainstorms, pollution, and the sun will occur at a slower rate compared to a fully exposed EPDM rubber when compared to other elastomers like SBR, Nitrile or Neoprene.
Excellent Industrial Sheet Rubber: EPDM rubber has adequate elastic and pliable qualities. The material has a durometer of Shore 55-65A but on average, has a Shore 60A measurement. A Shore A scale measures the hardness of the rubber. For example, a soft pencil eraser has a durometer of Shore 20A. Although higher than an eraser, the durometer of EPDM still maintains a good amount of flexibility for all of your necessary projects. In addition, EPDM rubber has a minimum elongation of 300%.
Can Rubber Be Cut Easily?
Barring a few exceptions, rubber can be cut easily—especially if you follow our guide on how to cut rubber. Cutting rubber with these instructions will surely give you a clean-looking mat. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to do just as well as the rubber product suppliers from whom you obtained your rubber roll material in the first place. Now that you’ve learned how to cut rubber using only four easy steps, the next time you need to cut rolled rubber, it’ll be a piece of cake!
Custom-Cut Recycled Rubber 1/4″ or 6.4mm
Custom-Cut Recycled Rubber 1/4″ or 6.4mm
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Available in 247 size variations
- Exceedingly durable rubber designed to withstand a variety of impacts
- Easy, do-it-yourself installation with double-sided tape
Unparalleled Resilience: Custom Cut Recycled Rubber is nearly unmatched in terms of durability. It has high degrees of abrasion resistance, impact absorbance, and water resistance. Plus, it is highly weather resistant, making it a long-lasting flooring or padding option for both indoor and outdoor applications. This rubber product is made from discarded vehicle tires and car tires which are designed specifically to handle some of the most extreme outdoor conditions; therefore, it is no surprise that Custom Cut Elephant Bark has many of the resilient features that tires display. Use this product for flooring or as a protective rubber pad, and you will not be disappointed.
1/4” Thick Recycled Rubber Sheet: This 6.4mm thick is an ideal choice when any rubber sheet is required. More durable than neoprene, less expensive than any other rubber sheet, and perhaps more UV resistant than EPDM, this recycled rubber sheet should be considered anytime hard rubber products are needed.
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 1/8″ x 36″
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 1/4″ x 36″
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 3/8″ x 36″
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 1/2″ x 36″
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 3/8″ x 36″
- Smooth black finish
- Stocked width of 36”
- A rubber sheet for a variety of applications
- Working temperature range of -10° F to 190° F
SBR Rubber: Our General Purpose Rubber sheets are made using styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). This synthetic elastomer is known for its durability. SBR’s physical qualities are present in this solid rubber sheet. With a durometer rating of 60, it can handle physical abrasions pretty well. This rubber sacrifices some elasticity and pliability, but it is meant more for physical applications that require a moderate degree of strength. In addition, its durability is enhanced by the fact that it is a vulcanized rubber sheets.
Different Gauges: You may require a specific thickness gauge depending on what application you need this rubber sheet for. We stock our general purpose in the thickness gauges of 1/16”, 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2”. If you have an application that requires a thick gasket, then we have dependable 1/2” thick vulcanized rubber sheets in stock for you. Alternatively, if you require a thin sealing rubber, try the 1/16” version.
General Purpose Rubber – 60A – 3/8″ x 36″
