What do you use as a workbench cover or mat, etc...?

[Maggot_Brain]

Seems like this would be the best place to ask this so...

What do you all use for a workbench cover or work mat, etc...?

I just ordered a 44"x18"(112x45cm) Riffsmith mat that's about 1/4"(6.35mm) thick, IIRC, and now I'm curious about what others use. I considered using a piece of thick carpet after seeing someone else use it but a 3rd person brought up the fact that things can and will get caught up in the carpet and end up scratching the guitar, such as the little pieces of fret that get clipped off when installing a new fret. Or any number of other things.

So what does everyone use? I searched the forum for a few different combinations of words and it doesn't seem like this is a topic covered that often. So I thought I'd post a thread.

Thanks!

 

[Dilver]

A bath towel has been “good enough” for most work.

 

[pondcaster]

A yoga mat has worked for me. Grips, no sliding around and with roll up, nicely props up neck.

 

[Maggot_Brain]

A yoga mat has worked for me. Grips, no sliding around and with roll up, nicely props up neck.

Yea somehow the word yoga totally slipped my mind when I was looking for "foam neoprene mats" so I missed those completely. It seems like that's basically the same stuff this thing is made of.

 

[smk506]

I have a little bath mat sized woven rug that I use mostly. If I’m worried about any potential scratches and don’t have time to run the vacuum over it I’ll throw a towel on top.

I’ve been doing a decent amount of work away from the bench lately, it’s in a huge disarray while I get stock of all my tools and materials and see where I need to focus my time.

I’ve been using a music nomad neck cradle I got for Christmas and a silicon pot holder under the body for quick kitchen table work. Compact and secure, works pretty well actually.

 

[Brazilnut]

I just bit the bullet and bought one of StewMac's green rubber mats. It works great, and I will probably get out of debt with them someday...

 

[TaterNuts]

Premium Work Station - Mat and Neck Support for Guitar, Bass and other String Instruments - MusicNomad - Music Nomad

A safe and sturdy work mat and neck support to work on your guitar, bass and other string instruments. Ideal for changing strings and perform other repair and maintenance.

www.musicnomadcare.com

 

[CB91710]

I've got a mat that has a neoprene backing and cork surface. Rolls up when not in use and it comes with an elastic handle that wraps the ends to keep it rolled.
If I had a permanent workbench, I'd leave it out 24/7, but my "bench" is a folding tray table thing.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N6D8VW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[LtDave32]

Excellent thread subjet

Different stuff, according to what I'm doing.

Most times, its a fresh 1/4" sheet of MDF.

Other times, it's padding or a towell.

However, I recently discovered yoga mats for bench covering.

I use this for routing, wet-sanding, assembly, etc.

They work great.. non-slip, and they lay flat.

 

[Leee]

Bath towels.
No chance of entrapped grit or FOD as my wife snatches them up for laundry as soon as I’m done working on anything.

 

[GStone]

A bath towel has been “good enough” for most work.

Bath towels.
No chance of entrapped grit or FOD as my wife snatches them up for laundry as soon as I’m done working on anything.

Yeah, I use a bath towel too. And a piece of cardboard from a box to solder on top of in case I drop some hot solder it wont burn through the towel to the wood bench underneath. If the cardboard gets too messed up, I just cut a new piece.

 

[Juan Tumani]

I used bath towels for many many years with no issue. For about the last 5 or so years I've been using. No slip drawer/shelf liner.

Debris falls through and doesn't scratch.

 

[geddy]

I picked up a length of table protector for very little money. In fact I got 2 out of the roll I bought after I cut for size for the table I typically use. Works a charm.

 

[Dilver]

Yeah, I use a bath towel too. And a piece of cardboard from a box to solder on top of in case I drop some hot solder it wont burn through the towel to the wood bench underneath. If the cardboard gets too messed up, I just cut a new piece.

View attachment 692915 View attachment 692916

I think we have the same towels…

 

[sibyrpunk]

I use one of these. Not this exact one but similar.

https://www.amazon.com/KitchenClouds-Kitchen-Cushioned-Waterproof-Standing/dp/B09CYDRFWQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3F3P12FETHXZ4&keywords=fatigue+mat&qid=1685131032&sprefix=fati%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-3

 

[Joe Desperado]

I have two door mats. One is an industrial style rubber backed with carpeted ribs on the front. Then when doing repairs to clean finished guitars, I placed a cloth door mat on top of that one. It stays clean all the time, while the other one gets the bulk of use. In this pic, you can see the cotton/cloth door mat (tuners not included )

 

[LtDave32]

Joe, don't you hate it when that weak gold plating starts to wear off, just from handling it?

 

[Spinifex]

Cut down exercise mat - it was cheaper than a yoga mat... cheaper than branded guitar mat...

under the neck, place the brown paper packing sheets from amazon boxes... fret filings etc fall onto the paper... fold the paper into a ball or make an origami crane and throw it in the bin. Newspaper does the job too.

Grab another one and keep working. Keeps work bench clear of scratchy stuff.

 

[CB91710]

Joe, don't you hate it when that weak gold plating starts to wear off, just from handling it?

That's just Mojo showing through

 

[L3rxst]

A foam mat fixed with double sided tape so that it can be replaced