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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: CX23882 on Mon, 16 November 2009, 11:19:24

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: CX23882 on Mon, 16 November 2009, 11:19:24

Does anyone here use cutting mats with optical mice, and how well do they work? I'm talking about the green "self-healing" mats. Most important, do they give too much resistance to moving the mouse around (they always worked fine with traditional ball mice, but optical mice I'm not so sure about). I hear that green is a good colour for red LED-based mice to track (I had some issues with a Microsoft mouse, and they listed a load of colours that they don't recommend for optimal tracking including, blue), so that shouldn't be an issue.

For the past few months I've just been using the mouse directly on the desk, but I can see that it's starting to wear the surface shiny, and wonder how long it will be before I wear the colour off as well.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: AndrewZorn on Mon, 16 November 2009, 11:59:51

it might be relevant to your interests... but i long ago discovered a very cheap plasticy mousepad (so also cheap to replace, when it wears) that can be cut to size:

(http://www.paperchaseproducts.com/catalog/images/EX085687.jpg)

the covers on these notebooks feel just like the $20+ pro gaymen mousepads, one side being rougher than the other if that is what you prefer (i do).

only downside is you have to find a way to keep it down, whether it is tape or putting an edge under your keyboard or something.
of course, if you want to get involved with it, you can always affix it to a piece of sheet metal, or rubber sheet, or something to make it more useable...

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Mon, 16 November 2009, 12:14:23

I mentioned to a friend of mine on another forum about another friend who uses a granite  tile so he ended up going to HomeDepot and bought a 12x12 White Ceramic Tile and a Con-Tac linear (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh7/R-100388913/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) so the Tile wouldn't glide and he says his Sidewinder tracks much better to quote him "no lag". it cost him under $15 USD I think.

(http://i34.tinypic.com/2ymzoys.jpg)
(http://i36.tinypic.com/2u8jgbp.jpg)

see the Razer Pro|Pad, Megasoma and the Destructor Special Edition are popular for the Philips Twin-Eye Laser Sensor in the Razer Mamba because they are all white and the color white reflects light where the color black absorbs light.

if you want to test your optical sensor try tracking on a white sheet of paper.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 16 November 2009, 12:15:04

Affixing it to that rubbery shelf liner might work. Shelf liner solves a lot of unwanted movement issues.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 16 November 2009, 12:20:32

Quote from: lmnop;132902

Con-Tac linear (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh7/R-100388913/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) so the Tile wouldn't glide

Quote from: itlnstln;132903

Affixing it to that rubbery shelf liner might work. Shelf liner solves a lot of unwanted movement issues.

Si-si-si-simulpost

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Mon, 16 November 2009, 12:28:27

(http://i37.tinypic.com/118oa5k.jpg)

one more thing if you are going the tile route make sure you pick the right tile for you.

you are looking for a non-glossy tile with a consistent pattern no flowers, octagons, splatters or marble. you want microdots like a wood grain. the surface should feel in between fine and coarse. if it's too coarse it will be too much traction and wear down the teflon feet but if it's too fine it will glide all over the place.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Mon, 16 November 2009, 13:47:39

(http://i37.tinypic.com/118oa5k.jpg)

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: Rajagra on Mon, 16 November 2009, 15:18:30

Quote from: CX23882;132876

Does anyone here use cutting mats with optical mice, and how well do they work? I'm talking about the green "self-healing" mats. Most important, do they give too much resistance to moving the mouse around

Depends what you're used to. I used A2-sized cutting mats with mice for a while and they worked fine. I use glass mouse mats now, they just work so smoothly, but if I wanted something HUGE I wouldn't hesitate in going back to the cutting mats. They make good writing surfaces too. My desk is too textured for writing on with thin paper. It's embarrassing when you mess up a signature because of that.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: exousia on Wed, 18 November 2009, 14:50:50

I just recieved a Razer Megasoma mouse pad which uses a translucent silicon.

It tracks amazingly well.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: AndrewZorn on Wed, 18 November 2009, 14:53:08

there was a $10 HP rebranded version of that (supposedly) a little while ago, knew i should have got it
and probably would have, but i was a little hesitant to how much it was worth it to save seeing as how my mousepad would have a huge HP logo

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: ed_ on Wed, 18 November 2009, 23:34:43

Quote from: exousia;133776

I just recieved a Razer Megasoma mouse pad which uses a translucent silicon.

It tracks amazingly well.

I entered this thread with the intention of mentioning that pad, but to wonder if it differs from the $9 silicone baking sheets at Target.  I'm going to have to see how well one of those would seem to work.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: Arc'xer on Thu, 19 November 2009, 02:31:37

Quote from: ed_;133978

I entered this thread with the intention of mentioning that pad, but to wonder if it differs from the $9 silicone baking sheets at Target.  I'm going to have to see how well one of those would seem to work.

Just remember that there's a large variety cloth, plastic, hybrid, coated etc.etc. You might want to consider what you like before considering buying one.

Most people are a little hesitant on buying Razer pads mostly the price. But some of them don't like the performance.

And to your question yes, a mouse pad can provide a better surface or offer a different feel. Some mouse pads can even cause a mouse to track worse or track better. Some have more friction or are slicker list goes on. Just like they sell mouse feet as some of the pads can eat away faster hence the different surface. The thing is you should do some research before deciding plus value.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: ed_ on Thu, 19 November 2009, 14:58:39

Quote from: Arc'xer;133998

Just remember that there's a large variety cloth, plastic, hybrid, coated etc.etc. You might want to consider what you like before considering buying one.

Most people are a little hesitant on buying Razer pads mostly the price. But some of them don't like the performance.

