My knees are starting to bother me and I'm wondering who uses mats on their concrete floors, what kind, how easy are they to clean etc? And, do they help your feet and knees? Thanks for your input and help.
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Floor Mats for Your Shop?
- Thread starter Drew Sumrell
- Start date
Floor mats in my lathe room are from Uline. They make some nice stuff that you can roll out and cut to fit.
But...our knee troubles often starts with our feet. I have an illustrious career as an orthopedics patient with 5 major knee surgeries... May I suggest it might be worth your time to visit a Good Feet store or call and find one like that near you. I live near Asheville ( Brevard area ) ands I think the closest one is Greenville SC. BTW...are you an CMW Member?
I can tell you that I use 2 kinds of quality insoles. One is Cadence. This is the link for the size I wear in my shoes:
I like them because they add a little padding that is supportive and they have good arch support. They have helped with knee and lower back issues.
Now...if you want to have one made specific to YOUR feet... www.urthotics.com
These are made from foam block molds of your feet and are made by a company that also makes the same quality of insoles for podiatrists on a prescription basis. They are the same as the medically prescribed ones. You can customize with several options and these folks are helpful with suggesting those. Call them and talk to them about what kind of shoes you wear, and the kinds of activities you engage in. As an example - in my mountaineering/hunting boots - I get extra heel stabilization and added padded topping to adsorb more impact from climbing rocks and rough back country. They offer a money back guarantee and they keep digital files of your feet impressions so that new pairs can be made whenever you need. Their price for initial and added pairs is the best I have found as well.
So - I have found that for me - the "belt and suspenders" approach - meaning floor mats + good quality insoles have been extremely helpful.
Hope this helps.
T
But...our knee troubles often starts with our feet. I have an illustrious career as an orthopedics patient with 5 major knee surgeries... May I suggest it might be worth your time to visit a Good Feet store or call and find one like that near you. I live near Asheville ( Brevard area ) ands I think the closest one is Greenville SC. BTW...are you an CMW Member?
I can tell you that I use 2 kinds of quality insoles. One is Cadence. This is the link for the size I wear in my shoes:
I like them because they add a little padding that is supportive and they have good arch support. They have helped with knee and lower back issues.
Now...if you want to have one made specific to YOUR feet... www.urthotics.com
These are made from foam block molds of your feet and are made by a company that also makes the same quality of insoles for podiatrists on a prescription basis. They are the same as the medically prescribed ones. You can customize with several options and these folks are helpful with suggesting those. Call them and talk to them about what kind of shoes you wear, and the kinds of activities you engage in. As an example - in my mountaineering/hunting boots - I get extra heel stabilization and added padded topping to adsorb more impact from climbing rocks and rough back country. They offer a money back guarantee and they keep digital files of your feet impressions so that new pairs can be made whenever you need. Their price for initial and added pairs is the best I have found as well.
So - I have found that for me - the "belt and suspenders" approach - meaning floor mats + good quality insoles have been extremely helpful.
Hope this helps.
T
I have something like these https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/4-ft-x-6-ft-x-3-4-in-thick-rubber-stall-mat?cm_vc=-10005 but they show a different pattern than what I have. Been quite happy with mine. As for cleaning the ones I have are ribbed. The shavings from the lathe will get compressed into ribs which requires brushing with the ribs to get perfectly clean.
I have a sheet of horse floor mat at my workbench. Made of recycled tires, I think. It's dense, but has enough give that it cushions well. Incredibly durable. Got it from the local feed store.
I have several livestock stall mats, and really like them. Mine are 3' x 4' x 1/2". They are pretty firm but still have made a huge difference for my back, legs, and feet. They are heavy ... 43 pounds apiece, and have a textured surface that accumulates dust and shavings. I use a shop vacuum with a long wand and wide floor nozzle to clean them.
I've been using 2"x2" interlocking foam floor mats from harbor freight. they are so cheap that I double them up by the lathe, held together with doublestick tape.
As to mats, I have the interlocking ones bought at Costco years ago. Partly for comfort when walking on the floor, and partly for insulating the cold concrete. That said, a softer foam feels better for me to stand on -- kitchen-style mats that have more give. Most of us Seniors have knee problems to one degree or another, for a number of reasons:
- As Tim mentioned, your feet and shoes. If you have "flat feet" you may need more arch support. Beware of orthotics (even if made by a medical professional) that overcorrect you feet -- OUCH!
