Notch1988
Well-known member
Just wondering how the new Racedeck Pro http://www.racedeck.com/pro.html would hold up against grinding/welding type work.
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Anyone know... Racedeck Pro vs Heat
- Thread starter Notch1988
- Start date
BoostAddiction
Well-known member
Notch1988 said:Well I talked to Racedeck, they said since it is metal it should hold up to a hobby garage. So then I called a local supplier and at three times the cost of regular Racedeck... I don't think so.
Since it is aluminum, it will likely hold grinding particles which will start rusting when they get embedded in the tiles. And hot slag will likely mar it as well, as it will probably land on the tile at a high enough temp to melt the top layer of aluminum. The only "repair" for this kind of damage is replacement.
Any aluminum surface that gets wear from tires or the like will also start to oxidize as well. For example, my race trailer has this surface on its floor. I really like it in that application, but I have to polish it with Flitz or similar every year to retain any semblance of a shine. And of course, the surface gets marred anyway, regardless of cleaning regimens, during heavy use.
On the other hand, if you like the look, and already have or plan to get Racedeck, it is a nice feature that it can be embedded freely with the other tiles so you can select areas where wear can be better managed.
I still think Racedeck and all similar tiles have a place in garages that tend more towards the display kind of use rather than anywhere serious fabrication or maintenance is done. Have you ever seen it it a dealership in the shop? That's because, price independent, it just won't hold up to the kind of use real repair shops (and serious hobbyists) inflict on their floors.
In fact, just look at what most shops use for flooring: they want easy cleanup, something that looks good to the customers and the employees, reduces lighting bills and is safe. That's why they tend towards epoxy floors.
Come to think about it, isn't that what most of us really want as well?
Just my opinion, as always.
pandaman
Member
You may want to ask Racedeck if the Pro tiles interfit with the regular tiles. If so, you can have the Pro tiles around the work area and regular Racedeck for the rest of the garage that will see less of the hazards. You might be able to design a pretty neat garage using that idea. Just a thought...