Hi, there.
I know you're not supposed to cut cookie dough on Silpats using a knife, according to the manufacturer. (Fiberglass threads can be exposed)
That said...
Do you guys do it anyway?
Do you use cookie cutters?
What interesting kinds of re-purposed tools have you discovered to cut dough directly onto a Silpat?
(My primary goal is cutting long, straight lines through dough for gingerbread houses - using patterns as a guide.)
For example, I just discovered a plastic "smoothing tool" at Home Depot today with 4", 6" and 8" beveled edges in the paint department. It's dishwasher safe - haven't tried it on gingerbread dough yet, though...
The stainless steel putty knives also seem pretty useful.
Thanks a bunch... I'm new to the boards here... 
I roll out my dough and use cookie cutters on them and pizza wheels, but I make sure not to press extremely hard or to make a sawing motion with either of those tools. I've had my Silpats for years and if you treat them carefully, they don't cut or tear at all.
If you don't want to use metal tools on them, you could always use the plastic ribbon cutter rolling tools on them. That's less likely to tear them at all.
I use a pizza cutter to cut out pieces for my gingerbread houses on silpat. Like antonia74 said, don't press too hard, and I find that using a good quality, non-wobbly pizza cutter makes all the difference. It helps create clean, steady lines.
For small pieces you could use the edge of a stainles steel bench scraper. They come in various sizes.
You only wants to use cookie cutters or pizza wheels on silpat. Ask me how I know. Just once I was in a hurry and used a blade to ever so lightly cut out a pattern. I looked as if no damage had been done to the mat, but..... a few weeks later I noticed that the depth of the cut had increased down to the fiber glass level. I had to toss the mat - very painful! Needless to say I never cut with any kind of blade on my silpat, but cookie cutters and pizza wheels are ok.
In the beginning..I was obviously pressing too hard on my metal cutters. I ruined by beautiful Roul-Pat!!! 
I am now having to use a regular Sil-Pat, at least I have 3 of them.
I've got to get a new one by Christmas or I'll go nuts!
Regymusic-- LOVE that avatar..
Thanks Tljkids!! I wanted something with my favorite wedding cake colors and that is what I came up with. I sometimes wonder where everyone on cc gets some of their cake oriented avatars.
No, I found it at Avatarist.com and loved it... it looks EXACTLY like I do when I wake up every morning 
Well to be honest, I have several straight lines that are really straight holes. The knife/pizza blade/whatever else I was using that day, went thru it. The only good thing is that it kind of heals itself. Meaning that though the mark is there, it still manages to stay together. I'm just very careful about problem area's. And of course, I don't let anything but fondant and PS near it anymore.
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