New cutting table?
 

I cut on my dining table which is at the far end of my apartment from where I sew. I'm thinking about redoing the sewing room and getting a table. I need something pretty small and very simple - it doesn't need a lot of storage or anything, just a steady surface. I'd prefer it to be fairly tall - 4 feet? Any ideas. Google is failing me on this one.

Oh, and not too expensive!

get a couple of 3 shelf bookcases and a door from the home center ..storage and cutting top..

This is what I have and it does have the locking wheels. I bought it at a local expanded grocery store. I love it. It also folds up for when not in use and is then only about 5" wide. However, I don't really ever fold it up anymore. I put baskets on the shelves to hold my projects.

I use an old desk from the thrift store, up on bed risers. With a piece of plywood cut bigger than my mat for the top. Here is a picture. I have an old dresser underneath. works well for me, when I get the bed out of the room, I will increase the plywood and get the largest mat. Here are a couple of pics.

Just my luck - the Ikea website is crashed! Just when I want to shop!

That's nice!

I use 3/4" thick plywood (4' X 8') cut in half the long way making it 2' X 8" and place it on various items. I have two Sauder tables that I use and then behind the sofa in den I stack tubs in sets of two, each set spaced at appropriate distance, place a 2X8 plywood on them and cover with fabric and clear plastic for a work surface to set together puzzles or place a sewing machine or whatever. BTW, the tubs hold fabric or quilt projects, batting. I am a believer in using what you have, when possible.

I used a 50% off coupon at Joanns and got the table that has leaves that will fold up or down as needed.

I use the island in my kitchen - It always has fabric and a cutting mat on it. Have to move it all when I want to bake! It isn't far from my sewing room so it works for me.

You might check out Wal-Mart web site. They have several different kinds of tables that will work. Happy shopping!!!

Or look for a cheap pub height dining table. That's what I use.

I use an old dresser that I put wheels on, then a piece of particle board cut 2ft by 5ft and covered with batting and that teflon fabric like ironing board covers are made of. I iron and cut on this, just pop my cutting mat on it when I need to cut. I put some nails in it to hang my mats and rulers on. And, it makes great fabric storage!

I have two tables in my sewing room, both are old drop leaf dining tables I bought at a thrift store. I keep the extended open but if the is limited space you could just open when needed.

I've been on a search for various cutting tables for the past few months - if you're familiar with the Flickr website, there's a group on there that focuses on craft or sewing rooms - I got several good ideas from the pictures that folks had downloaded of their sewing rooms - Lots of people using items from Ikea!

As for my current room situation, I found a local home improvement warehouse (Hoods in Foley, AL) that had an in-stock kitchen cabinet (two drawers, two doors); my husband added a countertop and it was a good height to use for a cutting table! When I get moved into my new sewing room, I'll post a picture of it to show you how nice it turned out!

My cutting table is a full length mirror that converts into a cutting table. I have pictures if you are interested. But I also made a large ironing board using a half sheet of ply wood and it is fitted (using 1 x1 in boards) to my ironing board, so when not in use it slides next to the TV in my sewing room. I have used it quite a few times to cut on - just put my cutting mat on to of it.

I bought as 6' by about 30" folding table from Sam's a few years back. $44 but I've seen the same thing cheaper since then

I LOVE this... very slick idea! I like the ironing mat on the slide out drawer. Very effective use of a cast off item, and very efficient use of limited space!

I'm going to start looking around. Sadly, thrift stores here in NYC are not cheap at all. But I'll try Craigslist, and a little ingenuity. You all have great ideas!

I just use my glass topped dining table to cut large pieces of fabrics and to sandwich my quilts.

I purchased the table at JoAnn's with a coupon. I love it....two ends fold down and it is on wheels. Simple to put together. Definitely use a coupon...

You can always look at an unfinished furniture shop for a wooden kitchen cart/island--heavy, durable, beautiful. These would be at counter height, which makes cutting much more comfortable than bending over a table.

I found a used table on Craigslist - it's not as high as what I use now but I think it'll do. We shall see!

This one is a little expensive, but it's not a complicated design. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wood-Wall-Mo...-/281036027356

Lol I can't cut on a table I have tried I still use the kitchen floor. I don't know how much longer I can do that. I tore my acl in my right knee n that makes it hard to get down n up.

Sewing table idea
 

[QUOTE=Sarah in Brooklyn;6088516]I cut on my dining table which is at the far end of my apartment

I use an old "drafting table". It's a tad heavy but I can fold it up when I need to put it away occasionally. It is totally height adjustable, Top is 3' X 2'. I paid a dollar for it at an auction! The top is wood. I lightly sanded it then painted several coats of semi gloss white wall paint. Perfect! It's so sturdy that I can use and work on my vintage sewing machines.

Office Depot has a table that is maybe 3 ft by 5ft. It has legs that move to different heights. We use one at retreat & is great. Not too big & can be taken down easily.

I have a thick, heavy board that I have had cut to fit my cutting mat. I use it on my ironing board to bring it to the height I need. It works great for me and I have a handle attached to one side and it can stand up in a small area when not it use. I don't have room for any sized table and this works gread.

I bought two sawhorse like leg sets from Ikea and the table top that goes with them. I got the legs that are for a drafting table because they can be raised or lowered. I bought a close out table top so it was only $20. I think the legs are $20 each as well. The legs each have one shelf.

I also use a small drafting table. My cutting mat just fits on the top. I do not use it for an ironing surface, though (not sure if you wanted something multi-purpose, or just for cutting).

I needed something that could be folded up flat when not in use, and the drafting table works pretty well (although it is a tad heavier than I'd like).

I also got the fold down leaf cutting table at JoAnn's with a 60% off coupon. Works great and does not take up a lot of space. It is in my laundry/sewing room and I sometimes put one leaf up to fold clothes on.

I use a door placed on top of 2 inexpensive bookcases. I skirted the front so I can hide items below on the floor. I can store fabric and supplies on the book shelves. I have a cutting board at one end, ironing mat at the other and place my machine next to the ironing mat. It is higher than a table but a little lower than counter height.
Works for me.

Check out what Amazon.com has to offer - lots of reasonable option

I have a folding table from lowes. Cost about 40.00, very sturdy.

Pay attention to ergonomics, too. You should be able to find information on the web. For instance, I am 5'6" and my cutting table (which I designed and hubby built) is 36 inches tall. It's perfect for me. It has a three foot deep center and big wings on each side that can be raised. I have both drawers and shelves in the middle part, and the drawers are the most helpful. One of my drawers is 28 inches tall on the inside and has partitions, and I use that for standing up rulers. I keep rotary cutting supplies in the drawer above it.

Another idea is to use kitchen cabinets and put a kitchen counter top across them. You can usually find seconds or used ones. I did that before I had this table and that was about 36 inches tall, 2 feet wide, and 5 feet long. It worked well also.

There are these things called bed risers and you can buy them at walmart . they are under 10.00 hope this helps.

If you have wall space you could put a board, hinged to the wall. Under the board or door, you will need maybe 2 swing out braces--like drop leaf tables-there are also some hardware pieces that could do this as well. This would give you a cutting table 40 inches off the floor--you get to put it at a level you want, and it would take up just a little bit of space.
I hope I described it well enough. If you have a dh ask him, I bet he will understand just how to do it. They usually feel pretty satisfied when they can make a project that you want that is really pretty easy!

The table I wanted to buy was sold! So I'm still on the hunt.