Mat Magnet Tutorial (requires the disc magnets - available here and magnet covers - available here)

Necessary Supplies

1. Cutting implement like an Xacto knife

2. Wax paper or another kind of protective sheeting

3. Epoxy (I use the Loctite 5 min version)

4. Cotton swabs or other applicator

Supplies you may need

1. An already existing magnetic mat

2. Your Scrollplay container

3. Scissors

4. Large paper for template

5. Marker

6. Paper towels

7. Metal that is flat

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*If you have an existing mat, please start at step 4 before moving on to the Epoxy phase.

Step 1: Correct for magnet polarity and mark magnets

• Hold or set your scrollplay container upside down. Then set a soft layer such as a folded paper towel or playmat rubber on top of one of the large magnets. Then place one of the disc magnets on top. The correct side will snap to the area where the large magnet is. Please be somewhat careful in this step, as the magnets are somewhat brittle prior to encasement in the rubber.

• Using a marker, make an mark on the exposed surface to indicate the side of the magnet that should face the bottom of the mat. Do this step with each of the 6 magnets in the pack.

Step 2: Prepare a template

• If you are not using the store template [link] then you will have to make one. Prepare a large sheet or 4 standard sheets taped together. Mark 6 hole centers, 3 to a side. The left magnets should be 23-1/8" away from the right side magnets, and then each side's magnets should be vertically spaced 6-3/8" away from each other. Around each center point draw a 3/8" circle to be cut out.

• If you are using the store template you will want to cut out the outline of the mat to make it easier to position.

• Then, place and center the template on the back of the mat you are modifying.

Step 3: Cut and remove the mat circles

• Using a sharp knife, cut out the circles using the template as a guide. Be very careful in this step as you do not want to go too far and cut up the fabric on the front of the mat.

• You can also use the magnet as a guide as well if you are worried about perfect circles.

• Peel the circles and remove them from the mat

• Go to Step 5 for the epoxy phase

Step 4: Use an existing mat as a template

• If you have an existing mat, place it facedown on the table. Then place and center the mat you are modifying on top of it. Then you can place the 6 magnets into their approimate positions and they should snap into place. Use the measurements in step 2 to make adjustments to their final location if you wish.

• Hold down the magnets and cut around them to get your mat circles as in step 3.

Step 5: Epoxy

• Prior to epoxy, protect the face of the mat. If you went the template route, place some wax paper under the circle cutouts. Additionally, you may want to position some type of flat metal like a ruler underneath the wax paper in order to make the magnet set better, as the metal will pull the magnet to it, applying some pressure.
• If you are using an existing mat, just place some wax paper between the mats, the bottom mat magents will attact the top magnets and keep them in place.
• Mix up the epoxy as directed on instructions. You may want to do two small batches if you are using some fast setting epoxy.

• Swab some epoxy into the circle cut outs.

• Place and press in a magnet X side facing you. If you are using an existing magnetized mat, the magnet will flip and attact the correct side.

• Swab some epoxy on the face of the magnet.

• Place and press down the small rubber circles included with the magnets.

• Swab some epoxy on top around the seams in order to fully encase it and prevent tearing out.

• After it has fully set you can sand down any high ridges as necessary.