- Arthritis in your knees. Standing still for long periods of time is not helpful, LOL. Exercising on a bike or easy walking gets the joint moving and the juices flowing that help lubricate the joint. After I've stood for a period of time, I walk around or simply stand there and flex a bit (not as helpful).
- If they bother you after you settle down in your easy chair at night, try some Voltaren -- topical anti-inflammatory gel -- I find it helpful for all of the arthritic joints in my body. Or ice, or heat/ice alternated.
- You may get advice to do leg presses to help your knees -- nope! You'd want to stabilize your hips and ankles, and not over-develop the quadriceps.
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For rubber mats, I tried a mat from Woodcraft for a while. It was too soft. After a short period of standing in one place, it would grip the tread of my shoes, move around and sometimes stick to my soles when I moved my feet. After tripping a couple times it had to go.
Recently, I bought a couple packs of the interlocking mats from Harbor Freight. First time I used the they came apart and wood chips got under and between the mats. I cleaned them up and taped all the seams on the bottom with black gorilla tape and they've been good so far. I like that they can be attached together into a big mat that wraps around the the lathe.
Oh, and I use Pace insoles and Keen shoes. Cheap shoes are torture devices at this point.
Recently, I bought a couple packs of the interlocking mats from Harbor Freight. First time I used the they came apart and wood chips got under and between the mats. I cleaned them up and taped all the seams on the bottom with black gorilla tape and they've been good so far. I like that they can be attached together into a big mat that wraps around the the lathe.
Oh, and I use Pace insoles and Keen shoes. Cheap shoes are torture devices at this point.
I use the mats from Harbor Freight the 2 foot square interlocking.
I saw some guys take the mats and cut them in the profile of their shoe and epoxy it to their shop shoes. Nice padding but probably slick.
I saw some guys take the mats and cut them in the profile of their shoe and epoxy it to their shop shoes. Nice padding but probably slick.
2X2 Interlocking mats for me; cheap, easy to vacuum and easy on the legs! Shockingly, lots of static electricity out of the box, a lot less now! That keeps one alert, haha!
IMO mats serve 2 purposes: make up for poor shoe/sole choices, and a bit of placebo effect. With adequate shoes/soles mats are a lot more of a hindrance than a help. They get in the way of cleaning and are trip hazards. Work on finding shoes/soles that work for you. Then try a mat to see if there is any improvement - there was not for me, only the hindrance.
I am fortunate to have a place locally that sells all sorts of matts for standing on while working. As far as the horse stall matts, they said that they work fine if you weigh over 1000 pounds. I would guess that they are still softer than concrete floors. I did see some very soft neoprene matts some where, but they were too soft, and too small for me and what I do. I did get some 3/4 inch thick matts of a medium density neoprene, and I like them a lot. I ended up getting a whole roll of 3 foot wide by about 1/2 inch thick matting that will go at all the work stations I have in my lathe room on concrete....
Other than that, shoes are equally important. Some that are comfortable. I do prefer slip on types, and use ones from Merrill. Easier to get the chips out of. If not them, then I would go for walking/running shoes.
Stretching is a daily part of my life, and I stretch everything from head to toes. If I wasn't stretching, I probably wouldn't be able to move. I also hit the pool, 4 days a week, and about 3 miles per day. I do like sprints.... Johnny Weissmuller was a big influence on me in my younger days...
robo hippy
Other than that, shoes are equally important. Some that are comfortable. I do prefer slip on types, and use ones from Merrill. Easier to get the chips out of. If not them, then I would go for walking/running shoes.
Stretching is a daily part of my life, and I stretch everything from head to toes. If I wasn't stretching, I probably wouldn't be able to move. I also hit the pool, 4 days a week, and about 3 miles per day. I do like sprints.... Johnny Weissmuller was a big influence on me in my younger days...
robo hippy
I stack two Harbor Freight 24x24 pads where I stand at the lathe. I've found that makes the greatest difference, rather than shoes, and that the 24x24 is adequate. When it's time to clean up, I simply lift the pad, remove the shavings, and drop the pad back in place. Trying to clean up with them is place was just aggravating. About the only 'improvement' would be gluing the two-pad stack together for convenience
Love that part of your reply, Reed. I rode and trained for almost 30 years, horse mats are great for stalls -- hard and durable. The thicker mats are really heavy. One advantage to the interlocking mats that have been cited in this thread is how easy it is to take a row up if you need them out of the way. However, they might be too thin to really provide much cushion.
