Height adjustable desk that can recess a machine - it's true!
03-13-2013, 09:54 PM
#1
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Height adjustable desk that can recess a machine - it's true!
I was going to post this in the vintage machines forum, because that's where I spend the most of my time on the QB, but I hope that posting here can help more people out.
A few weeks ago, I started planning out a desk that could accommodate any machine I have. It had to be able to recess a machine so the bed was flat with the table top. The biggest stumbling block I ran into was the height differences of all of the machines. A couple of days ago, I read a thread where someone mentioned they'd love this sort of thing, but had too many machines, it wasn't possible. So I "hurried" to get it all finished up so I could post this.
The best part is, I did this on a budget almost anyone can afford (and if you can buy 2m of fabric, you can afford this! ) And this will save your neck, back, shoulders and wrists a lot of grief, so you can quilt longer. Yay!!
As of tonight, I have only finishing touches to do on it: Some extra customization to the inserts, and shortening the "height adjusters" so I don't bang my knees on them.
The victim,.. uhm,... I mean the "desk" is a government surplus buy: $10
Modifications: $20
Lexan for inserts: Sweat equity - a friend who does signs had scraps left, I helped out with some signage. Off-cuts should be cheap at a sign shop, or a glass shop.
Total $$ investment: $30.
With the 201 in it, and an insert
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401626[/ATTACH]
As a light table:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401627[/ATTACH]
A view from the front:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401628[/ATTACH]
A view of the "height adjustment" mechanism:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401629[/ATTACH]
Height adjustment is accomplished via the following hardware:
And most importantly, final approval from the quilt inspectors:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401630[/ATTACH]
At least I think that's approval...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401631[/ATTACH]
A few weeks ago, I started planning out a desk that could accommodate any machine I have. It had to be able to recess a machine so the bed was flat with the table top. The biggest stumbling block I ran into was the height differences of all of the machines. A couple of days ago, I read a thread where someone mentioned they'd love this sort of thing, but had too many machines, it wasn't possible. So I "hurried" to get it all finished up so I could post this.
The best part is, I did this on a budget almost anyone can afford (and if you can buy 2m of fabric, you can afford this! ) And this will save your neck, back, shoulders and wrists a lot of grief, so you can quilt longer. Yay!!
As of tonight, I have only finishing touches to do on it: Some extra customization to the inserts, and shortening the "height adjusters" so I don't bang my knees on them.
The victim,.. uhm,... I mean the "desk" is a government surplus buy: $10
Modifications: $20
Lexan for inserts: Sweat equity - a friend who does signs had scraps left, I helped out with some signage. Off-cuts should be cheap at a sign shop, or a glass shop.
Total $$ investment: $30.
With the 201 in it, and an insert
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401626[/ATTACH]
As a light table:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401627[/ATTACH]
A view from the front:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401628[/ATTACH]
A view of the "height adjustment" mechanism:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401629[/ATTACH]
Height adjustment is accomplished via the following hardware:
- 4 pentagon Knobs - or any knob you can get a good grip on to turn
- 4 propell nuts - these are "sunk" into the lower platform that you see in the photo above
- threaded rod
- 4 nuts to fit the threaded rod - tighten these against the knobs so that they don't turn, and instead turn the rod up or down.
- 4 wing nuts (not shown) - tighten these against the propell nuts to lower vibration
- 4 cabinet nuts - use these as "platforms" for the moving shelf to sit on, install them on the top of the threaded rod.
And most importantly, final approval from the quilt inspectors:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401630[/ATTACH]
At least I think that's approval...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401631[/ATTACH]
03-14-2013, 11:50 AM
#3
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southeastern West Virginia, USA
Posts: 1,026
What a great and innovative idea. Thank you for sharing...do you have any idea how much money you've saved us? Of course you do....silly me....it really was nice to share pictures and details....Beautiful cat....love that little face and turned down whiskers. (I have 9 of my own---only one in the house who recently passed away and 8 outside -all neutered and spayed)....
03-14-2013, 12:35 PM
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Weird. I saw two other responses in my email...
The inspectors were onsite for the whole build, with the exception of the work that happened in the garage. For that, the dog was delegated. She was lazy though, she slept on her bed and ignored us. I can't count the number of times I had to pick a kitty up, put her on the floor, turn around and find another one on the desk.
Stormi - the long hair with the really long whiskers - is 16.5 yrs old, she's a little more laid back. She's our queen, we do everything she says. Luckily, if it's soft, she approves. I put a bunch of rolled up fleece on my desk for her the day before last while I worked on a machine. She laid beside me the whole time. She's got some sort of weight complex though, because she's all fur, she's a tiny slip of a thing (just shy of 7lbs) and she has those enormous whiskers. Shadow is our ambassador. She wants to be in the middle of everything. She's 14.5 yrs. She walks around and yabbers at me. She'll also lay on my fabric behind the harp and yap at me through it. Sorry to hear you lost a fur baby. I lost one about 6 years ago. The hurt has finally faded, and I mostly just smile when I think of her now. She nursed these two, even though she'd never had kittens of her own.
