Need to cut rubber hose stall mat

[BAndritsch]

Got a question for you guys, I need to cut a heavy rubber mat used in hoarse stalls for my daughter. I've thought about some different methods but was wondering if anybody here had done this without major agony. My hands are pretty shot so I need a method that won't leave me crippled for a couple of days.
Any ideas?
Bill

 

[Brian_WK]

Fore mine I used a Reciprocating saw with aggressive blade for the long straight and gradual turn cuts, and jig saw for the more complicated small cuts. Both ways if the blade gets hot will release fumes so do it in a well vented space.

Brian

 

[maxpower_hd]

I used a very sharp utility knife and changed blades often. I don't know how bad your hands are but it cut fairly well. It did take some effort but wasn't too bad if you made multiple passes and change the blade as soon as it gets difficult.

 

[BAndritsch]

Both good ideas, pretty much what I had been thinking. I know if you use some soapy water in a spray bottle it will help with the blades sticking. That mat was rolled and taped at the store so I think I'll stat with my sawzall whil it's rolled,it needs to be rectangular piece soy hope it will work.
Thanks for the tips guys.
Bill

 

[Falcon67]

Utility knife - all other methods are a Fail. Buy a box of blades, but with a sharp edge it cuts pretty easy. I use pieces of it all over the place - easy to cut.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i've cut hundreds of these 3/4 inch thick rubber horse mats and sharp utility knife with a 2 by under each side of the cut works the best. might take 2 or 3 passes with a new sharp blade, but circular saw is mess and hard to keep straight. Jig saw works ok with a bi metal blade if your wrists give out with the utility knife.

 

[rlitman]

Do you have an oscillating multitool like a Fein?
You can get a scraper blade for them, which you can sharpen a bit (though it doesn't need to be razor sharp). It'll glide through the rubber without much fuss. I've used this to remove the sidewall from tires to make rubber pieces to use on my snowblower impeller, but it'll cut stall mat rubber (without the cords like sidewall) even easier.

 

[danfromsyr]

with water sprayed while cutting with a new utility blade
goes like butter

 

[theoldwizard1]

Dremel with a spiral cutting bit (Rotozip). Medium speed. Take your time for a straight cut.

 

[bmxdad]

with water sprayed while cutting with a new utility blade
goes like butter

This ^^^

... or some WD-40. Just cut one up for a lifting platform this weekend. Cut from the smooth side. The rough side seems to be denser, and chunks up more easily. At lease the one I got from TS did.

 

[DekeT]

I have successfully used a jigsaw by placing the mat on a couple 2x4 and cutting down the middle of the boards.

 

[jsaw]

A circular saw worked good for me.

 

[metalmagpie]

I cut stuff like that with a jig saw with a wavy knife blade. Really cuts rubber well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

This ^^^

... or some WD-40. Just cut one up for a lifting platform this weekend. Cut from the smooth side. The rough side seems to be denser, and chunks up more easily. At lease the one I got from TS did.

When I worked in a rubber hose factory, WD-40 was the lubricant of choice when stuff had to be hand cut with a knife.

 

[PT Doc]

Circular saw

 

[padroo]

Clamp a straight edge to it and lay iit over something so when you cut it with a sharp utility knife it tends to gap open .

 

[ProCharger]

Circular saw as well here when I lined my cattle trailer.

 

[CNGsaves]

Since we're talking about rubber horse mats . . . .
. . . .
. . . . . . . this Rural King price a good deal ???

4 ft x 6 ft x 3/4" thick . . . for $24.99 after rebate

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/BlackFridayScans/RuralKing/15

 

[rayra]

Fairly easy to do with a fresh sharp utility knife. You don't even have to work hard. Just slow and careful with the first scoring cut, deeper on the next 1-2 passes.

 

[LumpyMusic]

Those suggesting a utility knife must be cutting some kind of horse stall mat that I'm not used to. The one's we use are made from recycled tires. No way in heck that a utility knife, even in the hands or Arnold, could cut through them.

I mark with a silver sharpie and a straight edge, put a pair of 4x4s under the mat parallel with the cut, and use a medium-fine blade SawZall, relatively slow speed.

I've tried lubing and not lubing the blades. Doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference to the cut or the blade. The lube comes off as soon as the hot rubber melts on the blade. I prefer not to get a bunch of petroleum on the mat, as the horse will be eating off of it later. WD40, mineral spirits, acetone, alcohol, wax and grease remover (nearly anything) on the blade AFTER the cut and the rubber comes off.

I cut 3" holes near the edges with a hole saw. Makes man handling those heavy bastards easier when I need to move or remove them later.


Lump

 

[jimgood]

One thing I found that helped with the utility knife method was to put a broom stick under the mat below cut line. That creates some tension so that the gap opens as you cut it.

 

[bmxdad]

Since we're talking about rubber horse mats . . . .
. . . .
. . . . . . . this Rural King price a good deal ???

4 ft x 6 ft x 3/4" thick . . . for $24.99 after rebate

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/BlackFridayScans/RuralKing/15

Very good price ... I paid $35 at TS