I have 3x5 horse mats. They help. The are heavy and hard to move about.
At the lathe, I also put on top of the horse mat a de-fatigue mat my wife gave me. It's 2 x 4 feet, has tapered edges, is softer and feels nice to stand on. She got it at a quilt show. I just wish it were bigger. There is a 4 x 4 one of that type at work just sitting in a storage room going unused. It's such a waste, but company policy doesn't allow anyone to have nor buy "surplus" goods. Probably a good policy. Some day it'll likely end up in a dumpster. Though, I'd love to have that mat.
At the lathe, I also put on top of the horse mat a de-fatigue mat my wife gave me. It's 2 x 4 feet, has tapered edges, is softer and feels nice to stand on. She got it at a quilt show. I just wish it were bigger. There is a 4 x 4 one of that type at work just sitting in a storage room going unused. It's such a waste, but company policy doesn't allow anyone to have nor buy "surplus" goods. Probably a good policy. Some day it'll likely end up in a dumpster. Though, I'd love to have that mat.
I have a thick foam mat at the lathe that was originally purchased from CSUSA.....but, I see they no longer carry them. These are fabulous! I can stand on it all day without the fatigue I felt using the 2x2 squares I used to have there. I still use the 2x2 squares at other places in the shop, but I would not trade that thick anti-fatigue mat at the lathe for the world! 
-----odie-----
-----odie-----
Follow up......
I would not skimp on the floor mat in front of your lathe. I think I originally paid about $150 for mine in the photo above......and, it's been one of the best purchases I've ever made for the shop. If your feet can't take standing for extended periods.....neither will you!
Here is a link to the Uline marble mats, and I'd go for the 1" thick mat. (That's probably what I already have... )
www.uline.com
-----odie-----
I would not skimp on the floor mat in front of your lathe. I think I originally paid about $150 for mine in the photo above......and, it's been one of the best purchases I've ever made for the shop. If your feet can't take standing for extended periods.....neither will you!
Here is a link to the Uline marble mats, and I'd go for the 1" thick mat. (That's probably what I already have... )
Marble Mats in Stock - ULINE
Uline stocks a wide selection of Marble Mats. Order by 6 p.m. for same day shipping. Huge Catalog! Over 43,000 products in stock. 14 locations across USA, Canada and Mexico for fast delivery of Marble Mats.
www.uline.com
-----odie-----
Many thanks to everyone for all the great info and input. I ordered some mats yesterday to try. My feet are fine but my knees are starting to bother me so will give theses a good try for sure.
I was passing thru the flooring section of HD this afternoon after reading this thread earlier. I passed by a selection of mats similar to what is in HF. Interlocking type. Can't speak for price but they range from thin hard for garage floor to thicker and harder for gym floor and soft for child room,\.
Worth a look if it's the only game in town or to try out.
Stu
Worth a look if it's the only game in town or to try out.
Stu
If you have a lathe in a cold shop area, they also make rubber mats that are heated.
<HD?>
HD = Home Depot
HF = Harbor Freight.
Perhaps we need a list of abbreviations we use on this site?
Stu
HD = Home Depot
HF = Harbor Freight.
Perhaps we need a list of abbreviations we use on this site?
Stu
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According to SWMBO - who is a physiotherapist - the reason why *I* benefit very much from a floor mat is that the firm-but-soft material makes me change the "workload" a fraction from one leg to the other and back again all the time. These micro-movements keep muscles in legs and lower back from "freezing" in a fixed position.
Might be relevant for some of you guys too.
Lars
Might be relevant for some of you guys too.
Lars
Hmm Lars, that made me think.... The only time I have issues at the lathe from being there a long time is when I am sanding. Much less moving around, and I find myself intentionally shifting my weight back and forth and changing stances. Don't like being static....
robo hippy
robo hippy
@ Reed: Precisely! Standing on the mat, I move less and focus better on the job yet with hardly any lower back pain afterwards.
