I built my own Big Board a few months ago, and happily placed it on our Walmart Special, el-cheapo, ironing board. Gradually the support seemed more and more wobbly and by Sunday night, I was working on a 30 degree incline (not great for wrists by the way). Last night, it died. I looked over and watched in mock horror as it gently tipped towards me, spilling books and fabric onto me, the bed, and the floor...

One of the legs finally gave up the ghost and buckled. I do suspect that I had help in my abuse of said board from my 10 year old as he confessed to leaning hard on it, and more than once the Corgis appeared on top of the board, and I did my fair share by stacking books on it when not using it. Though it was a definite sign that I had to stack things in specific corners in order that it not tip over...

So, the standard T-legs design does not work for me. What brands do you use that are sturdy and stable?

Cheers, K

I had the same problem. My mom had a pair of really ugly wooden saw horses in the garage that I made off with. I covered them in scrap fabric and laid the ironing table on top of them. I left the old iron board part attached to the board and reoved its legs. The metal part of the ironing board kind acts like a ledge to stop the board from sliding on the saw horses.

I found a lovely oak desk that was sitting unused upstairs. I put casters on it and padded a board for the top and it works WONDERFUL. Solid as a rock. I also can use the drawers, etc. for storage.

I use my t-leg ironing board that I have had for twenty years! Still in great condition!

I put mine (home made Big Board) on my ironing board which was getting quite wobbly and unstable.

One day when we were at Goodwill I found an older, heavier ironing board...think "1950's". It was even a pale peachy shade...looked right out of a 1950's TV show! LOL

Anyway, it is SOOOOO sturdy and stable!

I think I paid $5 for it (plus the cost of a cover).
I LOVE IT! They just don't make 'em like that anymore! :)

I definitely need an "old heavy" board. Unfortunately, I don't have space for a table or dresser as that would add storage options, so am stuck trying to find a sturdy ironing board.

While I could just lay it on the bed, it is a little bit low and there is too much bounce in it.

Cheers, K

I don't have a big board, but I do have my Grandma's old ironing board. It is so much more stable than my cheapie even without the big board. I kept knocking the cheapie over every time a bumped it. Grandma's table stays put. Maybe you should haunt the resale shops for an old board.

I use a regular - 4 leg ironing board. However, I don't keep anything on the board except my iron, cutting mat, ruler, pins & the piece of fabric I'm working with.

I made two big boards & I love them sooo much! I use WalMart ironing boards under them but I use the 4 leg, not the T legs. And I got the cheapest one they had too. I only keep them up when actively using them (side by side I can iron an entire quilt backing of 105" ) How thick is your board? I think I used 3/4" thick; I bet that makes a difference.

cheap walmart ironing board, still going strong