Supreme Slider alternative
 

The members here on the QB are so inventive & clever that I was hoping someone has come up with an alternate material that could be as good as the Supreme Slider. I just find it so expensive (here in Canada it runs about $35.00-40.00 for the regular size) & the queen is even more pricey. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could use instead of the Supreme Slider. Any & all suggestions would be very much appreciated. Tks to everyone.

I cut up an old clear vinyl shower curtain and taped it to the top of my sewing table. Works like a charm. I had a slider, but sewed it to my quilt one too many times. Don't think it's necessary any more.

I haven't found anything that works as good for me and I tried every item mentioned as works as good. I had to tape the alternatives down very firmly so it wouldn't move. I spent half the amount of the cost of one trying out different just as good things. LOL. The Slider stays in place and a rinse under the faucet makes it as good as new. I've had mine for many years so the cost has averaged out to a couple dollars a year to own. Do I need it? No, but it works great and has kept my sewing extension table looking like new, no scratches.

I just don't see the point. My machine is slippery plastic anyway. How much better can this make it?

Go to the cooking department and see if they carry teflon oven liner. They are made to put on the bottom of your oven to keep spills from baking on. Here they are about $10 american. Cut a hole for the needle and you may need to use a bit of tape to keep it in place.

Do you know what Contact Paper is? (This is a shelf liner.) Take off the shelf liner, save the paper backing. Discard the shelf liner. Take the paper backing and tape it shiny side 'up' to your machine bed/sewing table & cut a little hole for your needle. It is as slick as a baby's bottom! :)

I tried the teflon oven liner and the problem I encounerted was that I coundn't keep it in place. Tape would not stick to the teflon. I'm with BellaBoo on this one, I've wasted more money trying to find an alternative than buying the slider in the first place.

The other day I cleaned an old machine plastic with brasso . The surface is now very smooth and slippery. Try it in a small area.

Be careful using any chemical product on plastic or acrylic or pexiglass. Over time it will become brittle and crack.

I have used a teflon sheet, intended for ironing to keep sticky stuff off your iron when doing fusible projects. I attached it to the bed of my Singer 15-91 with painter's tape. It really helped the quilt slide, but it isn't a perfect solution since the tape has to be reapplied frequently. I have some gorilla tape, but hesitate to use it on my machine. ;) I have since mounted that 15-91 into a cabinet, so I may be in the market for a supreme slider or equivalent myself.

The Sew Slip brand is twice as large and runs about $20. :)

This is a good seller who I've ordered from, and I'm pretty sure she combines shipping costs:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380527546215

I bought a supreme slider and tried it a few times and never use it. I do just fine without it.

It makes a huge differerence. I got to try one free in a FMQ I took and I bought one right after

It really does. I about wore one out, so now I have a "spare" to use while the main one is drying. I saw it in a video and thought it looked like a good idea and it really is, especially with the wooden cabinet that I use most often for FMQ. So much easier to slide the quilt around in different directions! :)

And on this board, I heard about silicone spray for textile applications and I bought some of that, too. All my FMQ surfaces are slick as a whistle - really cuts drag! When you're wrestling a king-size quilt, every little bit of drag that you can eliminate makes the work easier on your hands, arms and shoulders. :)

Thanks to all that sent me their opinion on this item. Sounds like it might be for me. Maybe I will have to leave hints out that Santa might just read & pick one up for me. Our LQS is very small & she doesn't carry a lot & this is one item she might not have but will have to check it out. Happy holidays & Merry Christmas to all QB members. Tks for all your help.

I have a yard of JoAnn's heaviest vinyl. I tape it at the needle with package tape and one piece of painter's tape on the front of the cabinet. I like that it covers such a large area - the entire swing out part of the cabinet and the adjoining cabinet so the quilt slides nicely.

tape it down with painters tape I use it with my teflon liner and it works well

How about parchment paper.Parchment paper is used to make sure baked goods don't stick to the baking sheet. You might want to try it. It's not expensive,so you won't be out much money. Just a idea.

Harriet Hargrave recommends using a laminated surface as the quilt tends to drag on wooden surfaces. A couple of laminated tables sound OK to me - even if they might look a bit 'tacky'

Would you believe that the Automotive Department at Canadian Tire may hold your solution ??? I spray vinyl protectant (such as Son of a Gun) on the bed of my machine and then buff with a soft cloth. This makes the bed super slippery and FMQ a breeze. Hope this helps.

