I just put a finish on my garage floor and I have three hot rods that all leak something. What floor mats have you guys found that protect the floor underneath the best? Thanks
As long as it's not brake fluid, the spills don't hurt the finish on the floor in my new place, so I just let them drip, and wipe up occasionally. But I also try to fix the leaks as much as possible, which isn't 100%.
Summit offers an oil absorbent mat that I purchased to go under my drippy VW dune buggy when it is in the trailer. Cheap, looks nice, works.
I just do cheap ole cardboard boxes broke down. When it gets nasty looking, change it out to a new box.
I use a Kotex pad on my torque converter shield held on with magnets. Nothing hits the floor. It’s not that bad of a leak so I don’t need a maxi pad, but I do need some thing a little more than a panty liner. Too lazy to pull it back out.
If you go to Walmart or any of the big box stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s and probably many other places pick up a shoe or boot tray. Some can be had for under $5.00. They are usually 15” x 30” or so and have a 1” lip or so. Put them under the leak wipe them out with paper towel. https://www.walmart.com/browse/home/boot-trays/4044_133012_110892_4768882_3609016 Also very handy on you workbench for disassembly of items with liquids or small part
That’s funny when I used to do police towing back in the early 80s that’s what we used! Tampons for holes!
Every so often my wife updates the bathroom throw rugs and the front and back entry rugs. The old ones cycle out to the garage for a couple of years before they go in the dumpster. I've got a big 8 x 12 under my daily right now that used to be on the back deck.
Go to the parts store and buy a drip pan. They work good for working on project on a worktable too. Keeps all the fluids contained. I know a guy whose house burned to the ground because his gas tank was leaking (Unaware this was going on) onto the cardboard under his cars. The battery charger sparked, and the rest is history.
cardboard, scraps of plywood , carpet scraps, plastic lids from your wife's tupperware cloths storage
Cool Idea...(someone cut me in on the profits) a round "logo" looking oil mat under the car. Chevy, Ford, Mopar, etc. Oil absorbent, washable. Shark Tank!
I was looking at the mats that are approx. 5 x 20 that roll out. They are somewhat expensive and was trying to see if anyone has used them. To find if they work well?
For drip pans, parts trays, etc. I go to the Walmart cooking section. Large selection of various sized aluminium baking sheets. I have two smaller ones under the bed of my lathe to speed up cleanup. Loaf pans for storage. The aluminum wears and cleans up better than plastic.
@spillaneswillys I was at my local parts store and picked up an Oil-dri absorbent garage mat, it looks great, works great, has a rubber backing, and lays nice and flat. Although at my local store they were $20 CAD. My oldest one has been in use for 2.5 years and still looks and works great. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Oil-Dri-...lene-Rug-Oil-Mat-5-Length-x-3-Width/988686623
IMHO there's nothing better for a garage floor than a real epoxy. I used a 100% solids coating I got from ArmorPoxy, and it has held up unbelievably well for the past 7 years. Drip pans and cooking sheets are fine to catch the odd leak, but the floor always gets something on it. I just mop mine up and keep it moving.
A piece of indoor/outdoor carpet with a “rubber” backing works for me. I got dark gray and you can’t even see where it drips. Cheap at Home Depot
I also have a couple oil drip pans that measure 25" x 36" that I use for any temporary leaks. Just until I can address the issue. But I also put them down under catch pans when draining fluids, as it seems like I always end up with some oil not landing in my catch pan when changing oil and filter.
The Jalopy Journal
