Battle Mat not Laying Flat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Battle Mat not Laying Flat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fjw70
03-09-08, 01:34 PM I jusr picked up a vinyl battle mat (Chessex is the brand name) and it came rolled up and will not lay flat now. What is the best way to get these things to lay flat? Would ironing ruin them? Any help would be appreciated.
Tisi
03-09-08, 01:41 PM You could lay a bunch of heavy books on top of it for a day or so, to straighten it out.
Seeker95
03-09-08, 01:55 PM Placing it under a towel and then ironing it should work fairly well. Placing it under books will only keep it flat until you remove the books.
CastTiltowait
03-09-08, 01:56 PM I'd advise rolling it in the opposite direction, ie, if it was rolled hex side out, roll it squares side out. Letting it sit like that for a day or so may help take the curl out. When storing it, don't roll it as tightly as it had been in the store.
fjw70
03-09-08, 02:02 PM Thanks for the advise. The book thing didn't work. If you say that ironing won't harm it then I will try that.
Tisi
03-09-08, 02:03 PM The books method always worked for me, Seeker. It takes a few days, but it'll flatten out.

Cast's suggestion is also a good one.
Escef
03-09-08, 02:23 PM Just be careful, keep the iron on a low setting. Vinyl sometimes doesn't respond well to excessive heat.
pres_man
03-09-08, 02:24 PM I found that vis-a-vis markers often left a stain on the mat I was using. I ended up putting clear plexi over it and writing on that, which clean much easier. The reason I mention this is, the other advantage to using the clear plexi was that it flattened the mat as well.

You can see the set up I use here (about 1/2 way down):
http://community.livejournal.com/dm_on_a_dime/840.html#cutid1
Mad_Jack
03-09-08, 03:18 PM Rolling the mat up in the opposite direction will work... Just roll it up very tightly and let it sit for a day or so with rubber bands around it to keep it form unrolling. After that, it's own weight should keep it relatively flat.
Nathreet
03-09-08, 05:15 PM Roll it in reverse but don't roll it tight or you may get the problem in reverse. Go a little tighter if it still curls, bit by bit until fixed (again, if you overdo it you'll get the reverse problem). But once the problem's fixed always roll it loose, using a bottle/can maybe.
ApollyonsChosen
03-09-08, 06:31 PM Hey i have another battle mat question.I ordered the special markers for it off rpgshop.com.Anyone had problems wiping these off?
mearrin69
03-09-08, 10:55 PM The markers do wash off pretty well with just water and a paper towel but I find that red and blue are a bit more difficult to get off. Every few sessions I use something like Fantastik to clean it thoroughly. If you leave the red on too long it is very hard to get off without some chemicals and scrubbing.

Shame they can't get this working perfectly after so many years of this stuff being out (I had bought my first Chessex mat back in '90 or so.) Of course the one I bought last year looks just about like the one I had 17 years ago so maybe they're not really trying to improve them. :)
M
Jutter
03-10-08, 06:09 AM I use the same battlemat, and I store it rolled up with the squares on the outside. That works pretty well. Mine was actually rolled up and folded to fit in a square box for shipment. I got the cracks out by hanging it on a clothesline for a week.

I don't recommend ironing though. I have a feeling that would ruin both your battlemat and your ironing bolt.
pmurray@bigpond.com
03-10-08, 06:57 AM I jusr picked up a vinyl battle mat (Chessex is the brand name) and it came rolled up and will not lay flat now. What is the best way to get these things to lay flat? Would ironing ruin them? Any help would be appreciated.

For heavens sake. Roll it up the other way. When you lay it out, its own weight will keep it flat. Alternatively, lay it across the bonnet of the car on sunny day.

Having said that - is anyone else finding that dry erase marker does not wash off well?
Jutter
03-10-08, 07:51 AM Having said that - is anyone else finding that dry erase marker does not wash off well?

It wasn't made for dry erase markers. Chessex advises a special kind of marker on their website. Those can be washed off easily. But don't use dry erase, 'cause it is there to stay :)
CastTiltowait
03-10-08, 09:33 AM I use overhead transparency pens (wet-erase) markers, not any "special" ones designed for vinyl battlemats. Sometimes, if I let things sit for several days, it doesn't come off easily, but I've accidentally let a map sit for weeks, and I've still been able to get it off of the mat.
Jutter
03-10-08, 10:02 AM I use overhead transparency pens (wet-erase) markers, not any "special" ones designed for vinyl battlemats. Sometimes, if I let things sit for several days, it doesn't come off easily, but I've accidentally let a map sit for weeks, and I've still been able to get it off of the mat.

It could be that every wet-erase marker is ok. Chessex advises 'Staedtler Lumocolor' water-soluble marker.