Kathie
Nova Scotia
Canada

Since I am new to quilting could someone please tell what a supreme slider is! Thank you very much!

It's a self sticking sheet of teflon (I think it's teflon) that adheres to the bed of your sewing machine with an opening for the needle to work through to your quilt & it allows your quilt to slide more easily on your work surface, while you are sewing on it. Apparently it helps, especially after sandwiching when there is a lot more weight to move around.
I have not tried one but from the opinions expressed here, the majority seem to be positive. You can buy them at your LQS & I believe, on line. It is also moveable so when you don't need it, it lifts off. They also appear to last a long time, as long as you are careful & don't sew thru the slider. Hope this helps. Personally, I need all the help I can get to make things easier.

Who woulda thought that I could get something in the automotive dept. of Cdn. Tire ??
They really do carry just about everything don't they. Tks from a fellow Canuck.

I tried the teflon oven sheet too It is now in the bottom of the oven. I am saving up to buy the Slider.

I use silicone spray from the hardware store. The same stuff you would use to lubricate doors, etc. I spray it onto my surface one is a counter top and the other plastic, right before I’m going to machine quilt. Wipe off the excess, and I have a slippy slidey surface.
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I purchased mine at Home Depot. (Orange can and you find it where the WD40 is) Sprayed it on a test surface, wiped it off with paper towel, and then checked to see if it would come off on the fabric. It didn’t, so I sprayed some directly onto a test piece of fabric. Let it dry and saw no marks. I would advise anyone to do a test on your surface and fabric just to make sure.
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WARNING: Do not get this stuff onto your floor. You do not want to end up on your keister, and you will.
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The bonus to this is you can use it on squeeky door, hinges, and whatever else you need to around the house.

amh</o:p>

In the mean time, try my Contact Paper (backing only) suggestion I made previously - it really does work well.

I'm going to WalMart this pm & am going to pick some up & give it a try. Tks for the suggestion.

Great! DO NOT use the Contact Paper itself! Using blue painters tape tape the paper backing shiny side up after you determine where you needle comes down.

The other day I bought a teflon sheet you put in the bottom of your baking pans so you don't have to use parchment or butter. It was very inexpensive compared to the big name sheets. Anyway, I did use it as a pan liner; however, I thought wow, this could be used as a "slider". Haven't tried it yet, so don't know whether it will work. I also had the large Supreme Slider. I taped it to the machine but the tape didn't hold. I sewed it to my quilt. I said it's not worth this much trouble.

Hi I read somewhere may have been on this board about using touch and seal wrap (I believe that is what it is called). They wrote that is works great and does not leave any sticky ness when removed. I have not tryed this but really sounds great. Happy quilting Yippie

try rubbing a bounce dryer sheet on your table, it gets it super slick! Also heard that spray silicone works and so does wax (like car wax). Really once you get used to fmq I think the sliding is less of an issue.

Try to find some heavy clear vinyl on a roll (like for a picnic table or for covering windows in winter). Cut a large sheet and tape it down. Your quilts should slide very easily on it. Use painters' tape to hold it down.

In a FMQ class I took, the instructor suggested that we buy a clear desk protector at one of the Office Supply Stores. I got one, and use painter's blue tape to attach it to my sewing table. When I got it positioned the first time, I marked where the needle was and cut a small hole with an exacto knife. In addition to being slippery, it covers the open areas around my machine since I don't have a custom piece to fit around it when it's recessed in my cabinet
. I think the size I purchased was about $12.

I just use regular clear vinyl from the fabric store (joanns carries it in the home decor area). I place it just left of the needle and didn't bother to make a cut hole like the Supreme Slider. It works just fine for me.

I did the oven liner and taped it down. It worked for the most part but was a pain. My wonderful sisters gave me gift certificates for my birthday and the first thing I bought was the slider. I love it. If you can't afford the slider the oven liner works.

The supreme slider is on Amazon for only $22 dollars. And that is with free shipping. I don't think that is a lot to spend.

slider alternative
 

I have heard you can wax your machine bed, then buff it with a clean clothe to take off excess. Supposed to make it really slick. Haven't tried it yet, but it makes sense. I just keep using the slider I bought back when it was much cheaper and it holds up very well.