The vintage Singer 401, 403, 404, 500 and 50e all are fantastic machines and don't need to be tilted. The needle is slanted and you can see without straining your neck.

Why did you not mention this before? Some things just make sense, but we are trapped in the "that's the way I've always done it". I just put door stoppers on my shopping list. Maybe I can cross off ibuprofen which I always seem to need when I finish a project.

I have a 403 Slant-o-Matic and I found that I still like having it tilted. Maybe because I'm 5' 2 1/2" on a good day, have a back neck, shoulder & lower back? Don't know, just know that I'm not leaning forward as much to get a good eye's view. Instead I can sit back in my chair and have a straight on view. Hard to explain. Wish I could take a picture to show the difference that I mean.

My husband made me wood ones. Works great and helps with my back.

I have a computerized viking I've been tilting for YEARS. it seems to be fine, i don't tilt when embroidering though

I also read on this board about the rubber door stops. Went to the hardware store to buy them.... and have forgotten to use them until now. Thanks for the reminder!

My LQS gave us all an empty fabric bolt, the cardboard thing, to put under the back of our machines to tilt them. They were free, so why not? Worked for me.

Ditto, I got the larger ones. Keep one set in my rolling machine case, the other on my sewing cabinet.

The legs on slide on clear table are adjustable. All I had to do was make the ones in the back higher to match the elevated back of the machine.

I do the same thing. I get the clear ones.
Made a big difference for me. Also helps me see what I am sewing.

Always tilt my machines - use 2 rubber doorstops to their full extent under the back edges.

I've heard this a couple times but always forget to try it. Thanks for posting about it.

My solid plastic tilted laptop stabilizer holds my sewing machine at the perfect angle - no more neck pain!! Thanks for a wonderful tip!! I got it at Ikea for $2.49 - look up 'Brada'

I went into the garage and found a 1" piece of board that was in my husband's scrap pile and it works perfectly for me. Wish I had done it years ago.

I started with door stops & they work great. A friend at a retreat husband built the wooden one & she was selling them. Best 20.00 I ever spent. Really help neck & back. Computerrized machine doesn't mind it.

Cagey says she wants to tilt the machine toward her. Is this right? I think it would be more natural to tilt it away from you. Please explain.
Having it towards you, the machine head would block your vision of the sewing bed. Right? or wrong?

Edit: okay . I just saw the post for the wooden angles and I see what is going on. I have one problem with this. My machine sewing bed sets even with my table so I can't angle it. :(

I have used a 2by4 for many years using the 2" side to elevate the machine. For me, I can see the needle area much better and easier to get my quarter inch right. It helps with stress on the back also. Will never do without it.

I have tilted my machine for aged I love it

ditto, that is what i do too.

Question. I am having trouble visualizing this. Do you tilt the machine forward or raise it in the front?

I have tilted mine, but, the other way, towards the back. Guess cause I am tall, not short, & that has helped me. Now I have one of those clear extension tables, that makes it all level, so not sure that would work with my setup now?

I see now, about if you have the clear extension tables, so thanks for that info. Also, I have used the wood shims to tilt mine. I guess you tilt it whichever way works for you, right!

I am glad to here about tilting the machine. I will try it.

I agree, I would be looking at the top of my machine, & seeing where it stitches even less, so mine has always been tipped toward the back...

I only remember to tilt AFTER my back is hurting. the few times I remember soon enough my back does not hurt. I use the rubber door stops from $ store

I have never heard of tilting.... I went out in my garage and found a piece of molding... boy .... it does help... my husband is going to cut it down to the right size for me tomorrow... just want to say thanks to all of ya'll... for all the wonderful hints... and help

What a great idea.Never heard of it. Willl have to give it a try. Thanks so much for posting.

I hope it would help, gonna try it for sure. Vertically challenged, DonnaB

What a brilliant idea, I don't sew at the machine a lot because my back hurts after a little while, I will definitely try it!

I don't think so. I have tilting table that I bought from my dealer for my computerized machines.

Cagey. I use a board about 3/4's of an inch thick. the length of your machine and about 2" wide. Just a piece of wood my husband cut for me. The tilt boards are a bit pricey. My machine is computerized, have been doing this for years. peterparley

Cagey. I use a board about 3/4's of an inch thick. the length of your machine and about 2" wide. Just a piece of wood my husband cut for me. The tilt boards are a bit pricey. My machine is computerized, have been doing this for years. peterparley

hell, when i was at a class a few years ago, our instuctor had us put rubber door stoppers under the back part of the machine and i cannot tell you how much better it was to sew....you should try it. it does not hurt the machine at all..

one does not want to tilt it too much. about 1 1/2" is way enough. any higher is too much....maybe your sitting too close that you are looking at the top of your machine....happy sewing ladies.....the little brown door stops are the perfect height....

I havent tried it yet with one of the older machines but did try a bean bag lap desk/with the board top for writing on and it worked breat under the newer machines

Have just tried this makes a wonderful difference.

I personally haven't done it, but I do know others have done it and like it.

I also want to try this, but have a question. My machine is set on a "platform" with a couple of screws. The platform that can be lowered into the cabinet so that you can close the top(standing up). But I usually don't. My question is if I take it off of the screws, tilt it, would it be stable enough? If I raise that platform to be even with the rest of the cabinet surface, then the machine will be too high? (I am vertically challenged as well, but probably more than all of you).
Will this work? I guess I'll have to try it & then I'll let you know.

It does not hurt computerized machines. I have used this method for many years. I use it all the time on my embroidery machine too. It does work great.

Jean

Are the screws long enough so you could unscrew them some, add the wedges, then screw them back? This might work & if not, maybe you could find some longer screws, just a thought!...