Setting up a home garage shop. Recommendations for rubber floor mats?
 

I want to put mats down for foot relief and in case I drop a frame or something. It's your typical concrete garage floor.

I found this on amazon, really cheap. 24 sq feet.

I'm guessing some of you have mats and know what's good and what isnt. Any tips would be great.

Also, I didn't want to start a new thread asking about good bike stands... but while you're here, you might as well clue me in on a good deal on a bike stand if you know of one.:D

here's my take...

Consider the "lav mats" that places sell. Locally we have a Sams club that offers mats that are at least 1/4" thick heavy guage rubber with holes or perforations in them. They lock just like the ones you linked. The disadvantage to the ones you linked are that they are foam and have a few cons to them. First they flatten to less than 1/8" thick after you've used them for a few weeks. Second due to the first con the interlocking will quit holding together very well due to them being so thin and smushed.

bike stands. I'm no expert, never owned one, and I'm looking to make my first purchase of one as well. My research and my wallet have pointed me here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaMV0pwJX3g

That stand which can also be found here: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Categor...y=&searchTerm=
can be had for about $150 shipped depending on coupon codes and whatnot.

Good luck in your endeavors.

I'm sure McMaster Carr sells Mats. They'll likely have fire ratings & descriptions.

also, if you wish to go the foam mat route as you linked try out the harbor freights as they carry an identical set and you know their prices. I do however think you'll really enjoy using a heavier gauge rubber mat.

I agree a heavier mat is preferable, but if price prevents I use this type of mat in my shop with no problems. Harbor Freight's normal price is not that great but they have a sale right now - though you may have to be on their mailing list to get the best price ($7.50 for 4 mats - 16 sq ft). I've found you need to get the thicker mats (which they stock) for them to hold up over time. Of course do not mount your stand on top of them.

Any of your big box home improvement stores will have similar products. My only suggestion is get a solid surface (diamond plate style, not perforated) so small parts stay on top of the mat, and get the largest sections you can get so there are fewer edges to separate or lift. Those narrow trim edges tend to go to heck in a hurry, so if you can save money by buying kits without them, you won't miss them. Solid rubber is way more durable, but less cushioned than foam rubber.

Here is where I buy mats for my shop....all price ranges:http://www.rubbercal.com/

If you're not doing much those are doable I suppose, but you're looking at almost $3.00 per sq ft plus a significant amount for shipping for the least expensive tiles. 8 interlocking rubber tiles (a bit less sq ft than OP's 6 tiles) would cost almost $70 with shipping, and that's only a 6.6 x 3.3 workspace. With Harbor Freight's price you can get eight 2x2 tiles plus a spare 4 pack for under $30, even with tax and shipping if there is not one nearby.

LBS has Honeycomb Mats .. dropped hardware falls in a hole and so wont (usually) roll under the workbench. :thumb:

Rule without honeycomb mats - Hold onto what you're doing but track the dropped item until it stops.

I really don't like the interlocking mats and specially the foam variety. I've had to procure mats for various reasons in industrial and shop environments. My preference and experience have suggested that the ideal mat is largely use dependent. Where individuals are standing in the same general area for long periods of the day and if any sort of drainage is required I've hade best luck with the large, heavy, perforated mats. In engineering/work shop settings I've had best luck with solid surface, solvent resistant, mats. In all instances I greatly prefer a single large mat of the desired area.

Personally, unless you're standing in the same spot all day, like an lbs mechanic, I wouldn't opt for a mat at all. Bare or sealed floors are way easier to keep clean. With regard to "dropping frames": Don't. Solve the issue that's resulting in you dropping frames instead of attempting to protect against a possibility that shouldn't be tolerated.

Yeah you're absolutely right. I would find that eventuality unacceptable as well.
I didn't mention that I plan on working on motorcycles as well, and there are a lot more heavy items than can or might fall or need to be quickly set down.
I didn't realize the amazon mats were foam, but I just starting looking into this yesterday.
I will go for a heavy rubber mat for the main area, probably with perforations. Good for non slip and fluids as well as catching little bolts. And I got a buddy at harbor freight too!

Motorcycles changes things considerably, so foam mats are out. I belive Sam's Club may have the perforated ones

Check Global Industrial or Global Equipment and Northern tool..Also Consolidated plastics, they have a mat division...

For the money it's to beat horse stall mats from Tractor Supply. The rubber will hold up to motorcylces, etc. and they clean up pretty well.


http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...&storeId=10151

I will never use perforated mats again. I worked in a shop with them and every time i dropped something the bit would go any which way. this made for a lot of praying to the god floor as I looked for that bit. It was obvious that who ever choose the mats never wrenched on a bike. Andy.

Horse trailer mats are EXCELLENT!

Some flooring examples on here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/

Just pulled the trigger on these, $16:

http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Floor-Co...shop+floor+mat

Will let you know how they go in a week.

I was also going to suggest horse stall mats. We got them at the local Agway store. I don't remember prices. They sure are heavy !

I'm glad someone finally mentioned those stall mats. They're heavy duty, mine is one inch thick.
You care about your back and knees? Don't skimp on Harbor Freight mats. You get what you pay for.
My stall mat cost me fifty bucks as I remember. Good investment.

OK so they're for bikes, motorcycles, horses, and MMA combat training. That pretty much covers all the bases. I'm either gonna try out some horse mats or get something at harbor freight, I got a buddy who works there.

Avoid the el-cheapo mats, you want proper shop mats that will stay flat, without the edges lifting off the floor and creating a trip hazard. A good shop floor mat will be tapered near the edges, so that the edge is thin (not presenting a square edge, hope that makes sense...).

About 10 years ago my sister gave me a floor mat for Christmas. It's been in use in my shop ever since and has held up very well. It's a 3x5 Comfort King, about 3/8" thick with tapered edges. The tapered edges are a must in my experience.

Edit: Amazon has them. 3x5 for $75, free shipping.

Stands can be very taste-specific (and that Elite one linked above looks like a good one), but I've had very good luck with the cheap $55 eBay specials. One thing if you go that route though: get the model with the QR/cam clamp versus the screw-on clamp--much easier to use one-handed... :)