help! rolled, cold cutting mat!

Hi Group!
I jumped in a month or two back and since then have developed some pictures
of my quilts, but still need to scan them so I can show you all And
conveniently, DH got a scanner for Xmas (ok, I had something to do with
that), so someday, I have confidence they'll be up
Also, I finished my in-laws' Xmas gift quilt--6 by 7 feet, Buckeye Beauty in
forest greens and golden wheats and yellows. Woo Hoo!
Okay, now to get on topic:
My in-laws are so cool that they got me a 24" by 36" duraheal mat for Xmas,
only they forgot they did (they're silly that way), so I didn't find out
about it until they found it stored somewhere a week after we returned home
(5 states away). Here's my dilemma:
They mailed it, only they rolled it instead of packing it flat. UPS just
showed up with it and it was rolled to about 8" in diameter and very cold (I
think it's about 20 deg out). First thing I did was unroll it out on the
carpet, face down, and put books on it to keep it flat while it comes up to
room temperature.
Was that the right thing to do?
What if that doesn't work?
I've heard something about taking hair dryers to these things--can that be
done without warping?
Ack!!!
I've been so wanting one this size (my other is half that), and I hope I can
revive this one safely. Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

--Kim in cville va

Hi Kim, Don't know anything about a duraheal mat, but I keep the hair dryer
in another room away from my Olfa. I'd just let it warm up with those
books on it and see what happens.Heat (too much) might really warp it. Ask
me how I know.
Martha
"kim in cville va" wrote in message
. ..
Hi Group!
I jumped in a month or two back and since then have developed some
pictures
of my quilts, but still need to scan them so I can show you all And
conveniently, DH got a scanner for Xmas (ok, I had something to do with
that), so someday, I have confidence they'll be up
Also, I finished my in-laws' Xmas gift quilt--6 by 7 feet, Buckeye Beauty
in
forest greens and golden wheats and yellows. Woo Hoo!
Okay, now to get on topic:
My in-laws are so cool that they got me a 24" by 36" duraheal mat for
Xmas,
only they forgot they did (they're silly that way), so I didn't find out
about it until they found it stored somewhere a week after we returned
home
(5 states away). Here's my dilemma:
They mailed it, only they rolled it instead of packing it flat. UPS just
showed up with it and it was rolled to about 8" in diameter and very cold
(I
think it's about 20 deg out). First thing I did was unroll it out on the
carpet, face down, and put books on it to keep it flat while it comes up
to
room temperature.
Was that the right thing to do?
What if that doesn't work?
I've heard something about taking hair dryers to these things--can that be
done without warping?
Ack!!!
I've been so wanting one this size (my other is half that), and I hope I
can
revive this one safely. Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

--Kim in cville va

Once the molecular structure inside the mat changes from the heat, it's not
going to go back to where it was. The only thing you can do is try to cut out
the flat areas (if there are any). Additional heat will only cause further
distortion...bummer...

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized
LC in Sunny So Cal
Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

I wouldn't give up just because it's said to be impossible. Never give up.
Never. In fact, we had someone here who put theirs on the driveway and
backed the car over it until it flattened. Don't know if I would try that
but I would still have to hope and try something. Just because. Polly

"LC aka Fiddy" wrote in message
...
Once the molecular structure inside the mat changes from the heat, it's
not
going to go back to where it was. The only thing you can do is try to cut
out
the flat areas (if there are any). Additional heat will only cause
further
distortion...bummer...

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized
LC in Sunny So Cal
Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

I kind of worried about rolling something out that was cold and brittle. I
probably would have let it set at room temperature before i started to pry
on it. A little different twist... I once got one that smelled like a
skunk... I soaked it in the bathtub for days and left it outside for a few
weeks and finally it got better. Mine were rolled on the edges when I
found them because they had been smashed against something, but I think
they'll flatten out if left alone to relax.

Weighted under glass in the sunshine?
I messed a mat up by leaving it in my car after
a guild meeting. It isn't too bad but it works
well thrown on the couch to keep the dog off.
Taria

Polly Esther wrote:

I wouldn't give up just because it's said to be impossible. Never give up.
Never. In fact, we had someone here who put theirs on the driveway and
backed the car over it until it flattened. Don't know if I would try that
but I would still have to hope and try something. Just because. Polly

"LC aka Fiddy" wrote in message
...


