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  • Author Author: Jan Cumps
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Silicon Solder Mat

Jan Cumps

I purchased a silicon solder mat today, when I was in the electronics shop to pick up my order.

 

image

 

I use an antistatic mat as a generic work area, and prefer to keep that tidy. That mat can take an accidental touch of a hot iron, but it's not intended for that.

 

The silicon solder mat (from Velleman - Buy Belgian!) is heat resistant, up to 500° C.

Flexible and can be cleaned in a kitchen sink. It returns back to its original form.

Total size 45 x 30 cm. Work area without covering anything is approx. 40 * 28. It costed 20 €.

 

One of the biggest advantages for me is that it's easy to pick up and stow away. My lab is used as office, diner table and lab bench, depending on the time of day.

I prefer to have a reasonable clean desk. I remove instruments and projects when I use the desk as home office. And vice versa.

I'll report back in a while how the thing behaves in the real world. If I'm happy with the purchase or regret it.

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  • Hi Jan

     

    image

    It's a nice mat.

    Yes, I am also looking for such a mat.

    But the silicone rubber is a little wobbly, isn't it?

    To me, I think the elastic edge for my arms is a bit high, don't it?

    When working on a SMD board, I need a very flat desk and plenty of room for my arms so that I can work smoothly and gently.

    Trembling hands are not practical when working with SMD, for example when the elbow presses on an edge, such as the edge of the silicone rubber.

    Shaky is not good either, otherwise the small components could be catapulted away if you suddenly move the mat.

    image

     

    But it looks good ... like the control panel of Starship Enterprise. image

     

    An other think I have about the magnets. How strong they are?

    There are a lot of magnets on the mat.

    So hm .. a magnetically sensitive component, like a bank card, your personal data can be erased rapidly, or not?

     

    Best Regards

    Gerald

    ---

  • in reply to geralds

    I've only used it once, today, just to try it out.

    I am going to try and address your questions separately:

     

    But the silicone rubber is a little wobbly, isn't it?

    No, the mat is not wobbly when it lays down. It's flat on the bench. It's wobbly when you lift it up.

     

    To me, I think the elastic edge for my arms is a bit high, don't it?

    Only the back side is high. The sides and front have a ridge, but it is low and does not feel uncomfortable.

     

    the small components could be catapulted away if you suddenly move the mat.

    It does not move or shake once it is on the bench. It has a natural grip.

     

    like the control panel of Starship Enterprise

    Yes image I think that the designer was not selected for the stylistic skills.

     

    If you don't need the ridges and pockets (and I think they aren't essential), then a flat mat (or a flat one with a little ridge to keep flux from flowing off) would be certainly as good. And cheaper.

  • in reply to Jan Cumps
    If you don't need the ridges and pockets (and I think they aren't essential), then a flat mat (or a flat one with a little ridge to keep flux from flowing off) would be certainly as good. And cheaper.

    "Flux" - this is very interesting.

    If I understand correctly, you put flux and tin paste on the pads, right?

    Then such a mat is a good choice.

    Then the bench will not so grimy.

  • in reply to geralds

    I like my mat because it contains all of the mess from board prototyping - snips of wire, trimmed solder ends, the odd 'butchered' component, bits I've desoldered, solder dregs, bits of used desoldering braid, flux splatter etc. I haven't found an issue with it wobbling as it sits quite firmly to my wooden bench surface. If anything I think the slight flex allows easier picking up of SMT parts vs. a solid surface where they do have a tendency to ping off image. I don't really use the magnetic areas - maybe they would be nice for  watch repair job - but then again they are likely brass screws!

     

    Once finished I can roll the mat and empty it into my electronic waste bin. Having very little space available, the bench is now clear to for fine woodwork projects, painting etc.

  • in reply to geralds

      wrote:

    .... If I understand correctly, you put flux and tin paste on the pads, right? ..

    When I use paste, I don't use flux. Because it's mixed in the paste.

    I use flux for all other soldering activities.

    • when I place components with solder
    • when I use the heat gun to rework already soldered pads.

     

    I use lead free, and flux makes that an exercise that's gives good results.

    When I used leaded solder in the past, the resin flux in the core of the solder was enough.

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  • in reply to geralds

      wrote:

    .... If I understand correctly, you put flux and tin paste on the pads, right? ..

    When I use paste, I don't use flux. Because it's mixed in the paste.

    I use flux for all other soldering activities.

    • when I place components with solder
    • when I use the heat gun to rework already soldered pads.

     

    I use lead free, and flux makes that an exercise that's gives good results.

    When I used leaded solder in the past, the resin flux in the core of the solder was enough.

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