Sewing Machine Tables/Tops?

[Cumberland Highpower]

I've been looking for a couple decent machine tables/tops over the past months and got to wondering a few things...

I've probably got a dozen tables that are marked "Canada".  Who made these tables and are they still around? Most are pretty heavy gauge steel, either K or H legs and darker grey paint. I'm sure they're older tables from the 1980s-90's. Steel is a bit heavier gauge and slightly heftier in dimensions than the Chinese imports.

Where can I buy a couple good THICK plywood table tops?  Something plywood w/Formica on top.  Looking especially for a couple U cut full size table tops for K Legs...

I've seen a couple U cut tops listed at Atlas levy and Ebay, but are not so thick and made in China as best I can tell?

 

[kgg]

On 3/7/2025 at 12:37 AM, Cumberland Highpower said:

Where can I buy a couple good THICK plywood table tops?

To get a long lasting and sturdy table top I would suggest:

i) If you are handy go to your local building supply store and buy a sheet of 3/4" plywood and some Formica, cut two pieces of plywood to the size needed, contact cement them together then glue the Formica top on and trim.

Or 

ii) Go to your local cabinet maker and have them make one.

What machine are you planning on putting on the table top?? Class 341 or a Class 441

kgg

 

Edited yesterday at 12:26 PM by kgg

[Cumberland Highpower]

3 hours ago, kgg said:

To get a long lasting and sturdy table top I would suggest:

i) If you are handy go to your local building supply store and buy a sheet of 3/4" plywood and some Formica, cut two pieces of plywood to the size needed, contact cement them together then glue the Formica top on and trim.

Or 

ii) Go to your local cabinet maker and have them make one.

What machine are you planning on putting on the table top?? Class 341 or a Class 441

kgg

 

Thanks for the reply KGG

I've actually made some tops in the past.  4x8 workbenches and table tops for machines as you describe.  I just don't really have the time to spare for projects at the moment, was hoping I could just do it the lazy way.

I guess you could say both "classes" in Juki talk.  Also a Markem Foil machine for Shoes on a regular top. 

I see you're Canadian, where are all those Canadian made tables from? Any place still in business?

Local Cabinet maker isn't an option Nearest one is probably an hr drive...Maybe 2?    Maybe you can get tops made pretty reasonably up there, but down here you can't hire out such work, most independent shops wont turn on the lights for less than $500........

Edited yesterday at 03:46 PM by Cumberland Highpower

[kgg]

2 hours ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

I see you're Canadian, where are all those Canadian made tables from? Any place still in business?

Not that I am aware off. But I haven't really looked. Most what you see is the cheap stuff from China.

 

2 hours ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

I guess you could say both "classes" in Juki talk. 

The main caution I have is that with the "U" shaped tables the front end really should be support as the Class 341 will bend the table top over time as it is about 80 lb or so and not being properly supported. When I done a hybrid form of the "U" shaped table for my 441 clone I added a support leg as the machine is roughly about 120 lb. The table top is your basic 1 1/2" cheap Chinese top so it definitely needed support. The best mod I done was put the sewing thread under the table.

 

kgg

 

[Cumberland Highpower]

I like your thread layout, under the table. I think I'm going to have to start doing that.

The machines I want on the U tops are pretty light.  Seiko TE5, TF6 and a LSC-8 binder.  

Now that you mention sagging tops, I need to do something about one of my strap cutters.  I've got a Randall 132 on a plywood dop that's sagged enough to look like  it's sitting on a banana.

[Northmount]

You could try TechSew in Montreal.

[kgg]

1 hour ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

The machines I want on the U tops are pretty light.  Seiko TE5, TF6 and a LSC-8 binder.  

Keep in mind they are still in the 60 to 70 lb range which can over time cause the table to sag if not supported.

kgg