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Thread: Fatigue Mats

  1. #1
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    Default Fatigue Mats

    Yeah, I知 finally coming to realise I知 not 19 anymore...
    i spent the afternoon working the mill wearing a decent pair of steel caps and my feet and ankles are caning.

    Anyone have any suggestions or ideas on fatigue mats? I知 currently thinking of getting one of the rubber playground mats Bunnings sells and cutting into three to cover the 4 areas I spandexes most time standing. Not sure about cleaning the swarf out of those though.

  2. #2
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    Make some Duck boards I use them at all my wood and metal machines

  3. #3
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    Hi Guys,

    I use pieces of carpet off cuts to stand on ! Much easier on the feet, particularly if its a cold floor. When they get too dirty, I throw them away and get a new piece.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  4. #4
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    Perforated rubber mats from Paramount Browns are the way to go. They are on special at the moment too...

    https://www.paramountbrowns.com.au/p...-x-914-x-12mm/

  5. #5
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    These are what I use, from Bummings IMG_0616.jpg

  6. #6
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    Default

    Eventually after exhausting most other ways of cheap fatigue matting, including what you are contemplating, I bit the bullet and hit Clark Rubber. Since doing that, it has been so good I have gone back for more.

    It is impossible to see this on their website, but this particular product is a big mover,according to the staff that pushed me towards this particular product. It is a checker plated design, around 20mm thick overall and is really soft on the feet and back. All around there is a bevel edge so no tripping, you can get centre pieces to interlock and make it as long as you wish.

    As there are no holes, nothing falls in the cracks and you can, within reason, sweep a broom over your floor and the mats in one go. It is certainly one of the better things I have done.

    Mick.


    Fatigue_Mat_Lathe_IMG_20191217_080708.jpg

  7. #7
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    I have several pairs of Blunnies steel caps but unless I'm doing something serious I've started wearing Brooks black leather walking shoes with orthotic inserts (I have really flat feet). That way I have support and comfort where ever I am in the shed plus I wear them when walking the dogs. They look like a cross between joggers and a work shoe and more importantly pass the SWMBO test for going out to most places. Not cheap (~$180) but well worth it given I can wear them for such a wide variety of situations.

  8. #8
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    I have mats with holes by the bench.
    Advantages - only have to sweep up when the holes are full of muck.
    Disadvantages - small items dropped disappear never to be seen again.

    Mark
    What you say & what people hear are not always the same thing.
    http://www.remark.me.uk/

  9. #9
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    I prefer the mats with the holes in them. They seem to be softer and better to work on. Specially use full in my hydraulic days where if some oil spilt on the floor you were not standing directly in the oil. With a big spill you could also spread some oil absorber around and keep working.

    With boots I was a long time wearer of Blunnies. Good assie product. Several years ago at the suggestion of my brother (a long time back sufferer) I tried Steel Blue. I will take a lot for me to stop wearing these. I wear slipons ( habit from the foundry days) so easy to put on and off. One drawback their soft soles don`t like red hot metal bits just cut off with the oxy.

    Tony

  10. #10
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    I will take a pic however I have no interest in go even close the shed in these temperatures

  11. #11
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    I hear ya, I just went to finish my Christmas shopping, the outside air temperature on the dash of the car said 50.5. One of the rare times I知 glad I知 on nights this week.

    Thanks for all the suggestions, Im curious as to how China has made his duck boards too so I might hold off procuring anything until I致e taken a look at them.

    Im not sure I知 sold on the holes in the mats, someone has already mentioned they are a Bermuda Triangle for small parts, but I also don稚 want something so soft that hot swarf or weld spatter from across the other side of the room melt it. Quite possibly I am overthinking this, anything will be better than concrete.

    Seeing as we have mentioned boots, I don稚 do Blunnies, I stopped buying them when they shifted production offshore. I have a pair of zip sided Steel Blue Argyle boots. I also have some cowboy boot style pull ons but I stopped wearing them in the shed as I tend to pull them over my jeans meaning they become a magnet for hot swarf and spatter.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by racingtadpole View Post
    Im not sure I知 sold on the holes in the mats, someone has already mentioned they are a Bermuda Triangle for small parts.
    The holes can catch small parts, true - but that is often better than having the part disappear under a machine or bounce into that black-hole in every workshop that eats parts.
    I find the holes catch swarf quite effectively which means that I am less likely to track said swarf into the house and incur the wrath of she who must be obeyed.
    Every now and then the mats get lifted and the accumulated swarf and other detrius is cleaned up.

    The Paramount Brown mats seem quite impervious to hot slag and grinding sparks in my experience.

  13. #13
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    A couple of pics, apart from kindling Duck boards are about the simplest thing to make out of timber, this is the one by my metal lathe

    P9090003.jpg

    P9090004.jpg

  14. #14
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    Yep, I think they are within my wood butchers skills, and I have some timber laying around about the right size.

  15. #15
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    Basically anything that stops you standing on the concrete will work.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

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