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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.

  • in reply to neilk

      wrote:

     

    ...It's not as sophisticated as yours, but will meet my needs image...

    Knowing myself, I'll probably cut off the 3 annoying flaps off my mat as soon as the mortgage is payed.

  • Mine has finally arrived. It's not as sophisticated as yours, but will meet my needs image

     

    image

    It's about A4 sized.

     

    Neil

  • 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.

  • 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 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.