Tips to make old desk into quilting table
 

I have a lovely older wooden desk. The only problem that I have with it is that the top is too tall. Especially when I have a sewing machine on it. That adds what? 4inches? I've been reading how people have built up around the machine to make a flush surface, but I really need to bring it down 3-4 inches instead.

So I was thinking about cutting the front of the desk. A regular rectangle just a few inches larger than my machine all the way around. Then suspending this cut out with the metal hanging tape that they use to hold your pipes and A/C units.

That's all I can think of. I don't have a quilting extension table or anything like that. Just big desk and a sewing machine! Oh, the desk does have a drawer right there, and when I pull it out to experiment, I can set the machine right on the drawer and it's a good height. But I don't think it would support the weight of the machine and quilting for long.

So any and all suggestions are welcome.. no matter how far-fetched or obvious to you (cause it's not to me!)

are you talking about the cabinet the machine is on now.? if so, can you cut the legs shorter? the tape you are talking about i s not as strong as it looks. or raise your chair.

No, the one in the middle. The big one just under the lamps. It's a terrible picture, I know. I tried to add another picture, but it's too big.
I do raise my chair up as high as I comfortably can. I do have some nerve damage in my left leg so I can't sit with my knees much lower than my hips.

you could reinforce the drawer to make it strong enough then you could cut a or have cut a piece of plexiglass to fit around your machine

If you're talking about modifying the L shaped desk sitting to the left of your sewing machine, it looks like it has a single drawer. Many years ago, I cut a hole in my husband's sturdy1960's era desk for my Kenmore. I placed the piece that I cut out down in the drawer and set my machine on top. It brought the machine bed flush with the surface. I don't remember if it needed a scrim or two. That machine had a drop-in bobbin, so I didn't have to remove the machine from the desk very often except for cleaning. Now I sew with a vintage Bernina 830 with vertical bobbin access below the bed of the machine. If I didn't want the inconvenience of pulling the machine out of the recess each time I needed to change the bobbin, I would have to remove the drawer completely. Then you would have the complexity, relative to the construction of the desk, of bracing a shelf below the desk surface.

I'd hate to make adjustments to the deck! It's so nice looking!

Yes, there is the long, drawer that pulls out into your lap. I'll miss it when I modify, because it holds all kinds of goodies! My bobbin is in the front of the machine, which just adds to the fun of trying to modify the desk! Thats why I figured I'd just cut out from the edge of the desk instead of cutting a machine shaped hole in the desk top.

I may just start using the lower part of the "L". I don't want to because I love having that there to hold the bulk of the quilt, but my shoulders are telling me to do it anyway! AT least if I do that, I am just going to have to tape some phone books together so I have an even surface!! Actually, I may just do that. The desk is incredibly heavy and I don't want to move it, but oh well! Quilting and comfort come first!

It's a good, sturdy piece of furniture! I got it just so I could quilt on it, so I knew some modifications were going to have to be made! I just don't know the best way to make them! And it's all scratched up and covered in shelf paper, it's not as "nice" as it looks! :)

Cleaning out the drawer would work, but I'm not sure it's a good long-term plan. I think the weight would eventually bend the tracks it's on.
The desk doesn't have "legs", they are like walls. I've thought about cutting them down and then I remembered the terrible job I did when I cut the bottom of a door. It was terrible! Platform is a good idea but too much trouble. I have a hard enough time keeping my chair on the rug and it not rolling the rug up in the wheels! I'd hurt myself bad!!

I don't see why the cutting into the top wouldn't work. Or, instead of cutting into the front - cut out a rectangle a little bigger than your machine - give it more space in front, so you can move your machine back when you need to change the bobbin. I have an old office desk that my DH did that for me. I do have a machine with a drop in bobbin, so I don't have the problem of changing bobbins.
I did have to do away with the drawer under the cut out, but with all the other drawers it has - I've had no problem finding new spots for the stuff that was in there.
I also, never bothered with a plexiglass piece to put around the machine.
Just do what works and enjoy it!

