I need a mat to stand on for reloading
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GW Staar
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1/2" Foam interlocking tiles from Sam's Club covers my entire garage....which isn't used as a garage anymore. Reloading along two walls, storage on the other walls, and weight-lifting equipment in the center. It works better than I imagined. Besides being really soft to stand on, it insulats the floor in the winter and I spend all winter in bare feet when I reload. Toasty warm...love it after a hard day in work boots. The wintertime temperature in the garage is a huge improvement as it insulates the cold from the concrete floor and keeps it out of the room.
Minuses? There is one thing...the tiles eventually grow in walkways, and cause "bubbles" that are aggravating, so I keep a couple of packs in stock to replace the few that grow....usually in 18 months to 24 months. The ones not in overused walkways last and last. Also my chair doesn't slide as well as on concrete....that's a fault way worth putting up with....one thing's for sure...it doesn't slide out from under me.
It's double-sided so if you don't like the colors, turn it over...its grey on the other side.
BTW, it doubles as a pad to do floor exercises on.
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod3310384&searchTerm=foam%20floor%20tile
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oneounceload
member
Sam's club had a package of 6 or 8 pieces tat fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. colors on one side for day care use. The other side is black for garage use. Safe enough for kids to fall on, works great
Added:
Looks like GW beat me to it - what he is showing is what I was talking about
Added:
Looks like GW beat me to it - what he is showing is what I was talking about
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BADUNAME37
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Make sure there is no static electricity build-up when moving around on that new mat!
Overkilll0084
Member
Ditto. For the money they work great. They are surprisingly durable as well. I covered the entire floor of my shop area with them. They are holding up well.
I manged retail for a while & the concert takes its toll on you. When we first started using the rubber pads i thought they was great but soon found they caused more problems.
I have found that if you have something just a few inches tall to rest one foot at a time on help a lot. If you build a small platform 4'x8' out of 2x4s & covered with 5/8" or 3/4" OSB it will be much easier to stand on. I you need it softer add carpet. Good shoes or boots help also.
I have found that if you have something just a few inches tall to rest one foot at a time on help a lot. If you build a small platform 4'x8' out of 2x4s & covered with 5/8" or 3/4" OSB it will be much easier to stand on. I you need it softer add carpet. Good shoes or boots help also.
AK_Maine_iac
Member
I use the ones that are sold at restaurant supply places. the are the same as store clerks use. The same thing we used as meat cutters standing for hours on concrete floors none stop. Not sure if you have A&W wholesale in your area or not. They have them in two sizes. $45.00 { 24"x36" } and $65.00 { 36"x 72"} at least that was the price six years ago.
Kevin Rohrer
Member
I got mine from Sears Hardware for $30 or $40. Very comfortable
mmorris
Member
I worked as a technical instructor for 25 years, and I was on my feet on concrete 6-9 hrs/day. I put the padding under my feet so I had a pad everywhere I walked.
SAS Shoes (San Antonio Shoemakers) were my choice for the last 15 years I taught. Out of the box they feel like the shoes you broke in with years of use. I said no break in time. They have the most comfortable interiors of any shoe I have ever had.
Point is, if you pad the floor you don't have any help in the parts of your shop that you don't pad. Pad your feet.
BTW, I had lower back surgery last year, and I got SAS shoes when they told me I had to fuse 3 vertebrae... I waited 17 years for a better surgical alternative. I feel the shoes helped a lot in the pain management area. YMMV
My choice for almost all the SAS I have owned (at least 12 pairs over the years): http://www.sasshoes.com/main/view_styles.php?catid=1&prodid=17
Mike
SAS Shoes (San Antonio Shoemakers) were my choice for the last 15 years I taught. Out of the box they feel like the shoes you broke in with years of use. I said no break in time. They have the most comfortable interiors of any shoe I have ever had.
Point is, if you pad the floor you don't have any help in the parts of your shop that you don't pad. Pad your feet.
BTW, I had lower back surgery last year, and I got SAS shoes when they told me I had to fuse 3 vertebrae... I waited 17 years for a better surgical alternative. I feel the shoes helped a lot in the pain management area. YMMV
My choice for almost all the SAS I have owned (at least 12 pairs over the years): http://www.sasshoes.com/main/view_styles.php?catid=1&prodid=17
Mike
HK SD9 Tactical
Member
I really appreciate all the input. I'll have my hands full for a couple of days checking out all this stuff that has been recommended.