And to your question yes, a mouse pad can provide a better surface or offer a different feel. Some mouse pads can even cause a mouse to track worse or track better. Some have more friction or are slicker list goes on. Just like they sell mouse feet as some of the pads can eat away faster hence the different surface. The thing is you should do some research before deciding plus value.

I'm not sure if you quoted the wrong comment, or if I was not clear; I wasn't talking about different types of mouse pads, materials or performance differences between them.  I was saying that the $50 Razer silicone rubber mouse pad looks no different from a $9 silicone rubber baking sheet, which is formulated to resist sticking.

Next time I'm in one of those types of stores I'll have to see if it would work.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Thu, 19 November 2009, 15:31:20

majority keyboards all look the same but performance and price vary. from the Japanese graphs the more expensive the surface the better the tracking and speed. it's not just materials but the pattern as well. it appears the engineers at SteelSeries and Razer know what they are doing.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Thu, 19 November 2009, 15:42:12

Quote from: ed_;134139

I'm not sure if you quoted the wrong comment, or if I was not clear; I wasn't talking about different types of mouse pads, materials or performance differences between them.  I was saying that the $50 Razer silicone rubber mouse pad looks no different from a $9 silicone rubber baking sheet, which is formulated to resist sticking.

Next time I'm in one of those types of stores I'll have to see if it would work.

you forgot surface pattern. very important.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: ed_ on Thu, 19 November 2009, 19:36:57

Quote from: lmnop;134187

you forgot surface pattern. very important.

No; I merely said that I plan on getting one and testing it.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 20 November 2009, 02:48:59

a $9 silicone rubber baking sheet doesn't have the horizontal pattern a Megasoma has and a friendly warning the Megasoma doesn't like teflon feet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2-tDe5gP7s

bjorn3D tested it on several mice and the same result.

you need to be clear on what you say. that post was very vague.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 20 November 2009, 02:57:24

a $9 silicone rubber baking sheet doesn't have the horizontal pattern a Megasoma has and a friendly warning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2-tDe5gP7s

you need to be clear on what you say. that post was very vague.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 20 November 2009, 03:03:39

a $9 silicone rubber baking sheet doesn't have the horizontal pattern a Megasoma has. is the air in your head dissipating now?

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 20 November 2009, 03:45:58

replicating materials is one thing but a pattern is not as easy. you need to purchase a silicone baking sheet that has a similar pattern and from browsing google images I can't see it happening.

(http://i47.tinypic.com/2wntoqq.jpg)
(http://i48.tinypic.com/28w2an9.jpg)

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 20 November 2009, 03:51:45

Quote from: ed_;134139

I was saying that the $50 Razer silicone rubber mouse pad looks no different from a $9 silicone rubber baking sheet, which is formulated to resist sticking.

Next time I'm in one of those types of stores I'll have to see if it would work.

this is what I am talking about.

I had a difficult time finding a white silicone baking sheet in google and the ones I did find do not have a similar pattern.

(http://i47.tinypic.com/2wntoqq.jpg)
(http://i48.tinypic.com/28w2an9.jpg)

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 20 November 2009, 04:12:55

Quote from: ed_;134139

I was saying that the $50 Razer silicone rubber mouse pad looks no different from a $9 silicone rubber baking sheet, which is formulated to resist sticking.

Next time I'm in one of those types of stores I'll have to see if it would work.

this is what I am talking about.

I had a difficult time finding a white silicone baking sheet in google and the ones I did find do not have a similar pattern.

(http://i47.tinypic.com/2wntoqq.jpg)
(http://i48.tinypic.com/28w2an9.jpg)

if you find a white silicone baking sheet with tens of thousands of horizontal lines you let me know :)

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: Rajagra on Sat, 21 November 2009, 00:58:32

Quote from: lmnop;134430

if you find a white silicone baking sheet with tens of thousands of horizontal lines you let me know :)

I daresay an appropriate grade of sandpaper will give an appropriate texture.

I've gone back to using a cutting mat for now. I had tried using a low dpi for gaming, and it became apparent that my G9 on glass mats was failing at the speeds that became necessary. Seems better on a plain green rubber cutting mat. It even feels ok. Not as smooth as glass, but the drag is consistent, so it's no handicap.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: ed_ on Sat, 21 November 2009, 03:16:01

Quote from: lmnop;134430

this is what I am talking about.

I had a difficult time finding a white silicone baking sheet in google and the ones I did find do not have a similar pattern.

if you find a white silicone baking sheet with tens of thousands of horizontal lines you let me know :)

Those pictures and their official marketing photos make it look like standard silicone rubber.  You don't need lines; my hard gaming pad tracks perfectly with an arbitrarily bumpy pattern, and my mouse tracks just as well on a silicone rubber spatula.

Sometime after I move I'll compare food-grade and industrial silicone rubber to see which provides the better feel.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: lmnop on Sat, 21 November 2009, 05:59:36

ed you have a lot to learn :)

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: NOMiS on Sun, 22 November 2009, 12:16:22

I used to use a cutting mat as a mouse pad (green self healing one). It actually didn't wear for the whole time I used it. It does have a lot more friction, and it doesn't have any grip on your desk. I noticed tracking problems with my G5 on the side with lines. The blank side was fine though. I would just go with a normal cloth pad. You can get them really cheap.

Title: Cutting mats for mouse?
Post by: timw4mail on Mon, 23 November 2009, 07:28:53

Quote from: ripster;135280

And big.

Show Image

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5874&stc=1&d=1258915996)

Xtrak Ripper XXL here (http://www.cyberguys.com/product-details/?productid=19367).   Nice for keyboard trays too - just cut to size.

Yes, the famous desk-sized mousepad. One of these days I'll take a picture of mine.