Homemade sewing table!
11-12-2013, 07:12 PM
#23
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: I live in the small town of Lebanon oregon
Posts: 85
I had quite a few people that wanted to know how the table was done so my wonderful Husband was kind enough to type up some directions. We took some pictures during the build but not every detail was captured in a picture so if you have questions feel free to ask We started with a 5' x 3' kitchen tablethat has a solid pine top and legs
in all 4 corners found on craigslist
I got this idea off the internet onsomeones blog and just beefed it up. Not thinking there smallerdesign would hole up to the vibrations of the juki while freemotioning
Materials list
¾ inch cabinet grade plywood 4strips 3 ½ wide by length to be determined by your table (could usea 2x4 cut to length) and 1 piece big enough for your machine plus atleast 4 inches on either end
4- 3/8 inch carriage bolts 4 incheslong
4- 3/8 tee nuts
12- 3/8 flat washers
12- 3/8 nuts
4 springs ¾ inch inside diameter
screws 2 inches long
wood glue
tools
Skill saw with cutting guide or tablesaw
drill
pocket hole jig
1 inch Forstner bit
forstner bit with same diameter ascorner radius or machine base
speed square and t square
tape measure
jig saw and fine wood blades
2-9/16 wrenches
First you need to decide were you wantyour machine on the top. Make sure it is behind the front table braceby at least ½ inch or so and make sure there is at least 4 inchesclear on either side for the frame. Lay out machine base with asquare and some type of circle that matches the corner radius (I hada lid on my work bench that was a match). Next transfer themeasurements underneath and make sure its clear of the front and 4inches booth sides.
Measure from front table frame to backand cut your 4 strips 3 ½ wide by your measurement plus add a coupleinches for squaring up the ends. Now glue 2 strips together to make a3 ½ by 1 ½ board ( you could use a 2x4 for this but I couldn’tfind a decent board in may lumber stash and I had the plywoodalready)
Next Measure your machine base to findout how big your platform needs to be
My wife’s Juki has a baseapproximately 7x17 and I made the platform 14x30 just in case sheever wanted to change out to a bigger machine or add an acrylic tray
your platform should be at least acouple inches deeper then your machine is and at least 8 inches widerto accommodate the side braces where it will hang from the bolts.
Next I cut the hole for the machine byusing the forstner bit to drill the corners then a jigsaw to cut thestraight lines on all 4 sides. Go slow and take your time it shouldturn out pretty staight
Next Flip your table over and lay outyour brace on your right hand side of your machine a ½ from thehole. I attached it to the underside of the table with 2” screws asthe board was 1 ½ and the top was ¾ so I had ¼” to spare
Then lay your other brace the width ofyour platform away from your right hand brace ( outside to outside onmine was 30” same width as the platform) them attach that bracewith a couple screws. Making sure to square up braces beforeattaching
Next lay out the bolt holes for theplatform Mine were 2” in from both corners. Drill a 7/16 inch holeon your 4 marks and transfer marks to both braces. Then remove themfrom the table but make sure you marked out where they go and whichone is which
Drill a 1/8 pilot hole on your 4 markson the braces and flip over. Use your 1/8 pilot hole to drill in ½with your 1” forstner bit to recess the carriage bolt head and teenut. Then drill out with 7/16 the rest of the way through.
Thread your tee nut on to the carriagebolt and slide through the holes in the braces with the head settingdown in the recess. Gently tap the head to seat the tee nut. Slide awasher and thread a nut on the opposite side and snug down to seatthe tee nut the rest of the way
drill pocket holes in both ends of the2 braces to attach to front and back table frame. Reattach braces totable using marks and making sure braces go back to the same spots
slide platform over bolts and slide on1 washer and 1 nut per bolt. Set machine in and adjust to desireddepth then measure gap left between brace and platform. Cut springsto length twice the length of the gap but make sure they willcompress to less then the gap ( I bought 3 sets of springs and usedthe medium set all 3 sets were under $10 total at the local hardwarestore in the bulk fastener section)
Remove platform and put springs betweenplatform and braces with a washer between spring and platform the putwashers and nuts on bottom side and adjust to height. When desiredheight is achieved thread on a 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] nut and while holdingfirst nut still tighten second nut jamming it and keeping platformfrom moving locking in height
We added thread caps to protect ourlittle guys head if he ever gets under the table but not reallynecessary if you don’t have little ones running around Pictures to follow
in all 4 corners found on craigslist
I got this idea off the internet onsomeones blog and just beefed it up. Not thinking there smallerdesign would hole up to the vibrations of the juki while freemotioning
Materials list
¾ inch cabinet grade plywood 4strips 3 ½ wide by length to be determined by your table (could usea 2x4 cut to length) and 1 piece big enough for your machine plus atleast 4 inches on either end
4- 3/8 inch carriage bolts 4 incheslong
4- 3/8 tee nuts
12- 3/8 flat washers
12- 3/8 nuts
4 springs ¾ inch inside diameter
screws 2 inches long
wood glue
tools
Skill saw with cutting guide or tablesaw
drill
pocket hole jig
1 inch Forstner bit
forstner bit with same diameter ascorner radius or machine base
speed square and t square
tape measure
jig saw and fine wood blades
2-9/16 wrenches
First you need to decide were you wantyour machine on the top. Make sure it is behind the front table braceby at least ½ inch or so and make sure there is at least 4 inchesclear on either side for the frame. Lay out machine base with asquare and some type of circle that matches the corner radius (I hada lid on my work bench that was a match). Next transfer themeasurements underneath and make sure its clear of the front and 4inches booth sides.
