Table mat for camera repair?

jay moussy · Nov 27, 2021

What are you using for a work mat?

I need something, without going overboard.
Only thing I can think of is beige short-nap carpeting chunk, sitting in a large serving tray with raised edges.

BrianShaw · Nov 27, 2021

I use a desk blotter… thick.paper.

abruzzi · Nov 27, 2021

If you have a harbor freight nearby, they sell rolls of foam designed to line the bottom of trays on tool chests. Avoid the stuff that looks like a mesh, but the more smooth/solid stuff, unrolled onto a table makes a great work surface.

BrianShaw · Nov 27, 2021

I’m looking for this 2mm foam sheeting. I’ve used similar/same product for other purposes (light seals) and like the quality.

https://www.michaels.com/12x18-foam-sheet-by-creatology/M10597609.html

Auer · Nov 27, 2021

Large mouse pads https://www.amazon.com/GLTECK-Exten...hed/dp/B01FTQUC3Y/ref=asc_df_B01FTQUC3Y/?th=1

Nicholas Lindan · Nov 27, 2021

I use a white bath towel. White makes ittly bitty parts easier to find. The plush of the towel catches dropped and sproinged parts.

Roll back a bit of the towel and there is, natch, an anti-static mat that makes for a hard/soft surface when one is needed.

4season · Nov 27, 2021

I've been meaning to get a silicone work mat with compartments for small parts such as this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weller-Soldering-Work-Station-Mat-WLACCWSM2-02/314638551
As many of my jobs involve at least a little bit of soldering, the heat resistance would be really helpful.

shutterfinger · Nov 27, 2021

I bought this one off ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164705953631?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Kino · Nov 27, 2021

Fiskars self healing cutting mat at Michael's. Not too expensive, depending on the size.

https://www.michaels.com/fiskars-black-and-gray-self-healing-cutting-mat/M20010824.html

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 27, 2021

I bought this when I clean my lenses and cameras.
https://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-Work-Mat/dp/B003U3LUOY?th=1

gone · Nov 27, 2021

I guess that I don't have a work mat. I have a workbench that I built for my enlarger and stuff. If I need to work on tiny things I just use a shallow cardboard box, trim the sides down a smidgen, and lay a white towel in there. If I need to trim a print or a matt, I just do that on the wood top of the table. Gives it that nicely criss-crossed look of lines randomly made all over, sort of like a negative version of a Franz Kline painting. That table top is 2" thick, there's no need to protect it, it's not going anywhere for a long time.

eli griggs · Dec 16, 2021

A plain white dish towel, like Walmart sells in packs of three or six, plus an underneath mat of Friskers type self-healing mat.

The smooth surface if the towel will stop a small screw or spring from sliding off and the Friskers can handle, oils, solvents, cutting edges and protect the table underneath the arrangement.

I happen to have a pinpoint metal detector which works great, even with small springs, but keeping the pieces off the floor and on a white surface where it can quickly be located is the first priority, so you do no go chasing floor nails while recovering that little nothing of metal that rolled off your bench.

Cheers.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 16, 2021

eli griggs said:
A plain white dish towel, like Walmart sells in packs of three or six, plus an underneath mat of Friskers type self-healing mat.

The smooth surface if the towel will stop a small screw or spring from sliding off and the Friskers can handle, oils, solvents, cutting edges and protect the table underneath the arrangement.

I happen to have a pinpoint metal detector which works great, even with small springs, but keeping the pieces off the floor and on a white surface where it can quickly be located is the first priority, so you do no go chasing floor nails while recovering that little nothing of metal that rolled off your bench.

Cheers.

How do you deal with lint from the towel?

eli griggs · Dec 16, 2021

These cloths are smooth, tight woven cloth, no nap to them.

I would use new, clean cloth diapers, if I knew where to buy good ones, just for the additional anti-bounce factor of the thicker cloth, plus the ability to press the flat cloth 'in' slightly, to form depressions just shallow enough for the smallest parts, like bent wire springs, which are almost invisible at times.

The terry cloth type are death to small screws, etc, if they get 'eaten' by the pile, so avoid these at all cost, IMO.

I hope this helps you and others out.

Eli

jay moussy · Dec 16, 2021

Would puppy pads work as well?

Looking at what we have at home, they have a light diamond embossing, not absolutely lint-free but close, and of course they would absorb a mild spill. Maybe good for an under-layer?

shutterfinger · Dec 16, 2021

I use Bounty paper towels.

tom williams · Dec 16, 2021

jay moussy said:
What are you using for a work mat?

I need something, without going overboard.
Only thing I can think of is beige short-nap carpeting chunk, sitting in a large serving tray with raised edges.

Jay, if you're going to handle PCBs, an anti-static mat is almost mandatory. Allied Electronics has a bunch in different sizes, the one I have is https://www.alliedelec.com/product/desco/66216/70266518/ , smallish but adequate. Allied has smaller and larger ones, cheaper and more expensive ones. I use mine for projects that I need to corral into a definite area, away from dust and coffee, and for electronics projects ... solder doesn't stick! Jameco stocks some reasonably priced mats as well.

eli griggs · Dec 16, 2021

I've used Bounty, but it's a smaller pad, and too easily torn along perforations and much too easy, pulled out by simply moving your arms around the table, because it's thin and light.

I do no know about puppy pads, but the sound ok, to me.

shutterfinger said:
I use Bounty paper towels.

Sirius Glass · Dec 16, 2021

tom williams said:
Jay, if you're going to handle PCBs, an anti-static mat is almost mandatory. Allied Electronics has a bunch in different sizes, the one I have is https://www.alliedelec.com/product/desco/66216/70266518/ , smallish but adequate. Allied has smaller and larger ones, cheaper and more expensive ones. I use mine for projects that I need to corral into a definite area, away from dust and coffee, and for electronics projects ... solder doesn't stick! Jameco stocks some reasonably priced mats as well.

Always use an anti-static mat and grounding with electronics that contain electronic microelectronics.

Table mat for camera repair?

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