Mine is set up on a hardwood floor in my sewing room.The rubber corrugated shelf liner is a good buffer if you experience vibration. I use it under my Serger

No carpet. And I do get a bit of vibration, especially when I start sewing a bit faster. Like I posted, I did do some free motion quilting on it last week, I don't know if I just got used to it or what, but just a small vibration. I am concerned that the screws underneath will start to loosen. I put my hand there every so often, just making sure, I guess. My hubby is going to still do something to reinforce it for me, but till then, I will use it when needed. I do have other machines on other tables. soooooooooooo.. As I stated earlier, I did write to Harriet Hargrave, last Thursday, no reply as yet.

Thanks for your reply. So, I guess it's not just the carpet. Well, it's only minimal, and like you point out, the shelf can be reinforced. I still think it's the best deal for what we get out of it. I'll ask my hubby to do the same. In fact, I'm going to order a second one today so I can have two machines set up like this at all times.

Maybe Harriet's on vacation. I'm emailing her today, too.

I guess that my Bernina Activa is lighter weight than the machines that you have, because there is no vibration with my table.

Do you think if you cut some pieces of hi-density carpet pad to place under the legs that it might help?
There are also "Moving Men". Mine are cupped white plastic with thick hi-density foam in the cup. They work great for me.
They come in different diameters as for size.
I bought mine from Home Depot.
I have some heavy commercial machines that would flatten the carpet and pad without them.

It's not the table that is vibrating, it is the part that holds the sewing machine, making the machine vibrate or maybe I should use the word "bouncing". That part of the table is what my hubby will reinforce for me. Yes, the Juki is a pretty heavy machine, and I also have the knee lift there, which can also put some pressure on the keyboard table part. But the table is great otherwise, I will definitely use it with a lighter weight machine, see what the difference is. Just been too busy now to be changing machines around. Hopefully will get caught up here soon, maybe send some pix.

I just called the Harriet's Treadle Arts, her shop in Wheatridge, CO to inquire about this vibrating. I was told that "Harriet was there this morning...", so she will have her daughter Carrie return my call this evening. How exciting is that? :thumbup:

As soon as I get my response, I'll let you all know. :D

Looking forward to hearing what her daughter said, quiltgranny!

Thanks for contactig her and asking!

Hi,

I haven't heard yet. Don't know if the person I left the message with forgot to give Carrie my message or just what. I will try to call today if I don't hear anything soon.

I sent an email to them a week ago last Thursday. Still no answer.

I actually used to use almost that exact desk. It worked great for my Pfaff Varimatic. With the keyboard tray lowered (as it is in the photo), the work surface was pretty close to even with the sewing surface of the free arm of my machine. I was very happy with the setup in the small apartment I shared with my boyfriend.

I just received a call from Carrie. She said there's going to be a some vibration with this table and any machine, but didn't feel it was anything to worry about.

I told her the story of my old machine literally falling apart after I'd used it on a card table, and she said most newer machines don't have those kinds of nuts and bolts that would present that kind of problem. However, she said the Safco table is a low cost interim solution for many of us and will suffice just fine. If we're ever able to afford a cabinet, that's always the best scenario, but even then, there could be some vibration with some cabinets.

She said Harriet is knee deep in writing for the fourth volume of Quilter's Academy and hasn't even had time to keep their blog updated, so Carrie made any entry there today. You can find this blog at:

quiltersacademy.blogspot.com

to follow some of the goings on as they relate to this series of books.

She was glad to hear of our interest in their books and suggestions. I really enjoyed my chat with her.

Hope this helps,

Here's the clickable link, sorry 'bout that.

http://quiltersacademy.blogspot.com/

I got an email today from Harriet Hargrave. See below.



