Thread: Sewing cabinet

If you mean the standard machine lift as installed in Horn sewing cabiners, yes , you can find them. You might want to check the Trading Post, as sewing cabinets fetch less than half the new price.

Rather than install a lift, have you considered making a well for the machine to sit it, leaving it flush with the table top? I made one like this and cut some plexiglass to fit the opening and the machine's arm. My wife likes this arrangement much better than a standard cabinet.

Greg

Originally Posted by j.stevens

I have been put on notice to make a sewing cabinet. I've looked at the Rockler ones. Does anyone know if you can buy the lift mechanism here in Australia?:confused:

Check out this thread ....

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=12102

Good luck

Qw

Thanks Greg. Can't quite follow. and couldn't see the detail in the pic.
Any chance of some more infor - diagrams etc. I wouldn't know one of these things if I feel over it - but I am a fast learner!
[email protected]




ote=gregoryq]If you mean the standard machine lift as installed in Horn sewing cabiners, yes , you can find them. You might want to check the Trading Post, as sewing cabinets fetch less than half the new price.

Rather than install a lift, have you considered making a well for the machine to sit it, leaving it flush with the table top? I made one like this and cut some plexiglass to fit the opening and the machine's arm. My wife likes this arrangement much better than a standard cabinet.

Greg[/quote]

JStevens, it appears you are going down that slippery slope on your recent retirement, join the club.

I took a horn sewing cabinet, ripped the folding leaf off it and built a bigger work surface level with the cabinet top. SWMBO leaves the doors open all the time allowing her access to accessories etc. This approach is OK if you have a big area and don't intend to move it. The sewing room in this case is 7x9 metres and is also a computer room etc. Now SWMBO has 3 sewing machines, the last one cost me $3,500 and is run by computer, three overlockers, 2 knitting machines, so I have had to build work tables for all this. And they reckon woodworking is expensive!

Yeah but it saves going through all the fashion shops in town every week.

Originally Posted by j.stevens

Thanks Greg. Can't quite follow. and couldn't see the detail in the pic.
Any chance of some more infor - diagrams etc. I wouldn't know one of these things if I feel over it - but I am a fast learner!
[email protected]




ote=gregoryq]If you mean the standard machine lift as installed in Horn sewing cabinets, yes , you can find them. You might want to check the Trading Post, as sewing cabinets fetch less than half the new price.

Rather than install a lift, have you considered making a well for the machine to sit it, leaving it flush with the table top? I made one like this and cut some Plexiglas to fit the opening and the machine's arm. My wife likes this arrangement much better than a standard cabinet.

Greg

[/QUOTE]


Sure, I'll work on more detail later and post it later. Basically, I took a Horn cabinet, made a much bigger top which is permanently fixed to the open cabinet. I had to add extra legs for stability. In the right side of the table top, I cut a square hole, routed a rebate. I next made a box to hold the sewing machine and mounted it to the underside of the table top. The sewing machine sits in this so that the sewing surface is level with the table top.

This greatly reduces arm strain, and makes the entire table top an extension of the machine. Quilters especially need this, but it benefits all sewing.

The gap around the machine is taken up by cutting a piece of clear Plexiglas to fit the recess, then cutting out the shape of the sewing machine's arm. The result is a gap-less, slick surface for sewing, clear so that bobbin thread changes are easy. (The front of the machine well needs to be left open as well to allow easy bobbin changes unless the machine has a top-loading bobbin like a Husqvarna, to name one. Bernina machine have front loading bobbins.)

Here are more pictures:

1. Table top fixed to small Horn cabinet. This is a stop-gap measure. The next version will be based on a full-size desk.

2. Well with machine- You can see how this recesses the machine to the table level.

3. Plexiglas cut to machine's free arm profile, sized to fit the recess. DO NOT Waste too much time worrying about this- try carboard first until you are happy with the pattern, then trace it out on the plexi.

4. The well from above, showing the machine level with the table top.

5.....Just when you think they have it all. (Results of a going-out-of-business sale, and I am mostly to blame for this).

Thanks - was it you who told me I'd have less time when I retired. Well its coming to pass. Every time I get down to the workship SWMBO says 'could you just drop me over to..." Well there's another half day down the spout. Sound familiar to anyone?



uote=jow104] JStevens, it appears you are going down that slippery slope on your recent retirement, join the club.[/quote]

Thanks for that. I think I am starting to get the idea!



uote=gregoryq]Here are more pictures:

1. Table top fixed to small Horn cabinet. This is a stop-gap measure. The next version will be based on a full-size desk.

2. Well with machine- You can see how this recesses the machine to the table level.

3. Plexiglas cut to machine's free arm profile, sized to fit the recess. DO NOT Waste too much time worrying about this- try carboard first until you are happy with the pattern, then trace it out on the plexi.

4. The well from above, showing the machine level with the table top.

5.....Just when you think they have it all. (Results of a going-out-of-business sale, and I am mostly to blame for this).[/quote]