XL Screw Catcher Work Mat (No Pockets)

Product Description

24" x 30" Screw Catcher Work Mat, No Pockets

The mat that started it all.

Every CowRC mat traces back to a standard we set for this hobby in 2008. The Medium Work Mat wasn't just an early product, it was the very first pit mat CowRC ever made, the mat our whole pit mat lineup was built around. That one mat grew into a full lineup of sizes and styles, but the standard it set never changed. Before it, pit mats were little more than flat rubber sheets, with nothing to actually hold your hardware in place. The Work Mat introduced the raised pallet design the rest of the industry still borrows from today. That raised pallet design carries forward into our Carbon Series mats too. But just as important as the pallet is what's underneath it, a fully magnetic surface, not just a magnetic strip or insert, the entire mat. Other companies have tried it since, and it's proven harder to get right than it looks. The entire Screw Catcher magnetic lineup carries that fully magnetic surface forward.

The Work Mat pairs our ProMag magnetic sheeting, the strongest magnetic sheeting available, with a die-cut foam pallet border. The raised foam edge contains loose screws, washers, and small parts instead of letting them roll off the table, while the magnetic sheeting itself catches them right where they land, or holds them exactly where you place them. That same reversed magnetic sheeting construction used across our whole magnetic lineup, a matte white vinyl surface applied to the stronger side of the sheeting, keeps glare down and resists stains, so it's easy to spot every part the moment it drops.

But this isn't just a hardware catcher. The foam border makes for a genuinely more comfortable surface to lean on and work over than a flat mat alone, and it can absolutely go with you from the bench at home to a fold-out table trackside, but it does take a little more care than tossing a rolled-up mat in a bag. It needs to be kept flat, not rolled or folded, so when traveling, it's a better fit for anyone who's used to taking care of their gear and keeping that in mind when they pack up. Compartments keep hardware sorted by build stage instead of dumped in one pile, so you can actually find the parts and screws you're looking for without digging.

Every Work Mat is constructed the same way regardless of size: a die-cut, 4 lb closed cell foam pallet, bonded permanently to a single continuous sheet of 60 mil ProMag magnetic sheeting. Work Mats must be stored flat. Rolling, folding, or creasing a Work Mat risks permanent damage to the magnetic sheeting, so this isn't a mat you travel-roll the way you would a Flat Mat.

Work Mats come standard without graphics, for a clean work surface, but you can add one of five header graphic themes at checkout, Hot Rod, Dragon, Green Streak, Reaper, or Patriot, for a small upcharge, or pick one up separately later. Add a ruler decal too, and it'll automatically match whichever header theme you chose. Skip the header and just add the ruler on its own, and it defaults to a plain, non-themed version instead. Add either one at checkout here and you'll save 25 percent versus adding it to the cart separately.

Certain Work Mats drop directly into a Carbon Series or Mouse Pad Mat's insert area, adding a magnetic surface to your setup. Looking for a specific size's integration options? Check that size's own section below.

Some tips from the team:

• Store your Work Mat flat. If you saved the original shipping box, that works great, otherwise a couple of rigid surfaces on top and bottom will keep it protected too.
• Wipe the magnetic sheeting surface down with Part and Chassis Wash or Hide Wipes, both work well here. In a pinch, soap and water or another vinyl-safe, non-corrosive cleaner applied with a rag can do the job too. Corrosive cleaners will strip the stain-resistant coating over time.
• Carbon fiber dust lifts off with a damp dab, don't wipe it dry, that can cause discoloration. Metal filings scratch the vinyl, lift them with lightly-dabbed masking tape instead of wiping. Loctite will stain the surface; tires and traction additives can leave a stain if left sitting, wipe those up right away.
• Never use a knife or razor blade on the mat, and keep heat guns or soldering irons off the surface directly. Extreme heat can bubble the vinyl.
• Never power on a GPS-equipped aircraft, helicopter, quadcopter, drone, or similar, while it's resting on a Work Mat. The magnetic field can cause the GPS to misread its position at power-on and attempt to self-correct while still on the bench, a real safety risk with spinning blades nearby.
• Test electronics off the mat or on a stand before spinning wheels up, spinning them directly on the magnetic surface can leave skid marks.

Integration Guide:

• All Small (9" x 12") — Drops into the 12" x 16" Carbon Series Pit Mat. A 9" x 12" Screw Catcher Solder Mat fits that same pocket, one or the other, not both at once.
• Medium (12" x 18") — Drops into the 16" x 25" Mouse Pad Mat or 16" x 25" Themed Mouse Pad Mat.
• All Large (19" x 24") — Drops into the 24" x 30" Carbon Series Pit Mat, or the center piece of the 24" x 48" Mouse Pad Mat or 24" x 48" Themed Mouse Pad Mat. A 19" x 24" Screw Catcher Solder Mat fits either of those same pockets, one or the other, not both at once.
• XL (24" x 30") — Stands on its own; no Carbon Series or Mouse Pad mat integration at this size.
• All XXL (24" x 40") — Drops into the 27.5" x 48" Carbon Series Pit Mat.

Specs: