Shop Floor

[hermit]

Are the one's from Lowe/HD foam or rubber? I'm thinking of putting some of these mats under an ellipical machine that's pretty heavy. I'm guessing the foam won't hold up under the weight?

Ryan, check Sears in the exercise dept. They sell equipment mats just for that purpose. I found them, and like them as anti-fatigue mats, but they are sold for under equipment. 3 x 6 size, and run about $30. A little pricey but they're nice, and you can find them on sale at times too.

Todd

[ironhat]

Are the one's from Lowe/HD foam or rubber? I'm thinking of putting some of these mats under an ellipical machine that's pretty heavy. I'm guessing the foam won't hold up under the weight?

I know that you're asking about the mat squares but I'll add my 2 cents on the runner - it's a closed cell foam. Very resiliant and durable.

[wardprobst]

I bought some mats from Tractor Supply about 8 years ago that I really like. They are about 3/4 thick rubber and I think originally were about 4' x 6' but I cut them into smaller pieces to move around because they were so heavy. I believe they were originally intended for horse stalls but they are the easiest floor mats to keep I've ever had and way durable and very comfortable. No sticking on my epoxy painted concrete either.
Just another one to check out,
DP

[SARGE..g-47]

My shop floor is painted with porch and floor paint and I added a small contain of that gritty sand stuff you can purchase. Otherwise and for some reason porch and floor when first laid is slicker than a baby's behind.

Added the dark grey 1/2" mats from HD-Lowes which seem to be seasonal at HD, but discovered that Lowe's carries them all year hidden back in the flooring section. Gotta look hard.

No need to glue them down and I have not had any problmem with them melting to the paint as I let the paint cure before you lay them down. I haven't had a problem in 4 years as I take them up and move them quite often with the removal and addition of machines. Just purchased two 4-paks from Lowes the other day. The mats hold up well rolling heavy machinery over them. You have to give a 770 lb planer a boost to get the casters up from pure concrete onto the mat, but once you do it will roll. But... that kind of weight rolls much better on pure concrete.. so I leave a concrete path to the front of the shop just for that reason on the machine row side. The work-bench and assembly area is all covered in those mats that are 4years old and still pristine.

For whatever reason they are much easier to vacuum than concrete. You can take them up and move them in a jiffy and they can be cut with a case knife to fit around corners and meet walls, etc. Good stuff and they are much easier on your feet than concrete or wood as they have some give. BTW.. if you have a shop cat (my shop foreman has passed now), thye do have a tendency to use them to shrapnen claws. Marrs the surface a bit, but doesn't affect what the mat is intended for!

Regards...

[atgcpaul]

I bought some mats from Tractor Supply about 8 years ago that I really like. They are about 3/4 thick rubber and I think originally were about 4' x 6' but I cut them into smaller pieces to move around because they were so heavy. I believe they were originally intended for horse stalls but they are the easiest floor mats to keep I've ever had and way durable and very comfortable. No sticking on my epoxy painted concrete either.
Just another one to check out,
DP

I have the Costco version of the HF mat--foam type. Not too impressed. We
have these rubber kind at work. They look like a big doormat. They're the kind
cashiers stand on all day. They work! Probably more money but definitely
better.

Paul

[ejs1097]

Seems like the mats melding to the floor is an isolated incident. I suppose you could put down roslin paper as a precaution

[wardprobst]

I have the Costco version of the HF mat--foam type. Not too impressed. We
have these rubber kind at work. They look like a big doormat. They're the kind
cashiers stand on all day. They work! Probably more money but definitely
better.

Paul

I think I paid $30 for the mats, they were on sale. I remember thinking it was a little over $1 square foot ( mats were 4' x 6'). They have held up extremely well but they are tall enough I can't roll a piano over them. And when they are down they will stay where you put them. They also clean easily and well. Best I've found.
DP

[JWS]

I use the antifatigue mats from HF. I too wait for them to go on sale locally and pick them up a case at a time.

John

[GaryA]

so, in an 11x21 1 car garage dedicated shop, would you guys put these over the entire floor, or just in walking and standing paths?

[ryan.s]

Are the one's from Lowe/HD foam or rubber? I'm thinking of putting some of these mats under an ellipical machine that's pretty heavy. I'm guessing the foam won't hold up under the weight?

If anyone is interested, I ended up picking up two sets from HF that were on sale for 7.99 each. I thought the foam looked a little soft but it seems that it's definitely dense enough to put an elliptical machine on it. So far so good. Thanks for the input guys.

[wardprobst]

so, in an 11x21 1 car garage dedicated shop, would you guys put these over the entire floor, or just in walking and standing paths?

I just have them where I stand the most but since my shop gets reconfigured to some degree almost daily, I move them around quite a bit. Which is why I cut them to a smaller size.
DP

[ironhat]

I just have them where I stand the most but since my shop gets reconfigured to some degree almost daily, I move them around quite a bit. Which is why I cut them to a smaller size.
DP

Ditto that!!!!

[Crash2510]

I have not used the hf specifically but I can tell you to be careful with these if your shop is in a space where water can get up underneath them. I grew up on a dairy farm with these and they make a very efficient surfboard. When surfing and falling you can do a number to your shins