floor matt for machine tools

[Paul Farley]

Good morning,
I’ve been building a run of underwater connectors. It requires standing at a lathe for many hours.
I’ve been noticing that my legs are killing me at the end of the day.
Does anyone have a magic mat or shoes that work? It has started to get distracting after 3 or 4 hours.
Thanks for your help.
PaulF

[Steve Seebold]

I used to stand in front of a machine for 10 to 14 hours a day, and one day while walking through Nordstrom with my wife, I found a shoe made by ECCO. They are a little on the pricey side at $225.00, but well worth the money.

[Frank Ford]

About a year ago I got one of the really thick antifatigue mats from McMaster (#6912t121). It really made a difference. That, combined with wearing the squishiest running shoes I could find almost make it seem like I'm standing up in bed. With Arthur-itis and Very Close Veins, I take any help I can get. . .

[USMCPOP]

Some use the rubber horse mats (cow bed mat, stable mat).

[starbolin]

Starting abt. two years ago I began having a lot of back pain and foot pain. The doctor checked me out and put me on a program of exersize and stretching. I bought mats for in front of all the machine tools and work tables and go to the gym three times a week. After a year I am pain free.

Unlike Frank and others I don't like standing in running shoes all day. I prefer a high quality high-top work boot. The extra warmth helps keep the muscles flexible and I need the ankle support.

Good luck with your problem.

[GeneT]

I use Dri-Dek in front of the lathe and mill, but found a nice squishy rubber doormat at Home Despot that I can move around to other areas for long standing periods.

GsT

[sharrozap]

I'm using Timberland Pro work boots. Very comfortable for standing for 10-12 hours.

[swamp man]

The Home Depot mats are good. A simple wooden pallet with some spring to it seems to work the best although they can be a trip hazard.
Unless you weigh 2000 lbs and wear steel shoes I would stay away from the horse mats. My feet went to hell after standing on horse mats for a couple years.
I have custom orthotic inserts for my shoes and I wear compression stockings.
Good luck. Foot pain can end your career.

[spope14]

I put floor mats by all of my machines seven years ago after wrecking and rehabbing my knees, best thing ever. MSC has the wearwell type I bought

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=73931941

I also have a few 1/2 thick pieces of plywood mounted on 3/4 x 1 or 2" pine strapping that goes under some other mats, this works real well and adds even more cushion away from the concrete. These are under my most used machines, and they also make for easier clean-up and less staining of my floor from oils that drain off or oils and chips that get caught up under the matting.

[jackal]

Some use the rubber horse mats (cow bed mat, stable mat).

That's what I did. They had the stable mats for $36 at Atwoods farm supply. It was big enough to cut in half with a sawzall and both pieces are still heavy.

Chips don't stick to it and I can tell by the end of the day if I stood on one or not.



JAckal

[cash]

It is unbelievable what a difference a simple rubber mat can make for standing on all day.

McMaster is the best to look for them.

On the machines I run I make up a wood platform and then put a mat on that.

Your dogs will not be barking at the end of the day.

[beaverracing]

I prefer a wood pallett made from 1" x 3" firring strips. They are cheap and with about 3/4" spacing between the slats, chips will fall through.

[rklopp]

I have a bunch of mats from Home Despot that have picture-puzzle connectors to join them together. Don't buy them. Chip embed like crazy, especially hot chips, and you can't get them out. Then the mats look like he**.

[GeneT]

Originally Posted by rklopp

I have a bunch of mats from Home Despot that have picture-puzzle connectors to join them together. Don't buy them. Chip embed like crazy, especially hot chips, and you can't get them out. Then the mats look like he**.

If those are the ones I'm thinking about they float (slide, slip) real well on oil too... Another reason to avoid them.

GsT

[Lost-in-PA]

I prefer the Dr. Martens. http://www.dmusastore.com/c-5-industrial.aspx

If you've never tried em your missing something amazing. They take a bit to get used to as you all of a sudden feel as if you know your standing but have no clue as to what your standing on. Yes, they are that comfortable, and pretty damn tough too. only thing I ever wore out on mine were the toes, but I was on rough cement floors, working on my knees welding. Suppose if I hadn't had the steel toes that wouldn't have been an issue either.

[bryan_machine]

Go to Ikea or some such place and get a very tall chair - either meant to be a bar or counter chair, or perhaps for drafting.

The point being to get off of your feet, even for a few minutes, every so often. You want the chair to be as close to working posture as possible. Mine is such that I can sit at the controller for one of my CNC machines.
(If you are manually spinning handles this will be tougher.)

I got a sample mat from a marine supplier once - it was much too firm - guess it would be great if the floor pounded on waves for some reason.
You clearly want a squishier mat.

[Johann Ohnesorg]

Hy,
a wooden grating with 1" spacing will do wonders. Lift it off the floor another 1" with spacers every 15" so you have a little bit of flex in it and organize your workspace so you have to walk around a little bit, just a few steps will do the trick so you change position from time to time.
The trick is to get away from the cold hard floor, the grating makes clean up a lot easier and gets your feet out of the chips. Wood doesn´t stink when it´s hit by hot chips, plastic or rubber will.

Cheers,
Johann

[cnctoolcat]

The point being to get off of your feet, even for a few minutes, every so often.

I will loudly second this advice! I keep tall stools around the shop, and often can set/lean on them when working in the shop.

Also, mats at the machines are a must! The horse mats are solid, hard rubber, and don't offer much cushion, imo. I use floor mats designed for people.

[bosleyjr]

My barber is a bit shy of 80. Starts every workday at 4:30am and works til 5pm (2pm on Saturday). Been doing that since he was a wee lad (his dad, and before that, his grandfather owned the busines). We had a talk about how he keeps healthy feet and legs. He and the pretty blond stylist/barber that works for him were arguing about shoes. Bob favors fairly supportive shoes (like Clark's), and has custom orthotics. Karen had some new-age shoe with support supposedly built-in. Anyway, Bob has survived all these years with the rigid shoe/orthotic combo.

If I worked on my feet all day, and not sitting on my butt, I'd go with Bob's recommendation. Hmmmm. Maybe I need to find someone that makes tushthotic devices.

Jim

[cecilstrange]

Foam mats do work wonders and I've bought different kinds over the years. Lately I prefer the 20" X 72" X 1/2" closed cell foam sold at the camping stores as sleeping cushions. None of the foam, however, is easy to clean when you have drips, spills, and embedded chips.

I also do office work and now recycle worn out chair mats--the hard vinyl with nubs on the bottom that supports rolling chairs on carpet. Even after they are cracked up and useless on carpet, they can be cut into strips and installed on top of the foam on the shop floor. The hard surface is easy to sweep, vacuum or scrub; they hold the foam solidly in place; they provide ramps if you need to roll things around; they are free; and the supply has so far been continuous.