I'd say, buy something that's in the mat's manual, and try it out in a corner first.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fjw70 03-09-08, 01:34 PM	I jusr picked up a vinyl battle mat (Chessex is the brand name) and it came rolled up and will not lay flat now. What is the best way to get these things to lay flat? Would ironing ruin them? Any help would be appreciated.
Tisi 03-09-08, 01:41 PM	You could lay a bunch of heavy books on top of it for a day or so, to straighten it out.
Seeker95 03-09-08, 01:55 PM	Placing it under a towel and then ironing it should work fairly well. Placing it under books will only keep it flat until you remove the books.
CastTiltowait 03-09-08, 01:56 PM	I'd advise rolling it in the opposite direction, ie, if it was rolled hex side out, roll it squares side out. Letting it sit like that for a day or so may help take the curl out. When storing it, don't roll it as tightly as it had been in the store.
fjw70 03-09-08, 02:02 PM	Thanks for the advise. The book thing didn't work. If you say that ironing won't harm it then I will try that.
Tisi 03-09-08, 02:03 PM	The books method always worked for me, Seeker. It takes a few days, but it'll flatten out. Cast's suggestion is also a good one.
Escef 03-09-08, 02:23 PM	Just be careful, keep the iron on a low setting. Vinyl sometimes doesn't respond well to excessive heat.
pres_man 03-09-08, 02:24 PM	I found that vis-a-vis markers often left a stain on the mat I was using. I ended up putting clear plexi over it and writing on that, which clean much easier. The reason I mention this is, the other advantage to using the clear plexi was that it flattened the mat as well. You can see the set up I use here (about 1/2 way down): http://community.livejournal.com/dm_on_a_dime/840.html#cutid1
Mad_Jack 03-09-08, 03:18 PM	Rolling the mat up in the opposite direction will work... Just roll it up very tightly and let it sit for a day or so with rubber bands around it to keep it form unrolling. After that, it's own weight should keep it relatively flat.
Nathreet 03-09-08, 05:15 PM	Roll it in reverse but don't roll it tight or you may get the problem in reverse. Go a little tighter if it still curls, bit by bit until fixed (again, if you overdo it you'll get the reverse problem). But once the problem's fixed always roll it loose, using a bottle/can maybe.
ApollyonsChosen 03-09-08, 06:31 PM	Hey i have another battle mat question.I ordered the special markers for it off rpgshop.com.Anyone had problems wiping these off?
mearrin69 03-09-08, 10:55 PM	The markers do wash off pretty well with just water and a paper towel but I find that red and blue are a bit more difficult to get off. Every few sessions I use something like Fantastik to clean it thoroughly. If you leave the red on too long it is very hard to get off without some chemicals and scrubbing. Shame they can't get this working perfectly after so many years of this stuff being out (I had bought my first Chessex mat back in '90 or so.) Of course the one I bought last year looks just about like the one I had 17 years ago so maybe they're not really trying to improve them. :) M
Jutter 03-10-08, 06:09 AM	I use the same battlemat, and I store it rolled up with the squares on the outside. That works pretty well. Mine was actually rolled up and folded to fit in a square box for shipment. I got the cracks out by hanging it on a clothesline for a week. I don't recommend ironing though. I have a feeling that would ruin both your battlemat and your ironing bolt.
pmurray@bigpond.com 03-10-08, 06:57 AM	I jusr picked up a vinyl battle mat (Chessex is the brand name) and it came rolled up and will not lay flat now. What is the best way to get these things to lay flat? Would ironing ruin them? Any help would be appreciated. For heavens sake. Roll it up the other way. When you lay it out, its own weight will keep it flat. Alternatively, lay it across the bonnet of the car on sunny day. Having said that - is anyone else finding that dry erase marker does not wash off well?
Jutter 03-10-08, 07:51 AM	Having said that - is anyone else finding that dry erase marker does not wash off well? It wasn't made for dry erase markers. Chessex advises a special kind of marker on their website. Those can be washed off easily. But don't use dry erase, 'cause it is there to stay :)
CastTiltowait 03-10-08, 09:33 AM	I use overhead transparency pens (wet-erase) markers, not any "special" ones designed for vinyl battlemats. Sometimes, if I let things sit for several days, it doesn't come off easily, but I've accidentally let a map sit for weeks, and I've still been able to get it off of the mat.
Jutter 03-10-08, 10:02 AM	I use overhead transparency pens (wet-erase) markers, not any "special" ones designed for vinyl battlemats. Sometimes, if I let things sit for several days, it doesn't come off easily, but I've accidentally let a map sit for weeks, and I've still been able to get it off of the mat. It could be that every wet-erase marker is ok. Chessex advises 'Staedtler Lumocolor' water-soluble marker. I'd say, buy something that's in the mat's manual, and try it out in a corner first.