I use the cheap ones from Harbor Freight. They come 4 to a pack and interlock. I used double-faced carpet tape to stick them to the floor and (more or less) keep shavings from getting under them. I have them in several areas, if necessary they cut with a utility knife to reshape.
www.harborfreight.com
Anti-Fatigue Foam Mat Set, 4 Pack
Amazing deals on this Anti-Fatigue Foam Mat Set 4Pc at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com
Usually it is a liability thing some corporate lawyer came up with. We have a similar policy, but individual departments are allowed to implement their own policy. What is the policy on dumpster-divers? Convince them to clean out, throw the mat in the dumpster, then retrieve it from, the dumpster
It was thrown out as trash...fair game in my book! YMMV.... (for the acronym-challenged, that is Your Mileage May Vary - meaning you might have different results)My company is a fenced 500 acre campus with guarded gates and 7000 employees across several buildings. No one can take anything out of the gates without scrutiny. The dumpsters are inside the gates too. I suppose you could follow the trash trucks out to the landfill but good luck following the right truck and then finding what you are after. And the landfills don't allow dumpster diving either. My company is big into recycling but it's the same demographic. Big items like cars and industrial machines that still work they place on ebay or donate to charities. Every day they throw away thousands of dollars in supplies, parts, and what nots. Great for the economy I guess, as we are always rebuying the same things over and over again. But so wasteful.Usually it is a liability thing some corporate lawyer came up with. We have a similar policy, but individual departments are allowed to implement their own policy. What is the policy on dumpster-divers? Convince them to clean out, throw the mat in the dumpster, then retrieve it from, the dumpster
We have a new store in West Memphis called Super Hot Deals, I've been in a couple of times, strange store! The prices change every day for everything and they have everything and it is all piled on tables throughout the store...I noticed first time I visited they had these interlocking mats about 1 square foot each and the mats were everywhere, one on this table, one on that one. Today I stopped by and one of the employees had gathered up 14 of the mats and taped them together so I got them for 5 bucks. Don't know how good a deal it was but they fit my lathe area pretty good. 
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I use these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UIPFH4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
The holes allow me to go a bit longer before the floor gets slippery, and the cushioning is great.
The holes allow me to go a bit longer before the floor gets slippery, and the cushioning is great.
Tom Gall
TOTW Team
I have two of those (same of very similar) in clay red color purchased from Sam's Club in 1996. They will last forever.
Why would they get slippery in a woodturning situation? I don't like the way the holes fill with chips and sawdust. I covered them with a foam mat for extra comfort and easier sweeping.
Problem now is I'm going to want to drop in the store all the time and see if I can find more to cover the rest of my shop floor...
Actually these are floor tile. Walgreens has them and I got several cases from a closed store. Plus over the years Hygenic and other brands form closing or remodeled stores. Usually had to have DM's permission but that was no problem.
Not sure about floor tile, they are 3/8" thick and foam rubber...would make a good floor but heavy traffic would eat them up, I think. Interesting, have to go in Walgreens and see if they are the same, would have to mean they are tougher than they look...
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Look in Pharmacy. I looked up prices for this tile they use and it is quite expensive for consumer
i'll try but you know i'm going to get strange looks when i ask to see their floor...
I've got the 2x2 interlocking squares from HF that many have mentioned previously placed around and behind my lathe but, I found that after a long day, my feet would still be hurting. I bought this anti-fatigue mat from Rockler to put on top of the 2x2 squares. It seems to help and I've never had any issues with it sticking to the soles of my shoes, being slick, or any other problems at all.
www.rockler.com
Here is a picture of my lathe after turning a bowl last week. It's a little hard to see but, you can make out the HF squares and see the edge of the mat if you look closely....very closely....
As some others have already explained though, the best floor in the world still won't help unless you have good shoes/boots. The rubber or foam mats serve as a nice foundation but, you'll still end up with the fatigue if you're fighting your shoes.
SB
Rockler Elite Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat, 20'' x 36'' x 3/4'' Thick
Like a mattress for your feet, with ramped edges that allow carts to roll up and over.
www.rockler.com
Here is a picture of my lathe after turning a bowl last week. It's a little hard to see but, you can make out the HF squares and see the edge of the mat if you look closely....very closely....
As some others have already explained though, the best floor in the world still won't help unless you have good shoes/boots. The rubber or foam mats serve as a nice foundation but, you'll still end up with the fatigue if you're fighting your shoes.
SB
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