Best material for smooth self-made Optical Mouse Surface

[Deskstar]

I want to make my own mouse "pad" that works well with optical mice. Even the largest commercially available "Giganta" optical "pads" are not large enough to keep my mouse from falling off the edge of the mouse surface every so often. So, I figured I needed about 12" x 18" of a thin sheet of material, but one that would accurarately reflect the mouse LED sensors. The table top on which my optical mouse rests is to "bumpy" for accurate optical tracking.

But, what works best? Masonite, countertop material, some teflon coated plastic or other? Whatever it is has to be able to be purchased on line or at Lowe's or Home Depot. Open for suggestions.

 

[mryellow2]

Just buy some plexiglass and paint the underside.

 

[FrustratedUser]

An ordinary wooden table works great.

 

[CraigRT]

fUnc sUrface 1030.

 

[merlocka]

just spraypaint your desk

 

[LazyBastard]

How about a thin layer of air on top of your desk? It's free, and it's already done!

 

[Deskstar]

OK,

The prize goes to "just spray paint your desk" with the added advantage of spray painting the computer, mouse, and monitor at the same time for an outstanding mod.

I'll try all these out (lol).

Unsubscribing ...now.

 

[Bovinicus]

Any surface that feels comfortable enough for you to use. Try a few different surfaces out. You might like the resistance of one surface more compared to another. Also, I heard it is bad to make the color white of the surface white.

 

[boi]

Im in the same boat with you. On the ratpadz website, it says it is huge but in reality, its freakin too small for me. I only can move my Intellimouse explorer 3.0 2 inches vertically before it goes over the pad.:|

 

[Deskstar]

I plan to try to use a very thin sheet of plexiglas (tks to mryellow2) and then either spray paint the underside of it as suggested or put two Everglide Optica pads underneath it to create a surface that is smooth, optically reflective, and large (10.5" x 16"). One of those two options should work. If not, then I will glue the two Optica pads together to make a smooth (but ugly) surface. I wish that Everglide would sell larger sheets of the Optica materials (Hint, Hint). Their fUnc sUrface 1030 materials comes in one size only that is too small also.

 

[FuManStan]

Originally posted by: Yield
fUnc sUrface 1030.

Func Surface is destroying my mouse feet

 

[LazyBastard]

I saw something on the web once, where someone used a piece of flourescent light cover as a mouse pad. Really, you could use any piece of large, flat, slightly textured plastic. Just go to your local Home Depot, Lowe's, hardware store, and look around.

 

[Buk]

Take a look at the cutting boards at Walmarts. At work, I use an 8 1/2 x 11 page-size plastic calendar that has a slightly matt surface with my ball-type mouse. It would probably work fine for an optical mouse, too...........

BTW - With an 18 x 12 mouse pad, you're liable to develop tennis elbow!

 

[merlocka]

Originally posted by: Deskstar
OK,

The prize goes to "just spray paint your desk" with the added advantage of spray painting the computer, mouse, and monitor at the same time for an outstanding mod.

I'll try all these out (lol).

Unsubscribing ...now.

Sweet, i win a prize. More bandwidth on the subscriber forums!!!