interlocking gym mats?

[bullnerd]

Anyone have any experience with these?

Someone near me is selling them cheap and I'm looking for something to put over the concrete in the woodshop section of my new building.

I'm wondering if they can be swept off or will they grab the broom?

I was going to just use plywood but always keep an eye out for something different.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If the price is cheap enough, might be worth trying. IIRC they're a plastic encased/coated high density foam, so I'm not sure they'd be durable enough for shop use, but ya never know until you try them. Sure would beat standing on concrete all day, tho...

 

[TerryH]

I covered the bulk of my shop floor with the interlocking mats from Harbor Freight. Love them. I don't see why the gym mats wouldn't work. They sweep of but I usually just blow out the shop instead.

 

[bullnerd]

Thanks guys.

Terry love your shop, I have your bench build saved for the future.

The ones I'm looking at look just like yours. I think they are 3x3, I can do my shop for $140.

And now that I think about it, I do vacuum a lot so that may be better than sweeping anyway.

 

[TerryH]

Thanks guys.

Terry love your shop, I have your bench build saved for the future.

The ones I'm looking at look just like yours. I think they are 3x3, I can do my shop for $140.

And now that I think about it, I do vacuum a lot so that may be better than sweeping anyway.

Thanks. $140 sounds pretty cheap to me. I'd be in.

 

[Crusarius]

I used them for a while. But it was during a welding project. they do not hold up to slag but was alot nicer than the concrete for walking on.

 

[TerryH]

I used them for a while. But it was during a welding project. they do not hold up to slag but was alot nicer than the concrete for walking on.

Agree with the welder deal. I actually had mine where I put the mats and they definitely do not like the slag. I moved the welder and all of the metal working stuff to the other side of the shop where I use horse stall mats on the floor. They do fine with the slag.

 

[gungatim]

I have the cheap ones from sam's club--same as HF I think, in my woodshop as well. they sweep just fine but I usally blow out as well. comfy on the feat and easy to trim around machines or pull up sections when I move the saw. not sure about a garage, other than in front of a workbench maybe. driving on them would tear them up and oil spills would be slippery...

 

[Crusarius]

Agree with the welder deal. I actually had mine where I put the mats and they definitely do not like the slag. I moved the welder and all of the metal working stuff to the other side of the shop where I use horse stall mats on the floor. They do fine with the slag.

I have been wondering about that for quite a while. couldn't bring myself to spend the money to test it. what thickness mat are you using? I can get 1/4" or 3/8"

 

[bullnerd]

This is strictly a woodworking area.

Thanks all.

 

[James-W]

I have debated about using them in my basement. Most of the basement is finished off and is carpeted. But two smaller areas (laundry area and right by the bottom of the stairs) are not carpeted and I thought about maybe putting the mats in those areas.

 

[gungatim]

I have debated about using them in my basement. Most of the basement is finished off and is carpeted. But two smaller areas (laundry area and right by the bottom of the stairs) are not carpeted and I thought about maybe putting the mats in those areas.

I have seen basements done for both play rooms and workout rooms, they also come in colors, but they are pretty flat/muted. that is where I got the idea to use them in my woodshop (saw it on a parade of homes one year). mine are the thicker, 3/8" I guess.

 

[Garage Flooring]

We sell interlocking rubber tile and they are great for workout areas. They are not designed for shops, but depending on the level of abuse, they could be used in some. They are going to get damaged over time and they should not be exposed to solvents or automotive fluids.

One of my biggest qualifying questions with rubber is always in reference to the odor. Rubber smells like Rubber and its definitely worse at first.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I've got these in the gym area of my basement.

They were cheap, easy to install, are pretty easy to clean, have no odor whatsoever, and have even held up fine a couple of times when they've gotten wet.

I do think you may have problems with saw dust getting between them if you're using them in a woodshop...but that's really just a guess and I'm not sure it will even be an issue.

If you decide to do dumbbell lunges while waiting for your sanding sealer to dry, they'll be awesome for that too. LOL

Phil

 

[bullnerd]

LOL.

I think the dude split on me, waiting to hear back.

 

[Crusarius]

Forgot to add this to my last post.

The ones I had in my shop that did not agree with the welding slag got moved to the driveway. I had a muddy spot that was all weeds. I was always walking through there. So I moved the mats to the muddy spot in the driveway. Took care of me tracking mud in the house and also killed the weeds. the mats never absorbed any water from what I could tell.