5.5" x 8" Screw Catcher Carbon Series

Product Description

5.5" x 8" Screw Cather Carbon Series

The overachieving RC pit mat you've been searching for.

This is the mat the rest of the hobby is still trying to catch up to. Every CowRC mat traces back to a standard we set for this hobby in 2008, when our very first Work Mat introduced the raised, deep pocket pallet design, our signature pocket layout, the same year the company was founded. Before that, pit mats were little more than flat sheets of rubber, at best a barely there impression to suggest where parts might go, nothing with any real depth, walls, or containment beyond what you could see, and certainly nothing modular you could expand or build a system around. We raised the bar, and the rest of the industry has been following our lead ever since. The CowRC Screw Catcher Carbon Series isn't just another accessory, it's the foundation of an entire pit mat ecosystem built on that same standard, carried forward here through chemical resistance, functionality, and expandability.

The Carbon Series is the true base layer of that ecosystem. Plenty of racers and builders run it exactly as it comes, a serious standalone work surface with all the corralling and chemical protection you need. But it's also built from the ground up to expand. Drop in a Solder Mat, add magnetics, snap in an Upgrade Kit, and you've got a fully modular workstation built around exactly how you work.

Every Carbon Series mat is molded from flexible, durable PVC, 3 millimeters thick, with a chemical-resistant surface that's highly resistant to the fuels, oils, greases, and cleaners you'll run into on any given workshop day. Steer clear of CA glue, though, that stuff damages just about anything, and this isn't meant to double as a cutting mat. It's flexible enough to roll up for transport and storage without cracking, and tough enough to take years of real workshop use.

A carbon-fiber-aesthetic border tops the pallet, and the raised hex pattern across that header strip isn't just there to look good, it helps contain small parts and hardware in place, so nothing rolls away mid-build. This strip stays visible no matter what's plugged into the mat's center, magnetics, a Solder Mat, whatever you're running, and it carries the CowRC logo.

Speaking of that texture, condition it with a good coat of Silicone Spray on a cotton swab or microfiber towel, and something genuinely cool happens. We call it Carbon Mode. That molded texture transforms into something that looks and reflects like actual woven carbon fiber, close enough that from a few feet away, most people won't know the difference. Want to take it further? A few treatments in a row, cured 24 hours between coats, pushes the effect even harder. Watch it happen here: Carbon Mode video.

The rest of the surface is a smooth matte finish, flat and non-slip, comfortable to work on without any glare. Flip it over and the underside is a glossy, grippy non-slip finish that holds the mat in place on your bench so it won't slide around mid-job.

Roll it up for the track, or leave it flat for the bench, the Carbon Series moves the way your hobby does.

Because we know one mat rarely means one project, every Carbon Series size has an optional, dedicated Upgrade Kit available, a 3D-printed insert built specifically for these pockets. Select it right on this product page at checkout and save 25% versus adding it separately. It's heat resistant, increases pocket depth by 15%, and every inner edge is beveled for easy scooping of screws, washers, and shims. Large and Extra Large versions add rare-earth magnets to each corner for extra hold. Running more than one project at once with only one open bench spot? Pick up a couple of extra Upgrade Kits, keep each build's hardware sorted in its own removable tray, and swap between projects in seconds, no dumping pockets, no losing track of what went where.

Pair it with a Flat Mat or Work Mat for magnetic hardware control with a clean, matte white surface that makes it easy to spot every part the moment it drops, or add a Solder Mat for soldering work, and build the perfect setup for exactly how you work. Bring in the white Upgrade Kit too, and that white-on-black contrast against the carbon-fiber texture and CowRC logo makes for a genuinely gorgeous, professional-looking setup that makes a statement.

Some tips from the team:

• Condition the mat regularly with a light coat of Silicone Spray, wiped down rather than left heavy, to help keep the rubber supple and protected over time.
• Avoid exposure to CA glue, and don't use this as a cutting mat, both will damage the material.
• Corrosive chemicals shouldn't be left to dwell. The surface resists them well, but a quick wipe-down after use goes a long way toward maximizing its lifespan.
• For routine cleaning, Part and Chassis Wash is a great overall cleaner. When you need to strip greases and oils specifically, or just want a quick wipe-down, Hide Wipes is the better option for the job.

Integration Guide:

• Pairs with the 4" x 6" magnetic mat, the same insert included in our Travel Packs and given out as a free sample size. It isn't sold separately on the site, but reach out to us directly if you need one on its own.
• Pairs with the 4" x 6" Screw Catcher Solder Mat.
• Expand it further with the 5.5" x 8" Carbon Series Upgrade Kit, and remember, you can save 25% by adding it at checkout on this page instead of separately.
• Looking for integration options for a different size? Check that size's own product page.

Specs: