This is what I was going to suggest. The "fabric" bonding agent on my old Riccar cover even smelled like old wallpaper paste...

Great job on this tute Rodney!! Thanks for taking the time to do lots of pics too. :)

One relatively pricey, but authentic covering is Tolex, like vinyl used to cover guitar amp cases. You can find is st PartsExpress. And other places.

Thanks Jim, I didn't even think about instrument cases.
I just took a quick look at Tolex. Some of it looks really close on the computer. The prices didn't seem too bad compared to other materials. On the site I looked at I saw it from about $6/yd and up. Average was around $12-15/yd. I've seen batiks sell for the same.

I think your base shows a difference in working styles. I work mainly with wood so I think in terms of wood. You do a lot more with metal than I do so you tend to think about and use those materials more. It looks like a nice functional base and no difficult cuts or assembly required. I know some of the antique machines had really neat undersides. Something like that would be a good way to show that off too.
That Defiance is a pretty machine.
Can you take your spinner knob apart and show all of us what you used? I think there are plenty of people here who would like to see it.
Rodney

Top notch job-anyone with simple tools should be able to complete this base as a weekend project!

Rodney in Ponchatoula,La

I will try and start a thread tonite w more detail, both for the "Miriam" style hc, the modular one size fits most, test base, as well as the hand crank from grinder/sharpener and the solar panel setup for demoing macines away from power...

I enjoy woodworking, just can't find room!! https://www.dropbox.com/s/chaekye6g5...2011.19.48.jpg

Looks like a really fun game of I Spy there.
My Singer 27 treadle is upside down on my workbench right now awaiting restoration. 1/2 my usable workspace is being eaten by that at the moment. I'm waiting to buy the veneer it needs before I get started for real. Meanwhile I'm working around it as best as I can.
Rodney

That looks better than my living room, Jim...

Okay, I'm going to put some things on another thread, so as to not further hijack Rodney's great tutoria. My post is going to be "Rube Goldberg solutions to problems of Minor Consequence"