Thanks Jim, I didn't even think about instrument cases.
I just took a quick look at Tolex. Some of it looks really close on the computer. The prices didn't seem too bad compared to other materials. On the site I looked at I saw it from about $6/yd and up. Average was around $12-15/yd. I've seen batiks sell for the same.
I think your base shows a difference in working styles. I work mainly with wood so I think in terms of wood. You do a lot more with metal than I do so you tend to think about and use those materials more. It looks like a nice functional base and no difficult cuts or assembly required. I know some of the antique machines had really neat undersides. Something like that would be a good way to show that off too.
That Defiance is a pretty machine.
Can you take your spinner knob apart and show all of us what you used? I think there are plenty of people here who would like to see it.
Rodney