Hi everybody, Just wanted to alert you to a sale on a set of four 2’X2′ interlocking anti fatigue shop mats at Kragen’s auto supply for $7.99. Their a bit over 3/8th thick which seems to be plenty for my 260 lb frame. I bought seven sets. Brian
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Replies
Sounds like a decent price. Do they have a website? I've never heard of them.
Here's a pic and some information. The pic is of a corner where I inserted a new mat, so there is contrast in color (read: dirt, sawdust) to show the outline. I happen to have an old area rug beneath mine, so it is even cushier on the feet.
View Image
The package I have has 6 mats (~24 square feet), and cost about $10 at Costco. The package comes with borders that can attach around the perimeter of your mat to give it smooth borders. Mine say "Anti-Fatigue Foam Flooring" from Team Products International. UPC code is 62230 50610 5. "Item #" listed is 492139. Company part number is AFM6100204-74.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 4/30/2003 12:48:29 PM ET by forestgirl
Hey forestgirl, I have been looking for some anti-fatigue mats off and on for the last few weeks, I just found these at Pep Boys, 24 sq. ft. for about $10.00. My question is, a year after your post, how have these held up ? They seem pretty light weight. I will be on them for probably only 3 - 4 hours a day. At this price if they only lasted a couple of years its a good deal. Thanks.
Robert
Hi Robert! That's a very good price. Assuming they are the same basic material and design as the one's I'm familiar with, and they probably are, I'd say go for it. My experience with them indicates they are great to walk and kneel on, they're easy to vacuum up sawdust from and the stay flat and hooked together well. I have rolled smaller machines across them, but I take precautions when leaving them under anything with casters for more than a short time. For instance, my portable planer is on a table with about 2" casters. When I roll it out into the center of the shop, I slide a piece of Masonite or 1/4" ply under the casters, otherwise they leave dents in the flooring.
Are there any activities you're particular concerned about?
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Thanks for the reply, I think I'm sold on these, by far the best price per sq. ft. Just need something for in front of my work benches. Lowes has a similar product, I think 18" sq in different colors for childrens playrooms, and exercise mats, etc.
Robert
Robert
I will add to FG's comment as I have had em for two years. Except for the coffee stains, paint drops, stain smears, rough spots the "shop cat " used for sharpening nails: they look and are as good as the day I laid em.
If it's the same type they sell at HD and Sam's Club, they are good to go and much less expensive than real rubber mats I've seen. You're back and feet will appreciate the purchase.
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Oh, Sarge, I'd forgotten about the cat-attraction factor. Occasionally, I'll lay a square of flooring on the concrete walkway while doing some weeding. If I leave it out there, it always ends up being used as a scratching surface! Too funny.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
FG
The ole shop cat always goes to the same one for some reason. I change it ocassiaonally, but I just figure it as a loss on my income tax return each year. It adds some character. According to a certain female around my house, there is more than enough "character" in my shop already without adding.
he.......
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Hi Billy, Looks like Forest Girl got an even better deal. Kragens auto supply is one of a group of Auto supply stores located in 19 states...CSK auto supply,Checker auto parts or Schucks auto supply. Check em out:
http://www.csk.auto.com
The mats are made by Team products (see Jamie's post). The URL is http://www.teamproducts.com
I guess their packaging them a bit differently for different markets. Regardless, the mats are great. I highly recommend them. Brian
Thanks to all. I've seen these mats in many industrial supply catalogs, but never as cheap as you've been saying.
There's a Checker Auto Parts a block away, I've never noticed such a think there, but I'll take a look.
Right now I just use some carpet squares, which help, but they really get crudded full of sawdust, grinding dust, ect. A smooth top mat would make cleanup easier.
"but they really get crudded full of sawdust, grinding dust, etc." -- that was the problem I was having with the rug, which now resides underneath. The rubber mats are sooooooo easy to clean!
BTW: I made a big mistake on the price of my, sorry! My sweetie picked 'em up in Eastern WA, and says they ran about $10 (pack of 6). I'll edit my original post.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Still, $10 for 24 sq. ft. is a heck of a deal. Just looked in the industrial catalogs, cheapest they carry run about $20 for 6 sq. ft.. Maybe they're better quality, but that's not always the case.
