Fundabug

My lovely lady designs and makes children's clothing in her spare time. Over the last few years she's become quite good at it and many people ask her to make special clothing for holiday's, baptisms, and other special occasions. Not to mention, everyday kids clothes. When she sews, she usually sets up shop in the living room floor in front of the TV and works late into the evening....sometimes all night. For her Birthday she asked me to make her a table for laying out and cutting fabric, as well as, support for her sewing machine. She wants it about 12-15 inches in height, so that she can sit on the floor and sew in front of the TV. ALSO, she wants folding or removable legs so that she can store the table when not in use. This brings me to my question....I need some ideas for folding or removable legs that can keep the table sturdy. They need to be able to fold/unfold or remove numerous times and still keep the table top sturdy. I've come up with a Birch table top design, but I'm stumped as far as the legs go. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Oh yeah...The table is 48" X 24", 1/2" birch plywood top.

aclose

you may want to go with 3/4" ply as sewing machines are kind of heavy and you have a lot of area there. although you could probably get away with 1/2" if you have some sort of apron/bracing around/under the table top. i have an idea for the legs but i'm not sure i can describe it. i think we have a small folding tv type table that would be perfect. if i can find it i'll post a picture...

aclose

ok, it was fairly easy to find

ok, as mentioned, this is a small tv tray. i believe this leg system (modified) may work for your lady.







you could probably make the table top out of two pieces of ply so that the table can fold in the middle. the legs could be similar to the photos so they would fold up inside. then you'd have a much smaller, more manageable table that could be setup and moved around quickly and easily. if i had some skills with a drawing tool i'd draw you a picture

Fundabug

I'm using 1/2" ply with poplar bracing and 1"X3" poplar for an apron. I'm using the same table top design I used for my router table, except it had a 3/4" ply top with the same bracing and apron. It's worked better than I ever expected for supporting the router, so I figured 1/2" ply would work for this project. I'm also thinking about mounting a light and a power strip on the side of her table. The bracing on my router was a bit "overkill" and that made it very heavy, but her table should n't need as much. I've got several ideas for removable legs, but I'm not sure how well they'll stand up to repeated use. As for folding legs...I have nothing. She would use it regardless so that she wouldn't hurt my feelings, but I would really like to give her a study work surface. Thanks...If you can figure out how to describe your folding leg idea that would be GREAT! I need all the help I can get.


OK....Just saw your pics. I like that...nice and simple!!!! Many Many thanks!!!!!!

What did you use for the "hinges"?

aclose

i didn't build that. some store bought cheapy. i believe the 'hinges' are metal sleeves with a bolt that runs through them. you could do something similar with dowels or possibly find some nicer hardware. i think the legs would be fairly easy to build and would be sturdy, especially since the table will be low to the ground. i'm sure you could do a much nicer job than the legs/hinge mounts in my photos.

post picts when you're done!

Fundabug

That's friggin perfect for what I have in mind. I've got a small "breakfast in bed" table somewhere around here with the same set up. I didn't make it, but my woman bought it somewhere and I've been digging around for it since I saw your pics. I think that's exactly what I need. Thanks for the pics!!!!!! You guys are great! I knew I'd find the answer here!

I'll post the pics as soon as I'm finished.....Once again, Many thanks!!!!!

aclose

that's exactly what that tray/table thing was.
glad i could help

bill kay

Scott Phillips did an old school folding table some time ago. I've made a few of these in various sizes and heights over the years. They work fine.

Here is a link to a drawing for the folding table.

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/f...3749/index.htm


Hope it helps....

Holden McGroin

Go with aclose's idea, its simple, sturdy, lightweight, and requires little hardware. The half-inch ply will work just fine if you build a frame similar to the one in the picture. Make sure you put a good finish on it so the material does not snag. Good luck, HM

Fundabug

Thanks for the link Bill!!! After I made my last post my woman showed up with a stool about three feet tall and said that she wanted to use that stool while sitting at her new table. This changes everything...she originally told me she wanted to sit on the floor and use her new table.....which made it about 12-15" in height. NOW she wants it just a few inches higher than her three foot stool. I'm not sure the design that Aclose suggested will work. The design that Bill posted seems a little more on target now, but I'm still unsure of the sturdiness of the skinny little legs. I made a router table about that same height with the same dimensions, but it has fixed 4X4 legs with a lower storage level. It's extremely sturdy, but extremely heavy and it has wheels for moving it around my shop if needed. This sewing table needs to fold for storage when not in use, but be sturdy enough to hold a sewing machine. A few more suggestions for this new design would be great...Thanks again guys......and gals!!!

pianoman

I like the folding legs idea... the one in the picture is simple... the bolt that pivots the legs should have a slight friction action to them so they stay put when closed. Also... don`t fabric tables have a metal groove to slide sissors on for fast cutting... that would be cool!

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Kevin9460

aclose,

I came across this thread while searching for my answer through google. I was thinking of building a table that I could fold up and take on tailgates.

Do you think the type of folding legs that you suggested here would work for a table that stands about 28" off the ground? I would probably add at least one more cross beam for support. I'm just not sure if it would be stable enough. What do you think? Any other ideas?

-Kevin

GeorgeC

For what she now wants I think I would go down to SAMS, COSTCO. etc. and purchase one of those while PVC (or whatever they are made of) tables in 48". I believe these are strong enough to hold most sewing machines. They would certainly be much lighter than you can build and easier to store.

Sorry to drive this topic away from wood working, but I believe that is the best solution. Sould be cheaper also. She can also use a regular chair from your dining roon or dinnette to sit in.

George

Cookn

Go to Joanns Fabric and Crafts and look at their fold up cutting table. They sell a 36" x 60" table that folds to 13" x 36" table that is very easily stashed against the wall. It's on rollers and you can move it where ever you want. It retails for $100 but they run it on sale all the time for $59 or you can use one of their coupons. My wife and I quilt and own this table, and it was one of the greatest additions to our obsession that we ever made. It's the right height for working and they even have a cutting pad available for it if she uses rotary cutters. It's purpose built and the only way to go, IMHO.

bradnailer

If I were to make one, I'd use melmaine for the top rather than birch.

slatron25

Maybe some variation on this folding table?

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Tim

GeorgeC

That is interesting. I printed it.

G