Cutting table base?
 

Hubby is making me a sewing room. (personally I think he wants the kitchen table back....but that's another post!).

I should have room for a cutting table approximately 3'x5'.

I found a table top (veneer) at Menards for only $35.

What do you think the best base would be with economy in mind. I was going to put 2 kitchen base cabinets, but was wondering if a pedestal would also work.

What are your thoughts?

when someday gets here...I was thinking of using cabinet bases with drawers but I would also like to have them attached to a small wood base/platform with casters so it would be easy to move.

How do you store your fabrics? I store mine in bins so a pedestal cutting table for me would be something that was two bins high. I have a friend that uses two dressers back to back and stores stuff in the drawers. I think the height is the important part since you have the size in mind that you need.

Cabinets will provide the most storage, and as mentioned, make sure the height is correct. usually around 36" but it depends on your height.

We are in the process of moving house and I'll have a nice large sewing studio, which is currently being painted!

This is what I was planning on using. Two kitchen base cabinets at each end with an opening in the middle (my cutting table will be 4' X 8' roughly). We were then going to drop a full size pine board on the top.

The nice thing about kitchen or bathroom vanity base units is that they are already at the right working height for me. My current cutting table is a standard height table, and I can feel the fatigue of bending over to cut.

I can't wait to get a sewing room back!! It's been 7 months!!!

If you look on Pinterest, you will find 100's of ideas. My cutting table is made of Expedit book cases. There are 4 units of 4 squares each; these were attached and feet mounted, then a formica top put on. If I were to do it again, I'd probably use 3 units - this is huge and too heavy to move without taking all apart. What was once a family room is now my sewing room, even though it is open to the kitchen and visible to everyone. My cutting table is the largest thing in the room. All of that said, I love it - huge surface and lots of storage space!

Locking casters, I hope! You don't want your table moving away while you are pressing down and cutting with your rotary cutter.

I use my uncle's old Formica kitchen table with the extra leaf. It holds my big cutting may (34x58) exactly. I use bed risers and have tubs stored below. Works for me.

I would suggest you measure from the floor to your bended elbow to determine the best height for you (this is a typical ergonomic measurement). Probably bath or kitchen vanity bases will work for you but check to be sure. Otherwise, check Ikea. If neither of those work from a height perspective, you're kind of committed to custom but those don't need to be fancy/expensive. Some bookcases would work as well with the top attached.

I have one of the JoAnn's folding tables (but bought elsewhere) with the locking casters. I'm 5' 2" and I feel it's too high for me. I have a vintage, free-standing cabinet with enamel top that I use for rolling cookie dough when baking. It's perfect for that purpose and I'd really prefer that height for fabric cutting as well. Granted, I'd be bending but I feel that would be more comfortable than stretching.

Unless space is a factor, say no to the pedestal! I have a craft table I bought several years ago which consists of a pedestal (with a center cabinet built in) and two hinged extender leafs, one on the left and right sides of the pedestal. They are supported by swing-out support that supports the leaves on a 45 degree angle.

While it is a great space saver because the leaves fold down, the extender leaves have curved over time. My theory is that it has curved because the edges farthest from the pedestal are not supported. When I press the rotary cutter down, even with the a new ruler and cutting board, the fabric cuts are bowed to the curve of the table. It is not the 'elbowing' that sometimes happens when cutting over a fold of fabric.

I was lucky as I had custom bookcases built for my Florida home and brought them with me to Iowa. They are doors on the bottom half and removable open shelves on the top. My cutting table is sitting on top of the two bases cabinets with their doors facing outward on each end. My cutting table is 4' x 8'. THen I added brackets on the backside of the cabinets for another shelf underneath to keep all my shoebox totes full of scraps, orphan blocks and fat quarters. Also have room for a trash can and my larger rulers that don't fit my pegboard. The top half of my bookcases are now in my upstairs library housing my large collection of hardback books I hope to read someday.....if time ever permits it. Too much fun down here in the sewing room keeps me from reading those books.

We still use my Grandmother's formica kitchen table in the kitchen. It has the leaf that folds down under the table. They are vintage 50's. If in good shape worth a pretty penny too. Mine only has one small chip. I also have the chairs.

My Grandmother would take the pads off the dining room table & lay them on the kitchen table to cut fabrics. I open the table to full length to pin quilts on.

I would do as SuziSew.

I never knew this! I am fairly tall at 5'6" (or at least the tall side of average in my area)...but never knew this general rule!

I would not use a pedestal. They can be unsteady when you get out towards the edges of the table.

I would definitely use a base that doubles as storage. How exciting for your sewing space!

Ok. This is going to make my hubby sound like a real cheapo but........ He made 2 saw horses that he used heavy duty plywood on. I covered it in a picnic table vinyl cloth. He was able to make it just the right height for me and made it about 7 foot long so there is tons on storage beneath. A few years later we were at Ikea and there was a 5 foot long 1.5 inch white board (cost under $10.00) and I set it on top of my vinyl. I have plenty of room for cutting and clutter all in the same spot. He did a fantastic, very inexpensive job!

Space under the cutting/ironing table is great for storage. IMHO customize it for the storage you need. I don't like clutter so I had my DH make the table in this previous posted thread to accommodate rulers, my machines, ironing items, and several projects, as well as bolts of fabric or longer items. He used 3/4" plywood. Good luck in your search for just the right thing for you.http://www.quiltingboard.com/mission...n-t276255.html

I bought a square IKEA pub table. The height is great, and I can roll plastic storage bins under it.

So are you 5'6" with or without those red stilettos ;) ?

I found an old dresser at a thrift store for just $20. I redid it using decoupage flowers from nursery catalogs. The top can attach to the top of the dresser and the drawers provide a lot of storage. I use the top, narrower, drawer for my rulers and cutters. The rest of the drawers are serving as fabric storage.

I have a 4x4 cutting table. It has cabinet storage underneath. You can never have too many places to hide your stash!

cutting table
 

I found a used kitchen island on Craigs List...I'm 5'6 and this is just the right height for me....holds the
large cutting board and made an ironing board top to put on to iron 45" material...has storage underneath.

LOL....without. Hubby is the runt of the litter at 6'3"....so I can wear whatever height shoe I want without feeling like I'm towering over him ;)

I've been looking on Craigslist for an island, too....but the ones I am seeing are $600+. Unfortunately that is just too far out of my budget. But I can still hope :)