When you are soldering. Spilling flux while you solder on a slippery surface, and losing track of screws are problems you would encounter daily. Which can get frustrating after a while.
Apart from stains and burns. Hot glue is essential in repairs; dropping some hot glue on the surface renders the workbench useless for other activities. Luckily there is a solution. It’s called a soldering mat or repair mat.
It not only protects the surface but also eliminates static charges. But at the same time, organizes your working area to make sure you do not lose any screws. It’s a win-win case for everyone.
As good as it sounds, you need some technical know-how if you are picking up a workbench mat for yourself, I’ll explain what those are in the later part of this article, but for now.
Here is what you will learn at the end of this article.
- What are the best soldering mats on the market?
- What are the technical parameters you should be looking for?
- Some cheap alternatives.
- Much more…
Let’s get started.
Choosing the best soldering mats
A repair mat is essential for efficiency. The compartments in the mat organize the parts which eliminates guesswork and allows you to get the job done in a relatively short time.
The best soldering mat that I and field professionals recommend is the HTM black silicon mat. But if you have a larger work surface then the BERTECH mat is best for you. These are quality mats from well-established brands and come with affordable price tags.
With this many options on the market, how would one decide which one is best? Here are some technical parameters that you should keep in mind.
a. Working area
The working area is the space you would spend most of the time. So it is crucial to check if it is up to standards and provides a good workable surface.
It should be at least shoulder width apart. Anything on either side of the spectrum is either too large or too small to work efficiently. That’s the general rule for selecting the size.
b. High-temperature Tolerance
The process of soldering requires a lot of heat. It allows the wires to melt and adhere to the target area. But sometimes it falls as well and a good mat should not be affected by it.
If the mat can stand up to the heat of a soldering iron or heat gun then it can withstand anything. While working on circuits the heat gun produces a lot of heat. That is why heat tolerance is very important.
c. Safety.
We disassemble a lot of devices and having static charge on you can sometimes damage the delicate components on the board, to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
An antistatic surface mat that has ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) safety is what you should be looking for to rid of any static charge build-up on you to ensure the safety of the components as well as yours.
d. Surface
The other important thing about the repair mat is that it should not be slippery, no matter how large and effective the other aspects are if it is slippery, it is considered dangerous.
Look for antistatic silicon workbench mats because those silicons get rid of electrostatic charges that might be on you and offer excellent traction which allows the components to rest easily without obvious moments
e. Trays
The purpose of having a soldering mat is not limited to only protecting the surface and ensuring safety, it also serves as an organizer for the screws, nuts, and bolts along with tools.
A good mat should have a dedicated compartment that holds each and every screw and help you keep track of where it came from, which eliminates a lot of the guesswork.
f. Quality
A quality mat should be able to maintain its structural integrity. They don’t lay flat on your workbench all the time. You should be able to fold it and tuck it somewhere without it developing any cracks.
The general rule that you should follow is to check if it passes the fold test. If the mat folds without any damage or crack forming then that is a good quality mat.
List of the best ESD-safe soldering mats
Down below is the list of the top mats for soldering on the market, keep in mind the products are chosen based on the technical parameters above this section.
1. HTM Black Silicone Mat
The first mat on the market that I have for you is the Black silicone mat from the HTM brand. HTM is a major player in the world of electronics with decades of experience and innovation.
The HTM Black silicone Mat is the best soldering mat for those who assemble and disassemble devices every day. It has a screw compartment and high heat tolerance.
Important features:
- For working with large objects it is useful to have a large mat area. This mat has an area of 21.4x 10 which is enough for such situations.
- Sometimes when we are soldering. A slight touch of hot solder iron can damage our workbench. This repair mat has a heat resistance of 932’F which can prevent such situations.
- The antistatic silicone protects the components from static charge.
- Silicon is well known for being anti-slip. Anything you place there will not slip and slide.
- There is a built-in Ruler, and 129 Screw slots, keeping everything organized and tidy.
- The amazing feature that distinguishes it from others is the magnets. Meaning your screws are not going anywhere.
- It passes the fold test. Meaning once you are done with soldering, you can fold it and store it somewhere.
