Not Your Average Sewing Table - Project of the Week

February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Blog, Project of the Week 

This week’s project comes from my good buddy Ron. Nice job Ron. The details on this piece are fantastic! He writes:

“This was a project the really seemed as though it should have been easier but we know how that goes. I think one the biggest challenges was getting the leaf on the end to be functional. I didn’t want anyone to be knocking their knees should someone be sitting there and it needed to be easy to work and yet sturdy. It’s somewhat hard to explain but the top actually slides on the supports because the top is hinged from a stationary point. Yeah clear as mud, I know but. Without building a steam system to bend the purpleheart I have no idea how I would bend the 1/8” strip of PH in such as small radius so I built a form and ended up doing a 3 piece lamination with each piece being just over 1/32 (I love that drum sander!!!!) I attached some pics. At that point I attached the curly maple edging and inlayed the purpleheart.”

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12 Responses to “Not Your Average Sewing Table - Project of the Week”

  1. Kip from Nothern Illinois on February 15th, 2008 10:40 am

    I like it ! Well thought out. The sliding rack is for spools of thread?
    Iwish my wife would sew. How many hours did that project take? From the quality of detail I would gues a lot

    Thanks for sharing

  2. ALexander on February 15th, 2008 11:47 pm

    Very nice and very innovative.

    lates

  3. muddler mike on February 16th, 2008 2:22 am

    WOW!!!!!!!! my wife is looking for something like this from me eventually too - I’ll be sure NOT to show her this one or else I’ll have a big order to fill. I agree with Marc about the PH details - fantastic!

    muddler

  4. RJ on February 16th, 2008 6:47 am

    Kip,
    The sliding rack is actually for rolls of stabilizer although a thread holder was in the first design. The stabilizer is used for embroidery and would almost resemble small rolls of paper. I think I probably have about 60 hours and maybe $600 in it. This project was actually for a client however since completion my wife did move it to the top of her list:)

    Thanks,
    Ron

  5. Pops on February 16th, 2008 9:40 am

    Fantastic Ron, I love the PH. Was it hard to lineup the lift mechanism? It looks like a tight fit. I rate the job A++++

  6. Jordan on February 16th, 2008 11:36 am

    Ron,

    You really acheived a beautiful “look” to this piece, using the “less is more” philosophy. I just love it.

    I too am curious about the lift mechanism and wonder if the top opening’s cover lifts out.

    I used to think that a drum sander is an extravagance I could live without. With my latest project (a wooden lamp shade) and your use of one, I’m going to have to rethink that.

    Great Job!

    Jordan

  7. RJ on February 16th, 2008 3:51 pm

    Thanks for the nice words guys!
    Mike,
    If your wife sews, quilts or embroiders build her one of these and she will love you forever! Probably one of the most important things to keep in mind is not to leave anything for fabric to catch on hence the corners with large radii
    Pops,
    The top does in fact lift out. It sits on a thin aluminum rail on each side and was actually pretty easy to fit in there.
    Jorden,
    I am pretty sure once you get a drum sander you will wonder how you ever got along without it! I use mine on almost every project now! Just do it man!!

    Ron

  8. Tim aka Mopardude on February 17th, 2008 6:35 pm

    Very Nice! I am curious thought the secondary color you used for a border on the top. From what I can tell from the pics, you molded it before you attached it to the top? I assume you achieved this by cutting the border strip into veneer thin pieces than gluing and placing in your gig? You find this way better than just going straight to the top itself?

  9. RJ on February 18th, 2008 8:36 am

    Tim,
    Absolutely! Due to the tight radii I had no choice but to go as thin as possible on the laminations in order to help eliminate the purple heart (PH) breaking. I tried going even 1/16” but even that seemed to be prone to splitting. The jig actually had an added benefit of creating a 1”x 1/8” piece from which I could rip (4) 1/4” strips. So from one glue up I created all 4 corners:) Once the groove was cut for the PH these pieces dropped right in like they grew there:)
    Ron

  10. Tim aka Mopardude on February 18th, 2008 11:22 am

    So if I am understanding you correctly the border is basically just an inlay piece?

  11. Pat Boyd In Monroe, CT on February 18th, 2008 10:02 pm

    Nice! I was looking for some plans to build a sewing table for my older sister who makes beautiful clothing. I would love to see yours and know where you got the hardware for it (Particularly the machine lift). Again, nicely done!
    Pat

  12. RJ on February 19th, 2008 11:32 am

    Tim,
    Yup just an inlay:)
    Pat,
    I don’t typically use plans other than details and a rough 3 model but I can provide answers to any of your questions general dimensions, materials and hardware list as well as a list of vendors. Just shoot me an email and I can take care of you:) ron@rjoneswoodworks.com

    Thanks,
    Ron

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