Can I use something other than mat board for a backing sheet?
Matboard is the most appropriate thing to use as a backing sheet. Anything else will prematurely dull your blade. Matboard is firm enough to support face paper of the mat being cut along with being soft enough not to dull the blade or cause the blade to flex causing hooks or curves. It will however have to be changed periodically. Letting a backing sheet get too chewed up from use can also cause hooks or curves in the cut. The question has been asked if self-healing vinyl desk covers could be used. It sounds good, it lasts forever and never has to be changed but the answer is “no”. That material is too tough for a blade even to score across. It would require much more force to be cut on, cause blade flexing and most definitely dull the blade faster than usual. Lastly, it is important that the backing sheet is at least as long as the mat you are cutting and at least 3 to 4 inches wide. If there are any areas under the mat where the blade will be passing that is not supported by backing