Once the molecular structure inside the mat changes from the heat, it's


not


going to go back to where it was. The only thing you can do is try to cut


out


the flat areas (if there are any). Additional heat will only cause


further


distortion...bummer...

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized
LC in Sunny So Cal
Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Update:
It's been a few hours now, and it seems to have actually relaxed quite
nicely! YAYYY!
Just a little bit turn-up at both of the short sides, but the rest of it
lies flat on the table. Very nice. I'm thinking this still gives me plenty
more cutting real estate than my other mat, and maybe the little bit of curl
left will still fall out over time and with training (haven't pulled out the
hair dryer yet, but I liked the idea of putting it under glass in the
sunshine...though I don't know that we'll be seeing any useful temperatures
anytime soon...).
Wheeee! New quilty stuff!
--Kim in cville va

"kim in cville va" wrote in message
. ..
Hi Group!
I jumped in a month or two back and since then have developed some
pictures
of my quilts, but still need to scan them so I can show you all And
conveniently, DH got a scanner for Xmas (ok, I had something to do with
that), so someday, I have confidence they'll be up
Also, I finished my in-laws' Xmas gift quilt--6 by 7 feet, Buckeye Beauty
in
forest greens and golden wheats and yellows. Woo Hoo!
Okay, now to get on topic:
My in-laws are so cool that they got me a 24" by 36" duraheal mat for
Xmas,
only they forgot they did (they're silly that way), so I didn't find out
about it until they found it stored somewhere a week after we returned
home
(5 states away). Here's my dilemma:
They mailed it, only they rolled it instead of packing it flat. UPS just
showed up with it and it was rolled to about 8" in diameter and very cold
(I
think it's about 20 deg out). First thing I did was unroll it out on the
carpet, face down, and put books on it to keep it flat while it comes up
to
room temperature.
Was that the right thing to do?
What if that doesn't work?
I've heard something about taking hair dryers to these things--can that be
done without warping?
Ack!!!
I've been so wanting one this size (my other is half that), and I hope I
can
revive this one safely. Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

--Kim in cville va

Had one special ordered--they shipped it to the LQS rolled....they left it
rolled! I unrolled it very carefully, and laid it out as flat as it wanted
to go ona HARD SURFACE (carpet doesn't work for this), and just let it rest
a couple of days, it gradually started to relax. As it did so, I laid stacks
and stacks of books on the unrolled part. The only thing that was hard the
'waiting part', It went completely FLAT for me.
Used it for a few years before I noticed they put 23 24 24 26 on one short
side : ( Not that I ever really used that side for numbers.......
Butterfly (was worth a shared story at the LQS after I noticed it)

"kim in cville va" wrote in message
. ..
Hi Group!
I jumped in a month or two back and since then have developed some
pictures
of my quilts, but still need to scan them so I can show you all And
conveniently, DH got a scanner for Xmas (ok, I had something to do with
that), so someday, I have confidence they'll be up
Also, I finished my in-laws' Xmas gift quilt--6 by 7 feet, Buckeye Beauty
in
forest greens and golden wheats and yellows. Woo Hoo!
Okay, now to get on topic:
My in-laws are so cool that they got me a 24" by 36" duraheal mat for
Xmas,
only they forgot they did (they're silly that way), so I didn't find out
about it until they found it stored somewhere a week after we returned
home
(5 states away). Here's my dilemma:
They mailed it, only they rolled it instead of packing it flat. UPS just
showed up with it and it was rolled to about 8" in diameter and very cold
(I
think it's about 20 deg out). First thing I did was unroll it out on the
carpet, face down, and put books on it to keep it flat while it comes up
to
room temperature.
Was that the right thing to do?
What if that doesn't work?
I've heard something about taking hair dryers to these things--can that be
done without warping?
Ack!!!
I've been so wanting one this size (my other is half that), and I hope I
can
revive this one safely. Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

--Kim in cville va

I'm no expert, but I would take the books off right away, turn it face up,
and let it warm and flatten naturally and slowly.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

The books weight got the corners to lie flat and they still are 'flat'. Just
remember I did NOT put the books on immediately--I waited until it was
'relaxed' before doing so. Prevented it from staying a lil bit curled liked
it wanted to do
Butterfly (didn't use the sun or any other 'heat' except room temp)
"Queen of Squishies" hicall80 @ earthlink.net wrote in message
ink.net...
I'm no expert, but I would take the books off right away, turn it face up,
and let it warm and flatten naturally and slowly.

Karen, Queen of Squishies