A wifes idea?

[vrbradley]

I'm not sure if this is the place to bring this up, but here goes.
My better half has the notion that I should convert her grandmothers old "singer" tredle sewing machine into a table to go on the deck. I don't know where to begin.
Has anyone ever done anything like this......distraught looking for ideas.

[LinuxRandal]

I had a friend who owned an antique mall. It was/is still common to still see the bases (metal part) on all kinds of table tops. I've seen them on everything from a simple 3/4" top, to one, that I think they replaced the top of the old wooden case, with a new board without any cutouts.

[leehljp]

Similar to what LinuxR said above. I have even seen a couple of old sewing machines made that way here in Japan. AND, having said that, we have a tredle sewing machine base with a wood top as my bedside table. I made it many year ago and LOML decided where it would go.

[LCHIEN]

I've seen those treadle bases with the treadle still operable but not connected as the base for some tables, looks OK, apparently quite popular, but seems like a waste to put it outside where it will deteriorate (rust). There must be a limited supply of those bases in good shape and they'll only get rarer as people put them outside?

It's just a stand, screw the base to the table top.

[Kerf]

vrbradley
Before you drill any holes, make sure is not one of those rare pieces, like the ones from the antic road show and is worth a Kazillion $$

[Daryl]

If you plan on using the wood, it will deteroriate fairly quickly. A neighbor put one in his outbuilding after he got it at an auction, by the end of the summer it was delaminating and falling apart.

[DonHo]

I have a question. Is it a complete treadle machine or just a treadle machine base? We have an old treadle machine that has the wooden case refinished and it works fine as a table just as it is. I wouldn't dream of trashing the machine just so I could put a top(of any kind) on it. It would ruin the value of the machine AND my wife would kill me. If you have a complete/near complete machine, I'd try to fix any broken parts and refinish it, then use it as a table. Of course you have to factor in that we probably have more sewing machines in our house than we have tables SO I might be biased in that direction

DonHo

[TheRic]

My mom got one cheap, got rid of the machine (it was junk), and mounted her Singer in it. Used it that way for about 20 years. Moved into a new home and took the old singer out and mounted it in an area she had designed for it. No clue what happened to the base.

Have seen several used as tables. Saw one the other day that had an old butchers block mounted on the top.

I agree with it rusting outside. You might need to clean it up, and repaint it to help keep the weather out, might last a little longer this way. But if your going to do all of this work, is it worth it? Not going to have much of the original left for sentimental value. $$$$ value will be gone.

[eezlock]

wife's idea?

Several years ago my dad took an old solid core door cut it down to about
a four ft. lenght and screwed it to a treadle sewing machine base and made my mother a sturdy work top for her sewing room. It worked well and is still
around. eezlock

[LinuxRandal]

If it is outside and exposed (not a covered porch, etc), the wood will probably hold up worse then the metal.

Just like any metal outside, (railings, etc), it will need to be painted fairly often. Rustoleum, POR15, etc.; use a good paint and proper prep, and you should be fine.

[vrbradley]

thanks

Thanks for all the input and suggestions...you guys are good "we talked her out of it"...good job guys.
However..you did get me a project i think. Mom really liked the idea of converting the old maching into a work table for the sewing/craft room. Makes more sense to me too..