Magic Mouse damaging my desk

[retta283]

I have the Magic Mouse 1 (the one with replaceable batteries) and I've used it with a mousepad for some time. However, I got sick of the poor traction and glide speed the Magic Mouse has on the mousepad. So I decided to put the pad away and use it on the desk. This is what everyone I know does.

After using it like this for a while, it was a lot nicer. The mouse moved a lot quicker and smoother. However after a few weeks, I noticed a lot of small white specks on the desk where I used the mouse. At first I figured it was just gunk that built up on the mouse and flaked off. After a bit I decided to clean it off, but noticed that they were not coming off. So I put my glasses on and inspect them. Turns out the texture of the desk is being chipped away by the mouse. These specks are the color of the wood showing through the texture. Some of the larger ones even are lumpy.

Now this desk is fairly cheap, it's just a particle board, but I've never seen anything this bad. I looked at the mouse, and it's in good condition. No scratches or chips. So now I'm back to using it with a mousepad. This is a real disappointment to me, as it felt a lot better to use. Any good mousepad recommendations for the Magic Mouse?

Here's a picture of the damage

[doublepost=1565454515][/doublepost]Just saw I posted a thread similar to this about 4 months ago, but it was about the mouse getting scratched. I did look into this, and it turns out the fins were already chipped and the dust was just filling it in. I have poor eyesight so it's hard to tell what's old and what's new.

I also said in the post that the desk was fine, I wish that was actually the case... Sorry for posting about the same issue twice, I honestly had totally forgotten about the original post.

 

[ApplesandOranges]

Happens to all my desks. I don't like mousepads, and have used all versions of the Magic Mouse on a black desk that had the weathered look to begin with, so when the mouse started to wear off the paint where the mouse resides I did not care. Wore it down to pretty much bare wood. Now I am using a white laminated Ikea desk and it's starting to get dull and worn where I use the mouse. I don't think there is any mouse immune to this phenomenon.

 

[retta283]

Happens to all my desks. I don't like mousepads, and have used all versions of the Magic Mouse on a black desk that had the weathered look to begin with, so when the mouse started to wear off the paint where the mouse resides I did not care. Wore it down to pretty much bare wood. Now I am using a white laminated Ikea desk and it's starting to get dull and worn where I use the mouse. I don't think there is any mouse immune to this phenomenon.

Glad to see someone else with a similar experience. I thought it was my cheap desk. I'll have to ask my friend, he uses his Magic Mouse on a pine desk that he's had for 35 years. Wonder how his is holding up.

Some mice I've owned have been decent when used with a mousepad, but Apple mice are always poor. Not very fast to move, and I usually end up moving the pad after a while. On the Windows side I'm a trackball user though, so I don't need to worry about any of this. I've been tempted for some time to pick up a Magic Trackpad, maybe this will be the thing that makes me finally give in and buy it. Of course I will still need the mouse for my work, but for browsing I could probably get away with the trackpad.

 

[velocityg4]

Have you considered putting on a few coats of varnish? It can provide a hard barrier to reduce wear from mousing. Try in an inconspicuous spot first. To make sure it will bond right and will harden properly. Oil based is hardier than water based. Don't forget surface prep of thorough cleaning and light sanding.

Note that you won't be able to use the desk for a few days after varnishing. The can will give you a time table. It will also smell for a while until it cures.

 

[28Gauge]

As mentioned above, I didn't like the way the Magic Mouse acted when using the typical fabric type mouse pad. Years ago, I found an aluminum mouse pad from Elago that closely matched the aluminum of my 2011 iMac and allowed the mouse to move smoothly on a hard surface. I have been very happy with it.

https://www.elago.com/desk-collection/office-desk-setup

 

[HenryAZ]

A piece of leather, or the leather mousepad from Saddleback Leather, which is what I use. Leather tracks great.

 

[wellander1]

You could try the magic trackpad. That stays at one place on the surface you put it on.

 

[retta283]

Have you considered putting on a few coats of varnish? It can provide a hard barrier to reduce wear from mousing. Try in an inconspicuous spot first. To make sure it will bond right and will harden properly. Oil based is hardier than water based. Don't forget surface prep of thorough cleaning and light sanding.

Note that you won't be able to use the desk for a few days after varnishing. The can will give you a time table. It will also smell for a while until it cures.

This would be a consideration, but I would need to cut out some time to try it if I have to wait for a few days before returning to use of the desk. The desk is also pretty chipped elsewhere, so I'm not trying to keep it in good shape by doing this, but I don't want to deal with the lumps.

Double posted, forums are having a lot of issues today and I clicked it twice thinking nothing had happened.

 

[velocityg4]

This would be a consideration, but I would need to cut out some time to try it if I have to wait for a few days before returning to use of the desk. The desk is also pretty chipped elsewhere, so I'm not trying to keep it in good shape by doing this, but I don't want to deal with the lumps.

Double posted, forums are having a lot of issues today and I clicked it twice thinking nothing had happened.

In that case you could put down a layer of wood grain vinyl or shelf paper.

 

[Fishrrman]

That wear on the surface of the desk is called "distressing".
Folks pay for that when buying antiques...

 

[MacChallenged27]

I've been experiencing a similar issue with my Magic Mouse I. After several years, the black strips on the bottom of the mouse have been degrading: little chips and grooves. The strips collect little bits of dust, dirt, and micro-scrapings from the desk surface. There's now a visible bald patch on my desk. The build-up causes an annoying scraping sound, so I've just been scraping it off with my fingernail, thus causing the little chips and grooves, which damage the desk...and the cycle continues. I've found a temporarily workable albeit not perfect solution: a 6x6 square of Glad Press n' Seal wrap. Regular cling film/plastic wrap won't work. Even though the edges are a bit wrinkled, I can get a smooth enough patch in the middle to work with. No damage to the desk, no scraping sound, and it's removable. I'm looking at the metal mouse pads and the magic trackpad but this is working for the moment.