[SOLVED] holding stuff down

[ouch]

What do you all use to keep stuff in the same place, hold it down, stop it sliding around or getting pulled off the desk..?

Obviously I don't mean things like monitors or keyboards, but smaller, lighter stuff like USB hubs, or card-readers and the like? Hubs in particular as they're often interacted with, but also things like KVM switches which have a lot of cabling yet are quite lightweight.

My desk is engineered wood (a kitchen worktop actually) - and I've tried using the removable command-strips as I don't like the idea of leaving a sticky goo or having a wrestling match when I want to relocate or change a device - but these 3M command strips are quite expensive for what they do. I'm wondering if there's another product out there, effectively needs to be removable, medium strength and cheap.

What does everyone else do?

 

[DSzymborski]

You're kind of asking for a lot of magic. If something's going to hold well, it's going to have to have obstacles to remove it simply, else it wouldn't hold well. And the stuff that is good isn't going to be as cheap.

 

[hang-the-9]

Velcro strips, which are pretty much same tech as the 3M strips.

 

[ouch]

You're kind of asking for a lot of magic. If something's going to hold well, it's going to have to have obstacles to remove it simply, else it wouldn't hold well. And the stuff that is good isn't going to be as cheap.

I used to think that, but the 3M command strips are some sort of witchcraft - they're very good, but quite expensive for what they are (£3 for two sticky little pads about 30mm long).

 

[ouch]

Velcro strips, which are pretty much same tech as the 3M strips.

I use velcro in other locations, but as this is on a wooden desk top, I'd be worried about the adhesive on the velcro leaving a mark or something in time.

It's probably worth noting that this desk is behind a south-facing window, so does see a bit of sun/heat which I've seen in the past does unpleasant things to adhesives over time.

 

[DSzymborski]

I used to think that, but the 3M command strips are some sort of witchcraft - they're very good, but quite expensive for what they are (£3 for two sticky little pads about 30mm long).

I don't mean expensive in normal terms, but since you thought command strips were expensive, anything good is also going to be expensive in this context.

Strong, cheap, easy. Choose two.

 

[hang-the-9]

I used to think that, but the 3M command strips are some sort of witchcraft - they're very good, but quite expensive for what they are (£3 for two sticky little pads about 30mm long).

Cost is relative, sure a roll of double-sided tape is cheaper or a roll of Velcro, but as you said in your case you are afraid of the adhesive leaving behind marks. You can try some tack like they use for pictures that should not leave makings, but that stuff is not really designed for handling the objects much target.com/p/scotch-2oz-removable-mounting-putty/-/A-13356391