The quality of these is certainly fine for my use, and I like the idea that they come up easily when needed, are easy to replace if a mess one up, and are re-configurable when needed. And, on top of all that, I've noticed that the un-used "edges" with their little cut-outs can be set inside a box or drawer to gently hold the ends of chisels!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG
I've looked for the mats around here, and haven't found them for a
good price.
If you see a great price mail-order, let me know.
jEFF
Jeff, did you see my "price correction" above?? Just want to be sure you're updated, as my packs of 6 were around $10, not $7 as I had previously thought.
These tend to be a seasonal or otherwise sporadic inventory item, so keep looking, and ask the managers of the appropriate stores if and when they expect to get them in. That's how we were aware of their availablility at the Costco warehouse.
Will keep my eyes open for on-line availability for you.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I just called Costco abouit those mats. They have been deleted but they intend to get others but have not decided which ones or when they will come in.
Len
How many mats were you thinking of buying?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I really haven't thought about it. Why?
FG
Nearest Costco is 1 & 1/2 hr away. I've been there once in the past
year.
No big box stores near me for sales.
Thank you for keeping an eye out.
Oh, thought you might like to know, I'm adding a 12 ft section to my
shop this summer. I ran out of room.
Trying to do it as inexpensive as I can.
Talk to you soon.
Jeff
Jeff,
Ocean State Job Lot had a package of 4 (2'x2') for $5 last Summer - I bought 4 packs and got back to Canada and lo and behold if HD didn't have the exact same item for $20. Cdn. I know they have lots of stores in Mass - not sure about Vermont. They may - or may not - still have some in stock.
I put mine around the "standing areas" in the shop and sliced off the interlocking bits that weren't needed to prevent dust collection, and left the area under and behind the TS and router table clear in order to keep them level and stable (and because I don't stand there!)
Ocean State gets - as the name implies - "Job Lots" - close outs, bankrupt stock, etc. so you are never sure what you might get a deal on. 2 weeks ago I picked up 2 large reflector clamping work lamps with 20' cords for about $5.00 each (the parts would cost more) and easy release masking tape (the "blue" kind for painting around) for less than a third the regular price. (When you're taping the waterline and multiple stripes on a 34 foot boat that comes in handy !) Heavy duty extension cords, tape measures, and an ever changing variety of other stuff is regularly available at great prices.
This is turning into an advertisement for Ocean State. A lot of the stuff they sell off is not of great quality but if you look in on a regular basis, you will routinely find something you can use in your shop for half or less of the HD price. Living in Canada, we treasure our trips to OSJL because we don't have anything similar up here. My summer neighbours used to laugh at us, because they wouldn't dream of shopping there, but they stopped arguing when I exactly duplicated their expensive "big box" patio table, umbrella and chairs - for less than a third of what they paid, about a week later. Were they ticked !Gavin Pitchford
I don't know of any Job Lot stores near me, but they sound great. I'm an hour north of Philadelphia, but I may have seen one in Phoenix a couple of months ago. I will check it out next year.
More important than floor pads, tell me about your boat. We have a 35' Chris double cabin 25 years old and a dream.
Len
Ah, Len ! A "stinkpotter" ! ;-)
I love looking at old wooden boats with fine lines and quality construction regardless of their means of propulsion, but at heart we are dedicated sailors. My partner (the first Canadian female olympic sailing coach) and I sail a C&C 34 - c. 1980. Takes a crew of 8 to race which is how - before we bought this 1890 house and started renovating again - I spent all my weekends. Its fiberglass exterior, teak (and formica) interior. We keep all the "extra"stuff off it - including the ceiling panels - to focus on keeping the boat as low in weight as we legally can. The boats in our class are so evenly matched, its all down to crew and tactics. We can race all day and win or lose by less than 20 feet. So we spend a fair bit of time each year sanding off last year's bottom paint, down to 200 grit, then putting on a copper bottom paint that bonds to the 'glass with acetone, then sanding that at 400 grit, then another coat. Usually in the cold. Launched yesterday in near freezing temperatures and a ton of wind and rain. First race tonight - Sunny and warm, but no wind.
