This is a quick step-by-step guide on how to trim your classic wrestling mat.
It is recommended NOT to trim your mat before it has fully cured for one year. During the first year, you can expect the mat to shrink 6% in length and 4% to 5% in width.
Supplies that you will need before you begin:
- Paint Tray
- Paint Roller – Small 2-3” Width or Paint Brush
- Resilite Vinyl Paint
- Measuring Tape
- Chalk Line or Piece of Chalk
- Masking Tape
- Safety Glasses or Goggles
- Wooden 2" x 4" ( to prop the edge of the mat you will be trimming)
- White Rags
- Jigsaw or Saber Saw with Knife Blade ( or Extra fine tooth blade )
- Flathead screwdriver to open the paint can
Directions:
- Measure and mark the area of the mat that needs to be trimmed.
- You can use the chalk line to strike a straight edge to follow.
- Lay the wood 2" x 4" on edge on the floor underneath the mat edge. Allow the mat edge you will be trimming to extend out over the 2x4 by several inches. Be sure the mat edge is raised up off the floor enough to allow your jigsaw blade to pass without damaging the floor.
- With Jigsaw, be sure you have a Knife Edge blade. If you cannot find a Knife Edge Blade, use the very finest tooth blade available.
- Using the jigsaw, carefully cut the mat. Be sure to stay straight and follow the line. Do not force the mat through. Use a slow and steady motion.
- Once the mat has been trimmed, Use Resilite Vinyl Paint and your roller to apply two or three coats of paint to the raw foam edge of the mat. Two or Three coats are better than one heavy coat. You can see here using a paintbrush.
- Shake and stir the can of paint. Paint will be thick. WARNING: Paint dries very quickly.
Pour paint in paint tray. Try to start painting as soon as possible. - The 2nd or 3rd coat can be applied 15 - 20 minutes after the initial coat.
- Allow the edge of the mat to dry for 1 hour.