Will take the recommendation for the shoes as well. The VA has given me inserts for my shoes that have been formed fitted to my feet. The literally s^&* and are about as useless as t&^* on a hog.
Will take the recommendation for the shoes as well. The VA has given me inserts for my shoes that have been formed fitted to my feet. The literally s^&* and are about as useless as t&^* on a hog.
If it hurts while I am reloading I am doing it wrong. AGAIN, I do not have a reloading bench, I use stands,, one is a base from an old cream separator with a steel plate mounted to the top, mounted to the plate are 4 Herter presses, a 'U', turret, super 3 and a 2 ram, all I need is a folding chair, beware of the plastic/cheap chairs, the plastic type chairs remind me of the song that goes something like " You picked a good time to leave me loose wheel".
Another stand I use is an old stand from a post type grinder that could be bolted to the floor, I have a rock chucker and 550 Dillon bolted to it, both stands allow me to work without effort on the back and or legs. I want the height of the work surface to suit me so I adjust it ranter than adjust to the height, not easy when we are talking about a lathe and other equipment.
F. Guffey
Another stand I use is an old stand from a post type grinder that could be bolted to the floor, I have a rock chucker and 550 Dillon bolted to it, both stands allow me to work without effort on the back and or legs. I want the height of the work surface to suit me so I adjust it ranter than adjust to the height, not easy when we are talking about a lathe and other equipment.
F. Guffey
Mike1234567
member
*deleted* (duplicate post)
Mike1234567
member
+1... just bought one at a Mil-Surp store for $6.
HK SD9 Tactical
Member
For two years. Even went back a couple of times for re-fits and other adjustments.
The best inserts that I ever had were in my combat boots. The old style boots from back in the 70's. They were three quarters the length of my feet, made of leather with a rubber/silicone/something interior and the moulded to your feet over a period of a couple of weeks by the heat in your boots. God I wish I had another pair.
But for the record, my back pain in due to an injury in my mid back, around T6 through T8. It's complicated but I have very limited use with my arms and hands out in front of me because of this. Any stooping over is a big no no. Can't even do a couple of dishes or fold some clothes without having major issues. Two to three minutes of either of these, and I am toast.
HK SD9 Tactical
Member
Mike, is this the old style with the mat and attached egg carton foam or just the dense foam?
Thanks
Thanks
Mike1234567
member
These are the flat closed cell foam type. That said, I've never seen any "true" closed cell foam... only far less porous foam.
HK SD9 Tactical
Member
One is on the way. I still need an anti fatigue mat as well though. Not all things I will be doing on my bench will be reloading.
Mike1234567
member
I needed an anti-fatigue mat dealing with my ex. Now I don't need one... cuz she my ex. I got tired of reloading too.
Ruger GP100 fan
Member
Several have mentioned wearing proper footwear and with good reason. You might even want to look into arch supports. And I give a great big +1 for a place to raise one foot . Takes a lot of stress off the back. Speaking of the back,a good lower back support belt can make a big difference,as well. The only downside...if overused your back muscles may begin to atrophy. Might even check out some good support stockings. Hey,under a pair of pants no one would be the wiser One other thing that occurred to me is some sort of foot exercise while standing like maybe rocking your weight from heal to toe and back. Or pressing your toes down hard against the soles of your shoes and releasing them over and over. Not only will exercising your feet reduce stress but it will also increase blood circulation.
Personally,I mounted my press to a heavy steel desk I picked up for $10 at a yard sale and I sit in a comfortable chair. If sitting for long periods causes back pain some kind of side bolstering can work wonders. There may be just such a thing available in the market with inflatable sides. I once had a car that had adjustable side bolstering and I loved it. Great for long trips...less work for your back holding you upright. Again,though...overuse may make your condition worse over time,but it is a real delight to have such a feature.
Hope something I've written helps. I,too,deal with chronic pain.
