Custom Sewing Table for Inept Carpenters
For years my sewing tables were standard folding table. They work great but I couldn't adjust the table height. Being a short person that was a bit of a problem. When we were getting rid of a large entertainment cabinet I saw my opportunity to have a custom table. The top of the cabinet was the perfect size for a sewing table.
Neither Chris are handy with tools but we were able to pull this off. All we purchased were a few 1 x 4 boards and 5 adjustable table legs from Ikea. I used 5 legs because the table is extra long and I felt I needed and extra in the center back
Neither Chris are handy with tools but we were able to pull this off. All we purchased were a few 1 x 4 boards and 5 adjustable table legs from Ikea. I used 5 legs because the table is extra long and I felt I needed and extra in the center back
First we borrowed a jig saw. I measured my Juki carefully and created a template for the opening. The opening has to be a couple inches wider than the machine to accommodate the cords. I marked the needle placement in the template.
I determined that I wanted the needle to be about 8" from the front edge of the table and then traced the outline. I taped around the outline because we were concerned that the veneer might chip...but it didn't. We rested the table on some bricks so that the saw blade didn't cut into the work table. Then Chris carefully cut the hole for the machine.
High fives all around!
I determined that I wanted the needle to be about 8" from the front edge of the table and then traced the outline. I taped around the outline because we were concerned that the veneer might chip...but it didn't. We rested the table on some bricks so that the saw blade didn't cut into the work table. Then Chris carefully cut the hole for the machine.
High fives all around!
The cabinet top is just veneered particle board and it needed strengthening to support the weight and vibration of a sewing machine. He glued and screwed a 1xx4 board on the UNDERSIDE of the front and back edges.
For the machine shelf we used some 1 x 10 fir boards that we had around the house.
We are still working from the underside of the table here.
He cut the cross pieces first and we positioned them in place just to the outside of the cut out. They are glued and screwed into the 1x4s in the previous step.
Then we cut and positioned the shelf on top and drilled the 6 bolt holes through the table and the shelf at the same time. We inserted the bolts loosely for the time being.
He made that shelf extra wide so that I wouldn't be slamming my knee into those bolts every time I sew.
We are still working from the underside of the table here.
He cut the cross pieces first and we positioned them in place just to the outside of the cut out. They are glued and screwed into the 1x4s in the previous step.
Then we cut and positioned the shelf on top and drilled the 6 bolt holes through the table and the shelf at the same time. We inserted the bolts loosely for the time being.
He made that shelf extra wide so that I wouldn't be slamming my knee into those bolts every time I sew.
The last step was to put the leg bases in place. I used one in each corner and one in the center of the back. The hardest part was adjusting the legs. These legs work great and are very economical but the trade off is that they are kind of a pain to use. But I figured it out and we eventually got them set right. The nice thing is that I can work with this for a while and determine if I need any more adjustments.
I didn't even paint the front edge of that 1 x 4. Once I had the table in place I adjusted the legs to get the table to the right height. Then I put the machine in the slot and adjusted the bolts on the bottom to raise the machine to the right height.
The table works great and cost less than $30! We did use one L-bracket on the back to make it more stable. These kinds of table legs are inherently wobbly so a little bracket is very helpful.
The table works great and cost less than $30! We did use one L-bracket on the back to make it more stable. These kinds of table legs are inherently wobbly so a little bracket is very helpful.