To sum it all up, The HTM-203 Black silicone mat (Amazon link) is the most versatile workbench mat when it comes to functionality and reliability.
It is perfect for anyone who wants to elevate their soldering and repair game. The built-in magnetic slot keeps screws in check along with tool solders that keep you organized throughout the session.
2. Kaisi Silicon Mat.
The next best repair mat on the market is the S-160 silicon mat from Kaisi. Kaisi is known for its quality and reliable products, with decades of experience under its belt they know what they are doing.
If reliability and functionality are something you are looking for then it does get any better than the S-160. It is a one-stop shop where everything you want is combined in one neat package.
Important features:
- comes with a 17.8 x 11.8-inch working area which is plenty enough to work on a variety of projects.
- As you work with high temperatures, it is just a matter of time before dropping something hot on it but with a temperature resistance up to 932°F, it will not take any damage.
- Working with electronics means dealing with fragile components that can be easily damaged by static charges, so antistatic silicon offers excellent protection against static charges.
- It is anti-slip meaning everything will stay secure without moving around.
- With 3 covered boxes, 124 screws positioned, and 42 spare units, making organization is a breeze.
- The 4 magnetic part areas will keep the important screws secure.
- It passes the fold test with flying colors. So fold the work mat once you are done soldering.
In summary. The Kaisi S-160 work mat (Amazon link) is all around the best option when it comes to functionality and reliability. It is perfect for professionals as well as beginners.
The accessory compartments provide excellent organization along with an anti-slip surface that holds the surface still while you work on your project. It gets the job done at a relatively low price.
3. Bertech ESD safe soldering mat.
The third best soldering mat on the market is the Bertech mat from Bertech. For 30 years they have been producing industrial-grade products for the masses.
The Bertech ESD safe workbench mat is designed for those people who either have a very large disk or a repair shop. They let you choose according to your needs and preferences.
Important features:
- The work area is customizable, check the dimension of your workbench and then choose accordingly.
- 922°F is the temperature limit of this mat. Which is very high meaning you can use a heat gun on it without it melting or burning.
- ESD-safe technology gets rid of any static charge on you, meaning you can operate freely without worrying about any static charges.
- Equipped with an anti-slip surface, this mat allows great work experience.
- Sadly it doesn’t have any compartments for your screws.
- It also doesn’t come with a magnetic compartment to assist you.
To summarize, the Bertech ESD safe soldering mat (Amazon link) is designed with professionals in mind. Some people like working on very large disks due to them having multiple tools and devices.
Repair shops have a lot of people working there and everyone having their own small work mat is inefficient so it makes sense why they work in the sink with each other on one large disk with a soldering mar covering the whole surface.
4. HPFIX ESD safe soldering mat
The next best work mat is the mat from HPFIX. Standing for more than a decade HFFIX is relatively new to the game but it has risen to the top with its quality and reliable service and products.
The HPFIX repair mat is the best option on the market. The minimalist design allows it to blend into any area of your space without making a statement.
Important features:
- With a 15.9 x 12-inch working area, it can be used perfectly for laptops and cell phones along with circuit boards but anything bigger than that is a problem.
- It can tolerate temperatures upwards of 922°F without melting, so damaging this mat is not an option.
- The ESD-safe technology protects fragile components from the static charges that might be on you.
- Anit-slip surface provides excellent traction, meaning it won’t slip and slide while you work on your project.
- This mat comes with a ruler built-in, and 37 slots, which keeps things organized.
- Sadly it does not have magnetic slots.
- The fold test proves you can fold and store it when you are done soldering.
To put things into perspective, the HPFIX ESD safe soldering mat (Amazon link) is the most minimalist and versatile mat on the market. It is functional and reliable. it gets the job done at a relatively low price point.
5. CPB Silicone soldering mat.
Next in line, the best soldering mat on the market is the Silicon mat from CPB. CPB is known for its quality and reliable products along with low prices.
The silicone repair mat is designed with beginners in mind, it is not large but it is very functional if you are just getting started in the world of electronics.
Important features:
- 13.7 x 9.8 inches of the work area is plenty enough room for repairing cell phones but anything bigger than that is not suited.
