Sewing Machine Table Ideas?

[fallendesperado]

I have a pretty messed up back and hip from years of abuse and age. I've been changing out all the tables and desks I use to the quickly adjustable height stuff so I can sit or stand as needed to keep working. 

I've been looking for a sewing table for an Adler 105-64 cylinder arm and it appears the adjustments are minimal on ready made stuff and they require tools and too much time to re-adjust. 

For those of you that sew a lot at your machines, would something like this work bench from Home Depot work as a sewing machine table if I used a layered plywood top and cut a "u" in it like the u tables? Having wheels is a plus for me.

Can you see any disadvantages?  Are pedestal stands superior to a table type?  

I really don't have much leather sewing experience and I'd rather not waste a lot of time and end up on a dead end. However, I do happen to already own that table so I can repurpose it cheap. 

Pics are the home depot table and a random "u" table 

[dikman]

With a bit of modification I don't see why it shouldn't work. Reinforce the table top, possibly with an angle iron bar underneath, and the cross bar at the bottom may need to be lowered to place the pedals closer to the ground for comfort. I'd keep the machine as close to the right as possible to keep the weight over the table winding mechanism (I'm assuming that the total weight of your setup is within the load capability of the winder?).

[kgg]

5 hours ago, fallendesperado said:

Having wheels is a plus for me.

 

5 hours ago, fallendesperado said:

Are pedestal stands superior to a table type?  

The various styles of tables really depends on the machine.

My take:

1) Flatbed machines are mostly used with a standard style industrial table with "K" legs and the proper cutout in the table top for that particular model of machine.

2) Cylinder arm machines typically are placed on "U" cutout table tops, Juki style tables and pedestal style tables. The "U" cutout are typically used with Juki LS-341 / LS-1341 and clone machines while Juki TSC-441 and clone machines use either the Juki style table or pedestal style tables. Then you get the hybrid tables and the hydraulic lift tables.

Which style of table is superior depends on the machine being placed on it, the users needs and the users preference. People do like the pedestal tables but can be inherently tippy and if banged the wrong way could possibly topple. In my case with the style I chose for my Juki TSC-441 clone mainly had to do with me owning dogs. I could see that if a couple of them got playing and stuck a pedestal mounted machine the wrong way there was the possibility it could get knocked over.

Machine tables with wheels can be a benefit but the wheels have to be lockable and rated to take the weight. The best solution I think would be to use retractable casters rated for your machine and table. When you want to move the machine / table you engage the wheels and move it then retract them so the machine / table then rests firmly on the tables base. I use this style of casters on a floor mounted hydraulic press conversion ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m3NhGWMinQ )

Just like all sewing machines no one machine will do everything and the same can be applied to the style of table. As @dikman indicated make sure that lifting winder and legs can take the total weight you are planning on installing on top or underneath the table top.

What machine are you planning on mounting to the table??

kgg

 

[bruce johnson]

I've got that  Home Depot table in the tool shop, but I have the version with drawer.  It is a good height to work over the top for my smaller knife sharpener and a few cranks to lower and I can sit on a rolling chair with a fairly high adjustment to use for hand sharpening and filing.  There is not the amount of adjustment in the table that I would be comfortable with for both sitting and standing while sewing. To be honest, I never liked standing to sew. I could sight my needle and stitch groove better sitting. go for longer stretches. and have more foot control. That's just me. 

[fallendesperado]

@kgg it's an adler 105-64. It's a cylinder arm. 

[kgg]

3 hours ago, fallendesperado said:

it's an adler 105-64. It's a cylinder arm. 

From the info, last photo, I have seen your machine is going to be about the same weight as the Juki TSC-441 and clones around the 125 lb range. Base on the weight I would not go with the "U" style table unless you brace the machine with a third "K" leg right under the machine. For my machine I did sort of a hybrid of the "U" . What I done that may give you some ideas:

i) I used a standard industrial "K" frame and table top then I added a third "K" but turned the third "K" leg backwards and placed it directly under the center of the machine. The third "K" leg ensures no possibility of the table top warping / bending and gives better stability.

ii) Then I cutout a section of the table top and made other mods like extra cross bracing and relocating the thread spools to underneath the table top.

Like @bruce johnson I like sewing being sat down whether using a flatbed or a cylinder arm machine as I find it more comfortable and better foot control of the "go pedal".

kgg

Edited Thursday at 08:20 PM by kgg