I have one now. It is an OLD desk. Husband cut out a hole for my serger. It sits in the drawer. Don't know if he had to re-inforce the drawer or not. Perfect height.

Can you post a picture? I just can't figure out how to mount something to hold the machine in place lower

Since you know the drawer makes for a good height for your machine, I would cut a rectangle hole in the top, not to the edge, and place the machine down on the drawer. (If you go to the edge, I'm afraid it would be uncomfortable when you are quilting and leaning over the machine.) I would attach a board or metal straps, whatever you can, under / across the bottom of drawer, to support the drawer and machine. You will then be in heaven - machine at proper height for quilting and the L-shape in the perfect spot to support your quilts. How would it be to remove the front of the drawer? Then you could access the bobbin from the front, but keep the sides and bottom of the drawer in place to help support the machine. If that doesn't seem feasible, as others have said, you can just make the hole large enough for your hand to fit in and access the bobbin from above. My machine is placed in a hole in a quilting table a family member made for me, and the hole is sufficient to reach the bobbin. I traced the rectangle hole and the outline of my machine on a big piece of newsprint, took it to the local glass shop, and they made me a plexiglass insert that fills the space between the table and the machine. It works out really well. While I was at it, I had them make a solid insert, without the hole for the machine. So, when I need the table for sandwiching, I can remove the machine, put in the solid insert and have the large surface I need. It also works well as a tracing table when I put a light on the shelf under the plexiglass. Good luck! Please post pics when you finish. ETA: the glass shop only charged me a few dollars for the plexiglass inserts - a bargain when you see how much custom sewing machine inserts are!

Can you place foldable legs under the drawer for support? Then you can use the drawer safely without cutting anything.

Hmmm.. maybe I could find or make a small table (or shelf....) that is in the front and then just build up around the machine to make it flush with the desk top. I can see this as a total possibility!

Could you stack some 2x4's together and raise the "floor" for your feet instead of trying to lower the table? Would your chair raise enough? Then just make a plexy glass table for your machine?

We are planning on making this modification to the 2 desks in my sewing space too. And, I was getting ready to ask this same question. Interesting feedback.

Question. Some of the smallish sewing tables for sale that have cut outs, but no electric or air lifts, have a system that uses a hinged platform with some type of adjuster thing (my friends has a chain). Can you buy these hinged platform contraptions? Cause that would be a really simple solution. But, I have not seen them for sale anywhere.

One of my desks has a keyboard 'drawer'; but, it won't support a machine.

I did the same thimng with a computer desk. The front of the drawer tilts down on hinges. You could do that so you can get at the bobbin. I store small things along the sides. Good luck!

Cutting a hole(just slightly bigger than your machine size in the top would be easier. Brace it with 2x4 frames or metal straps attached to maintain the stablity of the machine. Keep the drawer and adjust the size of the drawer space as the hole would require.

On the left side of the desk, get a large piece of clear heavy duty plastic and make a light box type structure to even our the surface height.

What you could do. The middle area where you chair goes into you could put one of those sliding shelve units in. What I am talking about is the kind they use in kitchen cabinets where the shelve slide out.
The best solution to the problem is cut the legs off. My husband has to cut down every cabinet I get because they are just to tall for me.

Raise your chair, then add a footrest to keep your legs at a comfortable level. This would have to be custom made to suit you, and don't forget to make sure the foot pedal has room as well. Good luck!

Here is instructions from Quilt in a Day on how to turn an farm table into a sewing table. I'm sure it would work the same for your desk. http://www.quiltinaday.com/freepattern/

I have an old executive desk I use as a sewing table. I can use the center drawer to put my machine in and it's pretty much level with the desk top. It also has two pull out shelves on each side. I've debated about having my DH cut a section out of the top for my machine but I would hate to lose the top of the desk. If you cut a hole in the desk top, make sure you cut it a little larger than you need and mount a shelf to sit your machine on just deep enough to keep your machine level with the desktop. Use the piece you cut out to replace in the desktop if you move your machine. That way you still get the use of a level desktop without a hole in it.