Measure from front table frame to backand cut your 4 strips 3 ½ wide by your measurement plus add a coupleinches for squaring up the ends. Now glue 2 strips together to make a3 ½ by 1 ½ board ( you could use a 2x4 for this but I couldn’tfind a decent board in may lumber stash and I had the plywoodalready)
Next Measure your machine base to findout how big your platform needs to be
My wife’s Juki has a baseapproximately 7x17 and I made the platform 14x30 just in case sheever wanted to change out to a bigger machine or add an acrylic tray
your platform should be at least acouple inches deeper then your machine is and at least 8 inches widerto accommodate the side braces where it will hang from the bolts.
Next I cut the hole for the machine byusing the forstner bit to drill the corners then a jigsaw to cut thestraight lines on all 4 sides. Go slow and take your time it shouldturn out pretty staight
Next Flip your table over and lay outyour brace on your right hand side of your machine a ½ from thehole. I attached it to the underside of the table with 2” screws asthe board was 1 ½ and the top was ¾ so I had ¼” to spare
Then lay your other brace the width ofyour platform away from your right hand brace ( outside to outside onmine was 30” same width as the platform) them attach that bracewith a couple screws. Making sure to square up braces beforeattaching
Next lay out the bolt holes for theplatform Mine were 2” in from both corners. Drill a 7/16 inch holeon your 4 marks and transfer marks to both braces. Then remove themfrom the table but make sure you marked out where they go and whichone is which
Drill a 1/8 pilot hole on your 4 markson the braces and flip over. Use your 1/8 pilot hole to drill in ½with your 1” forstner bit to recess the carriage bolt head and teenut. Then drill out with 7/16 the rest of the way through.
Thread your tee nut on to the carriagebolt and slide through the holes in the braces with the head settingdown in the recess. Gently tap the head to seat the tee nut. Slide awasher and thread a nut on the opposite side and snug down to seatthe tee nut the rest of the way
drill pocket holes in both ends of the2 braces to attach to front and back table frame. Reattach braces totable using marks and making sure braces go back to the same spots
slide platform over bolts and slide on1 washer and 1 nut per bolt. Set machine in and adjust to desireddepth then measure gap left between brace and platform. Cut springsto length twice the length of the gap but make sure they willcompress to less then the gap ( I bought 3 sets of springs and usedthe medium set all 3 sets were under $10 total at the local hardwarestore in the bulk fastener section)
Remove platform and put springs betweenplatform and braces with a washer between spring and platform the putwashers and nuts on bottom side and adjust to height. When desiredheight is achieved thread on a 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] nut and while holdingfirst nut still tighten second nut jamming it and keeping platformfrom moving locking in height
We added thread caps to protect ourlittle guys head if he ever gets under the table but not reallynecessary if you don’t have little ones running around Pictures to follow
11-12-2013, 07:14 PM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,614
Looks just like the table we bought on Craigslist, except ours if painted green instead of white - same wood top. DH cut the opening as far as possible over to the right, so I had as much table as possible for quilting. Ours was $30, too. Isn't it wonderful to sew now that you are no longer struggling with the weight of the quilt to move around? I made a pattern out of paper of the shape of my machine, and checked underneath to make sure the opening was well clear of the supports. DH drew out the opening on the top, used a drill on the corners and with a saber saw, cut out the opening and filed it till my machine fit properly. He bought long carriage bolts (with rounded tops so they sit flush on the wood top) that hooked through a piece of wood (to hold up the machine), and put the washers & nuts on. Adjusted those till the machine was flush all 4 corners and was level. That leaves room to fit the plugs on the side of the machine, and its under the tabletop. I plugged the machine into an outlet that goes on and off with a wall switch. Love it!
11-12-2013, 07:33 PM
#28
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 190
Homemade sewing table
Would love to know how he did it. I'm sewing on a folding table. Have to have a flat board to keep is from jumping. Dh made our kitchen table out of solid piece of oak. Told him we would never get rid of it because it would be perfect for a sewing table. I know he could do this. If you want to post or pm me that's fine. Thanks!
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