Hi Kat,
I don't know that this table will hold up with a really heavy machine sewing at higher speeds. It is an excellent height and a good size for sewing. I would suggest that you talk to your husband or someone that has handyman capabilities and see if there is a way to add more support to the tray if you are worried about it. There is not going to be a perfect table at a really low cost to fit everyone's needs. I haven't heard anything negative from anyone, so that is what I have to go on. You might want to search out something else that might fit your needs better. There is a lot of products out there that I don't know about. Good luck in your search.
Harriet

My Husband is still going to reinforce it for me (someday) and in the meantime, I am using a lighter machine with it and it is working out wonderfully. It was great to hear back from Harriet.

It is so nice that she emailed you back!

Glad to know that you received a response from Harriet. My hubby is going to do the same to mine, well to both (after I receive my new one tomorrow). On our fixed/limited income, I really don't see myself ever having a cabinet, so this sounds like the next best thing to do.

I'd be interested to know how your hubby reinforces yours. I'll do the same when mine happens.

I got really excited by your idea of using the keyboard shelf for my machine. I don't know why I never thought of trying this before. I have these computer tables in my workroom that I bought years ago from Sams Club, I think. They are shaped in a wide U, with the pullout shelf in the center of the U. The shelf seemed sturdy enough, and when I tried my machine on it today, the small extension table I have for my Bernina 1090, which is about 6x12 inches, was perfectly even with the surface of my table!

I am trying to teach myself to free-motion quilt and had been looking at a much bigger extension table, but this might work just fine. My body has to get used to the much lowered position though. I felt really awkward, sitting that far above my machine. I lowered my chair, but then I felt too big for the chair. Weird that.

The other problem was that even though I had all that even space around my machine, the small quilt sandwich I was attempting to quilt wasn't sliding around as freely as it did when the machine was above the surface. I think this must be a posture problem, in that my hands aren't putting the proper pressure where they should be. When I put the machine back to its normal place, the sticking problem solved itself. Time to practice more.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Hi,

I too have a Bernina 1090 and was also really excited at how well it fit on this table's drop down tray. When I started sewing with it on this table tray, I also experienced the same issues you mention. While I have heard that it is helpful to look down on your quilt while FMQ, this position made me quite uncomfortable. My knees were no longer at a 90° bend as they should be for correct ergonomics. I have to agree with your statement of feeling "too big for the chair."

I continued to be concerned about the machine vibrating while I sewed, even at slower speeds and on a mat too, that I finally thought to contact the knowledgeable folks at the Yahoo Group, The Bernina Thirty Somethings. I posted about this new table and my concerns about my machines vibrating. The concensus was unanimous that I should not use this type of set up, that vibration was not good for our machines. These opinions came from long time Bernina machine owners as well as CBT's - Certified Bernina Technicians.

Their advice was of course that a regular cabinet was always the best choice, but if that was not possible to use any sturdy table of appropriate height. Accommodations could be made to make for a FMQ type of surface by raising the working surface up to the bed of the machine, ie an extension or foam for example. Some folks used a drafting chair if needed to bring them to the new correct height of their working surface.

I recently read from Ricky Timms on the Quilt Show where he actually installed a wooden platform under his chair so he could work on a one size table does all - tall enough for cutting and pressing on, yet also adapted for sewing on, too.

This got me to thinking, as my DH had made me a wonderful table a couple of years ago from some beautiful scrap wood that was supported on one end with two lovely wooden kitchen cabinets and a bookcase type thingy at the other end. I struggled for over a year trying to sew on this too tall table, never thinking of anything such as Ricky's idea. I'm excited that we will be bringing this table back in to my small sewing room pretty soon, and am on the hunt for a taller chair or something to make it work better for me. I had already found ways to raise my cutting surface on one end of the table so I wasn't having to bend over too far. Here's a picture of my table.

I was just wondering if those of you who purchased this table are still using it and loving it. I am trying to decide between this and a Sew Perfect table, and would love some feedback from quilters who have been using the table for 6+ months. thanks!