I think Elenor burns has a video on how to convert an old kitchen table to hold a maching flush w the tyable top. that might help u w your problem.

Why not raise your chair to a suitable height, then use a box or footstool to put the foot pedal, and your feet on, so they are not uncomfortable. Glue a bit of velcroe to the bottom of the pedal, and perhaps fabric to the box to stop sliding.

Thanks I have an L shaped computer table I use as my quilting/sewing area and had been thinking of doing the drop down item for the machine. This just might help ! Thanks for sharing

My husband just modified a garage sale table for me like this: He cut a hole to fit my machine. He took a board a little bigger than the hole and using carriage bolts hung it right under the hole. These carriage bolts are long enough, 4"-5" or so, to make the shelf adjustable for any machine. They do show on the top of the table but are rounded smooth and shiny. They could be recessed into the top, but I didn't want him to bother with that. He cut 1" off the legs because I'm short. The shelf adjusts with bolts and there are rounded caps on the ends so nothing will catch on them.

We are looking for another cheap ($20 or so)table or two so he can modify some to sell. We're hoping to get $75-$100 for a nice big sewing/quilting table. I live in Central NY.

Wouldn't that weaken the table and possibly make it lean in that area?

If you are referring to my message...?????....no. The table is a full inch thick and is still very sturdy.

Just my opinion, now. But i would turn myself to the left and use the "typewriter" side of the desk. Already lower and you don't have to cut anything, loose your valuable drawer. You can bring up something else to lay the bulk of your quilt on when you need that area. Maybe and ironing board or a card table, etc. Again, just my opinion. You must do what feels right to you.

On the QIAD site there is information on how to turn a wooden table into a sewing table. This is the link to the page http://www.quiltinaday.com/freepattern/ and it is listed as "How to Make a Sewing Table from a Farm Table" and is located on the lower right hand side.

Can't you cut the legs down to make it shorter?

Very nice. I took my daughters desk, which she is letting me use right now, that is an oak desk with a pull out tray for setting a keyboard on, and I use the pull out tray for a simple pressing table to iron seams on while making blocks. It works great and is very handy.

I would cut the legs of the desk. If you put masking tape across the area you are cutting just above the cut line it will keep the wood from chipping and fraying which is what probably happened with your door.

Ok. My husband didn't want to cut into the desk. I found a sewing table for $5 so we brought it home. I removed the screws from the hinges that holds that table top. I didn't want a hole in the top, so we cut the back of the top as you can see in the pictures. I removed the back of the table and am using it as the front. My legs don't fit under a cabinet!

We cut the table top down to fit and supported it with discount lumber from Home Depot. All we did was screw them into the sides. We had to cut the corners (pun not intended!) for the table top; you might be able to see that in the pictures. Because I removed the back, we had to reinforce the legs. There is white tape in the front. I added a "bumper" onto those corners so my legs wouldn't get all scratched up and poked! I added a piece of vinyl to the left of the machine to cover the nails and splinters and help the quilt move.
The height is almost perfect. At least I know I can cut the legs down if I need to. That is seriously not an option with that desk. My husband told me today that if we move, it's staying here. It weighs about 7billion pounds.

Well, crud. without getting into too much details... it doesn't work. Back to the drawing board!

Make the desk your cutting/ironing table. Install more lights on the left wall and find a table more near the correct height for you that can be adapted easily for your machine and sew there. It would probably cost you less and be much more comfortable. I did see the mechanism that is used for the drop table that you see here http://www.hornofamerica.com/product...s&productID=96. I have also seen the ones that aren't airlift but I don't remember where. Keep researching and you will find something that will satisfy your needs. Good luck.

Instead of the tape that isn't stable; it will move with vibration. Why not take the wood that is cut out and mount it with metal brackets low enough for your machine. It would be more stable for sewing.