Shopsmith Forums

I have been thinking about purchasing the anti-fatigue mat. Before I do that, have any of you used something else with satisfactory results that you would be willing to recommend?

BPR

I use a rubber foam matt... It's the same material Shopsmith sells! You can buy it by the foot at most big lumber outlets. I bought 30 Ft of it at Lowes in the carpet department.. Comes on a large roll 36 inched wide and something like $`1.80 per ft.. works great!

I have some colored squares with puzzle-like interlocking edges. Picked them up at either HD or Lowe's - can't recall which. They weren't expensive but I don't recall what the actual cost was. They work well to reduce the stress of standing on concrete floors, which I have in my shop.

I also have a couple of foam runners - one from Shopsmith and the other of identical material but from another source.

Both serve the purpose well.

I'd recommend you get the matts similar to what Shopsmith sells. They have sloped edges that are less likely to cause you to trip - as I'm known to do on occasion. I think it has something to do with my advancing age. Understand, I'm not complaining - I love having more birthdays!!

When I worked with Bill Mayo he put down a sizeable sheet of cork. Seemed to be pretty easy on the feet and knees.

And before anybody starts, I was on my knees looking up into a headstock, not begging or worshipping Bill.

etc92guy wrote:
And before anybody starts, I was on my knees looking up into a headstock, not begging or worshipping Bill.

Yeah...OK.


How easy are these roll mats to sweep clean?

doug45601 wrote:I use a rubber foam matt... It's the same material Shopsmith sells! You can buy it by the foot at most big lumber outlets. I bought 30 Ft of it at Lowes in the carpet department.. Comes on a large roll 36 inched wide and something like $`1.80 per ft.. works great!

Great tip on these rubber mats I wasn't aware Lowes sold them. I knew there was a flea market in SC that had great prices and I was waiting for another trip to buy some but now I can look at Lowes. Thanks!!!!!!!

I have one that was bought in Costco several years ago (Christmas present from the dear wife). It is honeycombed so debris and sawdust settles in the holes until a floor cleaning is performed. Then the debris vacums up quite nicely. It remains in front of the workbench and is not used around the SS.

It does help with the fatique factor but does not have sloped edges and like Leonard, I can be prone to tripping. The other disadvantage is that I often have to move it as I move tools around my narrow shop.

John

An expensive option is Z-coil shoes. Haven't tried them myself but know a few people who do. http://www.zcoil.com/ They claim that it helps when standing on a concrete or hard floor all day.