But you should see the locker ! The club I belong to is on Toronto Island - about half a mile offshore, facing in towards Toronto Harbour and looking back at the downtown core. When you get your locker, they are 8' by 10', 2x4 interiors on OSB exteriors and a plywood floor, with an overhead light and nothing else. Most remain the same, and acquire gas /diesel cans, sails, old cushions, boat parts for "emergencies" (i.e. not good enough to put on the boat - but too good to toss out for at least 1 or 2 years) and old lines.
We made up for the sparseness of the boat: My partner and I trimmed ours out with a built in microwave, bar refrigerator, track lighting, wine rack, carpeting and a "slide-out" pullout queen size bunk over storage which is hidden by shutters. "Fold up" "dinner" table, Wood natural cedar, trim painted in shiny white, and OSB Ralph Lauren "river rock" blue, all with a million dollar view of the city of Toronto skyline. Other storage in the rafters. Still a little bit left to do, but truly nautical and a very cosy place on a rainy afternoon.
What about yours ?
Added photos of the boat taken mid race - note our shiny bottom in attachment 2 !
"sail fast, live slow".Gavin Pitchford
I shouldn't even talk to guys like you, it makes me jealous. Then again I really can't complain. We (wife & 6 year old daughter) bought our first house 40 years ago,it was run down but on a canal leading into Jamaica Bay in Queens New York city. I now had a good reason to get a boat, something I always wanted.
We had a sailboat in mind until I realized we woud have to motor for over an hour before we could start to sail. Soooo,we boat our first boat,a 25' Chris plywood express cruiser. It acted like a styrifoam teacup or a sailboat without a keel or sails. But we loved it. With its single engine and towing a plywood dink, we traveled completely around Long Island,and Connecticut. We lived aboad for weeks until we got home. After a few years of this, it was decided to get a larger boat. The problem was money,I was a school teacher who had time but not the money.
After a while we found an old wooden Chris, 1957 ,34' double cabin that needed a lot of work. I kept remembering something a friend said to me before I bought my first boat," If you want to have a boat you have to have either tools or money". This boat sure needed tools. I rebuilt the stem, cabin side, some of the interior, fiberglassed the deck and cabin top. It was a lot of work but I had tools and new how to use them. We loved that boat, all the room, a shower that I squeezed into a tiny head, 2 engines (that I had to remove and rebuild the following winter) and it even had davits for our dink. We spent 16 years with that boat traveling and living aboard all summer until the yard didn't want to haul her because she had to hang in the slings for three days to seal the hull before she could be moved to a berth.
That forced us to our third boat ,a bleach bottle. This time a 35' Chris double cabin (do you see a pattern here?) Almost nothing to do but clean, wax,and odds and ends.That was a good thing too as I was 60 years old by then. Well we have been living on the boat each summer but doing very little traveling. I'm now 77 and not as spry as I used to be. So even if we never owned a sail boat except for a sailing dink we have had a wonderful life on the water.
Now we live in PA. but I keep the boat on the south shore of Long Island so we will continue to enjoy those on shore breezes.
Good sailing!
Len
P.S. The first time I was called a "stink potter" we were tied up at the gas dock of my wife's cousin's club (all sails from a 25' Tartan to Hinkley built Bermuda 40). A 5 year old daughter of one of the members was invited aboard to see our boat. When she stepped on bord she looked around and said "THIS ISN'T A BOAT, IT'S A STINK POT!
Forgive me from rambling on like that I guess it's the perogotive of getting older. NOT OLD, JUST OLDER.
Len,
Sounds like an incredible life !
I applaud the 5 year old for her insight - and you for the joy you feel when on the water, however you are propelled there. I'm glad you still take her out and I completely appreciate your love of the ocean. I hope you have many more years of happiness afloat.
I am blessed that the club where I belong has a substantial shop and so enables many of the members to restore and maintain a variety of vintage yachts, including the largest fleet of 8 meters in the world, one of which was designed by the legendary Olin Stephens 65 years ago and which won the Canada's Cup. (Olin is still alive and visited the club last year)
If money were no object I would happily offer my services as an apprentice at Hinkley's or down at Mystic and combine my love for boats and for building.
However, as this is not a realistic option, it's back to work.
May your winds always be fair - and at your back. Gavin Pitchford
Any idea where they are?
None in Vermont.