The whole goal of this build was to save as much cash as possible. If I can have sturdy and cheap, I'm all over it. I have way better things to spend that extra cash on. I was really surprised when it came in under $100 though.
The inspectors were onsite for the whole build, with the exception of the work that happened in the garage. For that, the dog was delegated. She was lazy though, she slept on her bed and ignored us.
I can't count the number of times I had to pick a kitty up, put her on the floor, turn around and find another one on the desk. Stormi - the long hair with the really long whiskers - is 16.5 yrs old, she's a little more laid back. She's our queen, we do everything she says.
Luckily, if it's soft, she approves. I put a bunch of rolled up fleece on my desk for her the day before last while I worked on a machine. She laid beside me the whole time. She's got some sort of weight complex though, because she's all fur, she's a tiny slip of a thing (just shy of 7lbs) and she has those enormous whiskers. Shadow is our ambassador. She wants to be in the middle of everything. She's 14.5 yrs. She walks around and yabbers at me. She'll also lay on my fabric behind the harp and yap at me through it. Sorry to hear you lost a fur baby. I lost one about 6 years ago. The hurt has finally faded, and I mostly just smile when I think of her now. She nursed these two, even though she'd never had kittens of her own. The whole goal of this build was to save as much cash as possible. If I can have sturdy and cheap, I'm all over it. I have way better things to spend that extra cash on. I was really surprised when it came in under $100 though.
03-15-2013, 07:50 PM
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 230
Great ideas! I looked at your set up but I would have a hard time getting close enough to the machine - especially the pedal - because I have long legs and there is the shelf there (with the machines). Love the way that you insert that goes around the machines on top! It gives you a great area for quilting the large quilts. Nice details.
03-15-2013, 10:11 PM
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The "Boss" wouldn't get out of that hole! I took her out 3 times, and she kept going back. She was a little creeped out though, when we lifted that whole top panel over her head. I don't know why.... 
If you found a desk that had the shelf, I'd just remove it. This one is "knock down" furniture, it's held together with 16 fasteners,... other than the 20 per side fasteners holding the wheel plates on. Seems a little bit of overkill, but I guess I'm not an engineer. Those inserts were designed exactly with that in mind. I saw how far over the quilt migrated, and wanted to cover what I could, while still having the ability to cut the Lexan, as a newbie.
I am so glad to see that this will help people out. I've always thought that a lot of the desks were just too expensive. I'd rather spend the $$ on fabric or (yet another vintage ?) machine or something.
Originally Posted by MothrNatr
Great ideas! I looked at your set up but I would have a hard time getting close enough to the machine - especially the pedal - because I have long legs and there is the shelf there (with the machines). Love the way that you insert that goes around the machines on top! It gives you a great area for quilting the large quilts. Nice details.
This one is "knock down" furniture, it's held together with 16 fasteners,... other than the 20 per side fasteners holding the wheel plates on. Seems a little bit of overkill, but I guess I'm not an engineer. Those inserts were designed exactly with that in mind. I saw how far over the quilt migrated, and wanted to cover what I could, while still having the ability to cut the Lexan, as a newbie. I am so glad to see that this will help people out. I've always thought that a lot of the desks were just too expensive. I'd rather spend the $$ on fabric or (yet another vintage ?) machine or something.
03-18-2013, 10:27 PM
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I had a couple of questions asked in PMs the other day, and am posting them here with permission.
I haven't had it move backwards. I don't notice any vibration, but I did notice that the shelf liner does get a little messed up, so I picked up some cork board (with adhesive on the back) today for a couple of bucks and will replace it. It will also dampen any vibration more than the shelf liner. I just leave the spot open. This is pretty similar to the SewEzi table, and a few of the other tables I've seen in Googling around. I like it because I can easily plug things in without pinching cables. I dislike being able to "Store" my scissors down there by accident, but no table setup is perfect. The gap is quite small with a 301 in place for instance. Maybe tomorrow or the next day, if I get a chance, I will post a few other pics of the various machines in place. I couldn't think of a good way to make inserts for the right side for every machine without going a little crazy trying to keep straight what went with what. Hmm,.. maybe a "draft dodger" would work...
(Pics to come tomorrow. I'm beat tonight. )
Yes, there are 3 inserts currently. One for the flatbeds that were all within 1" of each other depth wise, and one for the Pfaff as an open arm, and one for the 222 as an open arm. I suppose I should have posted photos of those. (I think I was fading by the time I finished that post.) This was most of the purpose of this desk. I wanted it "universal".
when you have your machine in it... does your machine 'vibrate' backwards? I see you have a gap at the back/right side of it and am wondering if you have something you insert in there or if you just leave that spot open. (to the right of your wheel)
The gap is quite small with a 301 in place for instance. Maybe tomorrow or the next day, if I get a chance, I will post a few other pics of the various machines in place. I couldn't think of a good way to make inserts for the right side for every machine without going a little crazy trying to keep straight what went with what. Hmm,.. maybe a "draft dodger" would work...(Pics to come tomorrow. I'm beat tonight.
)
also did you make different top 'inserts' to fit each of your machines or do you just have the one? (the white piece that is surrounding the machine) My machines are all different so I think I would have to make different ones for each one.
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03-15-2013 08:05 AM
