Recommendations for soldering surface?

[kaltag]

Hell there. I'm looking for recommendations for the counter top material for a soldering station. Right now I'm torn between glass, cork, and butcher block but open to any suggestions. What do the pro solderers like?

[arcanise]

i use a stainless steel counter with preset drilled holes for my vice and other holding devices.

[deadlysyn]

I usually just use the kitchen counter or my desk.:rofl:

I don't do a lot of heavy soldering though.

[arcanise]

really anything that is smooth and wont easily grab onto molten solder is your best bet, i would stay away from wood because if you heat would with a solder the oils put out a toxic fume

[Realee]

I used to use rubber matting.

It was great because you could setup your clamps (I'm talking smallish PCB's here...) without drilling holes in the desk. The solder did stick and the mat needed to be replaced now and then, but it kept the bench clean and held onto whatever I needed it to.

There are some fumes now and then so care is needed but the benefit and the rare fumes are worth it.

[hafa]

i use a stainless steel counter with preset drilled holes for my vice and other holding devices.

+1 for stainless. I use these (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=stainless+steel+table&hl=en&prmd=ivns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1157&bih=533&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=8937821900287756800&sa=X&ei=8Yf-TfSXMurZiAKun8zmAQ&ved=0CIEBEPMCMAM) sans the wheels.

[Crapxxas119]

How about a tile or two?
A flooring tile can withstand a bit of heat and wont grab onto the solder.
My soldering station currently has sheet metal, but solder sticks...

And make sure you dont breathe in the toxic solder fumes because they are.... TOXIC!
I made a fume extractor, but its not filtered. I still solder in the garage and the extractor just keeps the fumes out of my face.

[arcanise]

you dont want brushed stainless steel as that has little grooves for the solder to stick 2, it has to be polished stainless steel. solder uses a physical bond not a chemical bond so if the solder cant "grab" the material it touches it wont stick.

[Dolk]

Table cloth ontop of my desk? :shrug:

My comptuer is also the same place as my engineering dungeon, or is it my engineering dungeon is in the same place as my computer?

[Bobnova]

I use a sheet of cardboard.
Easy to replace, solder doesn't stick, and it lets you know if you're doing something you shouldn't be (like letting the soldering iron tip sit on the surface...).

[madhatter256]

Ideally a ceramic counter top like they use in your school lab room. but for hobbyist, any counter top will do, just have good ventilation.

[Diggrr]

I use an old piece of aluminum flashing cut to 18" square to cover my counter top.
I solder standing in the bathroom because of the bright can lights in the bulkhead and quick access to swabs and alcohol for flux cleanup.
I let the aluminum turn grey with oxidation, solder won't stick for nothing. In fact I can solder right against it if I need a flat side. Even when using a torch.
Give it a quick flex and drips/splats come right off.

[jmh547]

I used to use my dads dinning room table... now that I have my own place I wouldn't dream of it. I use a 1'x1' piece of hard board.

[Convicted1]

I used to use my dads dinning room table... now that I have my own place I wouldn't dream of it. I use a 1'x1' piece of hard board.

I learned my lesson about soldering at expensive dining room tables at a young age...

I somehow managed to burn a pretty good mark in my Grandmothers dining room table at about the age of 13...

My butt still hurts from the whoopin' I took. LOL