Jeff
http://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/
Try here. Looks like Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachussets. Next time you go to see the Red Sox.Gavin Pitchford
Thanks Gavin
I pass the Chicopee one every now and then.
Jeff
Gavin,
The Ocean State Job Lot stores are only in MA, CT and RI. Now if your wife discovers The Christmas Tree Shops in those same three states...your moving...you have no choice...lol.
Thirty years ago there were 154 outlets between Fall River, MA and New Bedford, MA. These were the real deal....i used to buy $150 golf shoes for $19 dollars...Revere Pans for about 90% discounts over retail...and on and on...saved tons on kids clothes..
She loves - LOVES - the Christmas tree stores. 'nuff said. Gavin Pitchford
K...I feel better now :)
Those mats are great! I've done about 80% of my shop-space (excluding the area surrounding the wood stove) with the interlocking mats, and they are absolutely wonderful. My feet thank me every day, and if I have to kneel down to work on something, the knees don't scream.
I was surprised that it is fairly easy to roll stuff around on the mats. I try not to leave something that's on small casters sitting in one place too long without pads underneath the casters (they leave dents in the rubber). If you do need to remove a section for some reason, it's very quickly done.
These mats can be found, at various times, at big box stores (Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.), warehouse stores such as Costco, and auto supply stores. I have a part number out in the shop, will go and grab it and post.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Just came acrost this thread again. Thanks for the info. I bought some from the local Checker Auto, and they work great.
You bet. They have done my back and feet a world of good.
Yeah! So nice. I bought 5 packages at 24 sq ft each about a month ago, $10.70+ each at Costco. I've only put down 80 sq ft so far but that covered workbench to workbench across the shop and table saw back. All the foot traffic area of the back half the room. I'm not sure of the placement on the next section. Forestgirl was right, they don't bother the casters at all.
Covers up that nasty looking floor too.
Oh! And don't park your bike with kickstand on them. Took days for that crater to come out, Doh!
Enjoy, Roy
Roy, I got those mats last year and absolutely love them. I know what you mean about the craters though. Small casters are big culprits that way. I keep a few slats of 1/4" plywood around to slide underneath my planer table, which has very small casters on it. I saw the mats at the Silverdale Costco yesterday for the first time in awhile.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
OK everyone I'll jump in here. I found these mats at Pep Boys auto supply in Brooklyn about a year ago. I keep buying them and have covered about 60% of the floor in the cellar where the shop is. All the areas where you can walk.
My tools don't move around. The table saw is built into a 7' X 8' table which also serves as a work table. I used the mats everywhere you can walk.
The thing I like best is how easily the clean up not to mention how cheaply they can be replaced if there is any damage.
Just for laughs check out the price for the multi colored ones at HD. You'll be amazed.
ASK
ASK
I tell you, those HD colored mats for day-care centers and romper rooms are pr-e-e-e-ty. I though about them once when the supply of dark grey's dwindled as I was doing my floor.
On second thought, I elected to wait on the dark grey's to be re-stocked. I saw a kid have what they call a "psychedelic re-action" back in the sixties from too many drugs and over lapping dreams from them. That's kinda what those mats remind me of. I stared at them for a few minutes and became confused. Had to have assistance to get to my car in the parking lot. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Sarge,
As Wavy Gravy said "If you remember the sixties, you weren't there.
I was there but I don't remember it.
Best regards
ASK
Oh, Sarge, where's your sense of adventure? ROFL! That's ok, you go ahead an stick with Charcoal Grey, it's safer that way.
Did you see the post in the gallery of the fawn? Too cute, go take a look if you didn't!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
FG
Yes, the fawn was amazing as all of nature. I did see a red tail hawk steal two baby birds from the nest a few days ago. I could have intervened with a 12 gauge, but nature has to have balance. Sad, but a reality and best to let it take it's own course as it has since the beggining.
Still, a sad moment to view personally.
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Yes, nature does need that balance. Perhaps momma bird will build in a safer place next time?? I found the remains of a baby bird on the steps just the other day. Suspect it fell out of the nest and one of the cats found it. Always makes me sad. But I know in another few weeks the chickadees, nuthatches and rufii(my plural for rufous-sided towhees) will be bringing their jabbering youngsters by to fill up at the bird feeders! Ooops! forgot about the hummingbirds :-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
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