Nothing for a first-time-posting newbie? :lol:

I was hoping maybe some of those handsome hubbies (or Riviting Rosies) had enforced the shelf and could tell me if the table is holding up well:)

I am not using it anymore. I just didn't feel comfortable with the vibration and after consulting many professionals, decided it wasn't worth messing up my machines.

I was very fortunate to come along this table at a thrift store recently for $39. It retails for as much as $500+, but I've seen it much cheaper when I looked around. Here it is on one site with product info. It's very strong and durable.

http://www.fatcatalog.com/pd/12775/b...eed_COR-BL3072

Here's my table with my Bernina on it:

I still use mine even tho DH has not re-inforced it yet (we moved cross country since original posting). I have a heavy Juki on it, and I, too am not too comfortable with the shaking. Now that we are settled in our new home, I will have him get to it. I would say if you can find something like quiltgranny got, then you shouldn't have a problem, that is really a nice one.

I have one of these tables, have been using it for years. Probably close to 10. Don't have enough room to keep it up in the house here in NC but the new house in MD will have room. Can't wait to get it out again.

I have never had an issues with it bouncing. It is a very solid, sturdy table. The placement of the legs is such that it has a VERY wide stance. And the distribution of the weight is great, so no bouncing. And that has even been with sewing REALLY LOOOOOOOOONG seams on curtain panels - long and relatively fast - and have had no issues.

There are multiple depths that you can sit the shelve out. There are levels that can fit my new Brother, both of my Featherweights, my Serger and my old Singer. The shelf is well constructed - very well supported. The shelf is out of the same material as the top and all of the supports are steel and very tight. I have had my old Singer mechanical (35#) and my Featherweight in its case (18#) on the shelf at the same time. And they stayed that way for several days - don't ask me why they were there together or why they were left, I didn't do it. So that was almost 55# and there were no issues at all.

I purchased mine at Sams many moons ago. But I have seen them at Sams and BJs in the past few months. Definitely a good purchase and well worth the cost. Can't wait to get settled in Maryland and be able to use it again.

I purchased a foam mat from walmart. The kind you would put in front of the kitchen sink. Comfy to stand on I guess. Anyway. I cut widthwise across the mat and put the pieces under my sewing machine, serger (you know how they vibrate), and my computer tower! This absorbs some of the vibration. My machines are on 2x4 tables that have adjustable height. A few years now, and so far so good.

ROFL - I've been using one of these for years! I found it on closeout at Staple's about 15 years ago and have been looking for another since so I could leave it at the vacation home. If it is like mine, the keyboard shelf height is adjustable and can accommodate different machines.

Two downsides. One, the table is made from laminated MFD and will develop a sag over time. I also had to reinforce the bolts on the keyboard shelf. The other is that although it folds up, it is awkward and a bit heavy. It's great for my permanent home use, but I wold take it to workshops.

Thanks so much for the responses ladies! I'm still on the fence--my husband claims he'll reinforce it...once he's finished building the surfboards he's working on--which means just short of our kids graduating high school (they are babies now:)

@Quiltgranny: that bi-level table looks fantastic--one thing that seems strange though, no matter how big the table gets--it comes in 4, 5, and 6 foot lengths--the drop down table is very far to the left. Why don't they move it over into the middle!!!

You can order the drop down table placed either in the center, to the left or to the right. If you look at the 5 step ordering process at this link, #4 asks you to indicate where you want your keyboard placement to be?

http://www.fatcatalog.com/pd/12777/b...eed_COR-BL3048

I really like having mine in the center, which leaves me plenty of room for what I'm sewing on the left side and enough room on the right side for an 18 x 24" cutting mat. My table is 30 x 60".

Hope this helps, :-)

Thanks QG, it really does help! If shipping were no object, that would be a good option...maybe I'll get lucky like you and find one on the cheap:)

You're quite welcome. I'll say a prayer for you that you do. This is the very best-est sewing table I've ever owned. :thumbup:

Happy Stitchin'

Just looked at that table, it's now $118.00. Great post may have to get one too.