I am looking for a good quality close-up mat at least 25 inches long or longer. Would appreciate some suggestions on available products that I could consider. Thanks.

Ronjo has very durable mats and a couple of them fit your size needs.

http://www.ronjo.com/magic/mts.html

The Trevor Duffy Close-up pad is one of the best and durable.
If you want outstanding, Dean Dill's Pads are excellent!

My friend recommended going to a rubber supply house and buying mousepad material. In NY it's called "Canal Rubber" they'll cut it to any length. it's available in several colors, including all the standard close up mat colors

You should be able to find a nice durable mat at your local magic store.

Zach

Zach:

1) Most people don't have a "local magic store". Plus, I'm pretty sure aligator would have thought of that.

2) Many mats aren't at least 25" in width, which is what aligator is looking for. Jekyllandhyde made a suggestion about Ronjo but they didn't have a mat at least 25" long.

3) Maritess: Mouse pad material does not make a good closeup mat for most uses. It's too hard. (This has been discussed several times at TMC.)

I believe aligator is looking for a specific source for that sized mat from someone who has specific information.

The best thing to do for a large mat that may be an odd size is make one.

The best thing to make it out of is neoprene wetsuit material from a dive shop.

If you don't have a dive shop in your area, then you will need to purchase bulk neoprene used in the construction of wetsuits.

This type of neoprene is also sold as a high-end (and expensive) "camping mat" and is the identical material. The "camping mat" is however FAR less expensive than the exact same material in a magic performance pad.

The Café doesn't permit Ebay links, but a search of Ebay using the terms "wetsuit material" or "neoprene camping mat" will bring up multiple links to both.

Good info, silverking.

Note: You'll need a good way to get professionally rounded corners. Otherwise, you'll waste your money. Even a knife is likely to give you unsatisfactory results.

Anyone know FOR SURE how to professionally cut the corners??

Steve, I use a piece of 1 1/2" thick wall copper tubing that I've ripped lengthwise into two pieces.
I use my Dremel tool to sharpen an edge onto one end of the half tube, making it into a knife edge.

When placed on the square corner of the neoprene, I use a rubber mallet to "robustly" tap the top of the copper tube, which renders a perfectly round corner on the neoprene.

I do this on a block of soft fir, and you can easily get the four corners out of a single sharpening. If you're doing more than four corners, you'll have to re-sharpen in order to keep up the clean corners on the neoprene.

Home-made, cheap, and it works. If you don't have a Dremel tool, you can use a half round file to sharpen the edge.

You will however need a table saw with a metal cutting blade to rip the round tube lengthwise into two pieces.

Thanks, Silverking! Great post!

I'm only seeing neoprene for sale that has fabric on BOTH sides of the neoprene. Is the wet suit (or camping pad) material made with the neoprene exposed on one side?

Any time I ever brng out a mat I get critisized for not doinv the trick completly imprompto