- With a temperature tolerance of 932°F(500℃), you don’t have to worry about accidentally dropping your soldering iron or other hot things on it.
- This mat is not ESD-safe because it is meant for small and beginner-friendly projects.
- The surface is Anti-slip, meaning it won’t slip and slide all over the place when you are working on your projects.
- This work mat comes with 4 notches and 118 screws holders along with a ruler.
- Sadly, it doesn’t have magnets.
- It passes the fold test.
In conclusion. The CPB silicone soldering mat (Amazon link) is meant for beginners who are trying to get into the world of electronics. This design is very basic, but don’t let the basic design fool you, it is as capable as a full-size mat, it is just small.
6. Kaisi large soldering work mat
You can’t complete the list of best soldering mats without mentioning the Kaisi large soldering work mat from Kaisi which has been a dominant force in the world of the electronics repair industry.
The large repair mat is the ultimate workbench mat that allows you to fix anything from a small PVB board to a large device like a laptop or a cell phone.
Important features:
- 21.6 x 16.9 Inch working area allows you to work on larger devices such as laptops and desktops etc with ease.
- This work mat can tolerate temperatures up to 932°F, meaning it would not get damaged with a heat gun and soldering iron.
- The mat is ESD-safe. That means you can work fragile components of the board with the fear of static charge damaging them.
- Anti-slip surface provides excellent traction, meaning it won’t move around while you work.
- It comes with a wide range of slots, so you can remember the position of each screw with ease
- And lastly, it comes with a magnetic screw slot, which keeps them in place.
- The quality of the mat is on point. It can be folded and stored easily in case you need a bench or table for anything else.
In conclusion, the Kaisi large soldering bench mat (Amazon link) is the ultimate mat on the market. It has a large work area allowing you to work on a variety of projects.
The slot keeps everything organized and the magnetic slots make sure they stay in the same place, which makes this mat the best option on the market for professionals.
7. VOTCT silicone soldering surface mat.
The last best soldering mat on the list is the silicon mat from VOTCT. The company VOTCT is at the top of the market with its reliable products and implacable prices.
The votct silicone mat is best suited to people that have a hobby of fixing electronics. It has all the functionality and features in a smaller form factor.
Important features:
- 14 x 10 Inch working area is perfect for most DIYs and small projects. It’s not suited for bigger devices.
- It can withstand temperatures up to 932℉, meaning you can drop hot components without causing any damage to the mat.
- The antistatic silicone keeps the components safe from the static charges on your body.
- The surface is very grippy and anti-slip, so it won’t bug while you are working.
- It comes with 33 screw slots and 5 large parts storage slots for other tools.
- There are no magnets in this work mat, unfortunately.
- In case you are using your bench for any other activity, then the mat can be folded and stored easily without any damage to its structural integrity.
To sum it all up, the VOTCT silicone soldering workbench mat (Amazon link) is a good option for the hobbyist, the quality is on point, the reliability is robust and the design is very minimalist, meaning you can set it up anywhere without any issues, it blends into the environment.
Conclusion
The process of soldering is messy which means maintaining a clean workspace is tricky. But the problem most people face is working on an unideal surface. Which can lead to damage.
Workbenches are used for a variety of work so having a soldering mat not only protects the surface of the bench but also eliminates static charges and keeps everything organized from small tools to screws.
Saving time is the ultimate goal of having a repair mat. Here is what you should keep in mind before buying a repair mat.
- Working area
- Hight-temperature tolerance
- Safety
- Surface
- Assembly trays
Keeping everything we discussed. I think the HTM Black silicone mat (Amazon link) is the best workbench mat that money can buy. It is from a well-established brand that offers functionality and reliability with a very affordable price tag.
Alright then,
This is it folk, It would be a great honor if my article helped you in any shape or form. Wish you all the best.
Thank you, and stay curious.
Other useful posts:
- 7 Best pH Tester for Water (Most Accurate meters)
- 7 best portable spot and stain carpet cleaners
- 7 Best Stud Finder for Plaster Walls (Lath walls)
- 7 best book lights for reading in bed
- 7 best portable spot and stain carpet cleaners