You did not go into much detail about your condition but I found a way to greatly reduce pain on my right side from the side of my face on down to the bottom of my backbone. My MD sent me to a pain clinic after he grew weary of my begging him for a script for narcotic meds and they told me about an anti-depressant that has been on the market for about 60 years that can work very well on pain they referred to as "systemic". It was a miracle worker in my case,having injured nerves in my neck in a car wreck over 40 years ago. The med is amitriptyline and just a fraction of the amount used for depression is prescribed. In my case I have for decades suffered with at least one day out of every week with pain so intense on the side of my face that it would nearly put me clear out of commission. It felt like the whole side of my face was raw nerves. Now with this med,no pain at all. And it is not addictive. Neither my MD nor any of his associates had ever heard of it being used for pain. I'm guessing that may also be true with a large number of MDs across the country. Can't hurt to ask.
One other thing that occurred to me is some sort of foot exercise while standing like maybe rocking your weight from heal to toe and back. Or pressing your toes down hard against the soles of your shoes and releasing them over and over. Not only will exercising your feet reduce stress but it will also increase blood circulation. Personally,I mounted my press to a heavy steel desk I picked up for $10 at a yard sale and I sit in a comfortable chair. If sitting for long periods causes back pain some kind of side bolstering can work wonders. There may be just such a thing available in the market with inflatable sides. I once had a car that had adjustable side bolstering and I loved it. Great for long trips...less work for your back holding you upright. Again,though...overuse may make your condition worse over time,but it is a real delight to have such a feature.
Hope something I've written helps. I,too,deal with chronic pain.
You did not go into much detail about your condition but I found a way to greatly reduce pain on my right side from the side of my face on down to the bottom of my backbone. My MD sent me to a pain clinic after he grew weary of my begging him for a script for narcotic meds and they told me about an anti-depressant that has been on the market for about 60 years that can work very well on pain they referred to as "systemic". It was a miracle worker in my case,having injured nerves in my neck in a car wreck over 40 years ago. The med is amitriptyline and just a fraction of the amount used for depression is prescribed. In my case I have for decades suffered with at least one day out of every week with pain so intense on the side of my face that it would nearly put me clear out of commission. It felt like the whole side of my face was raw nerves. Now with this med,no pain at all. And it is not addictive. Neither my MD nor any of his associates had ever heard of it being used for pain. I'm guessing that may also be true with a large number of MDs across the country. Can't hurt to ask.
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GW Staar
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I can relate to your problem. When I was 25 or so, I was covering a new roof with plywood on a calm day. A freak gust of wind caught the sheet of plywood I was carrying and yanked it and me backwards through an opening to a skylight. I fell about 16 ft to the concrete. The next thing I remember is being on a stretcher at the airport waiting for the air ambulance to take me to the closest big city hospital. I crushed two vertebrae in the same area as your injury, broke all the ribs on one side, clavicle, and dislocated that shoulder, plus had a head injury that scared the hell out of my wife. I was lucky I wasn't paralyzed from head to toe.....you are lucky too, as it could be worse! All the rest of the people on my hospital floor were dealing with paralysis.
The reason I relate this, is first to tell you that it gets better. I'm 61 years old now and I do most anything I want.....well except things most 61 year-olds can't do....
One thing that saved me was a wave-less waterbed with a lot of water in it to make it relatively firm. Either you will totally hate it or it be your best friend in this life...no in betweens. For me I love it.... it literally saved me from a life of pain. I quickly learned to roll off of it to get up. You may want to look into that. What a difference it made in how I feel every morning and all through the day....still!
Check out my first post, with the picture of the funny colored patch-work floor. That is a drafting stool with a spring-back which works great....my bench is 36" high and I never have to get up and down to the sitting position as I would if the bench and chair were lower.
All the rest of the people on my hospital floor were dealing with paralysis.The reason I relate this, is first to tell you that it gets better. I'm 61 years old now and I do most anything I want.....well except things most 61 year-olds can't do....
One thing that saved me was a wave-less waterbed with a lot of water in it to make it relatively firm. Either you will totally hate it or it be your best friend in this life...no in betweens. For me I love it.... it literally saved me from a life of pain. I quickly learned to roll off of it to get up. You may want to look into that. What a difference it made in how I feel every morning and all through the day....still!
Check out my first post, with the picture of the funny colored patch-work floor. That is a drafting stool with a spring-back which works great....my bench is 36" high and I never have to get up and down to the sitting position as I would if the bench and chair were lower.
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