sewing machine cart recommendations?

3 years ago

I'd like to put my sewing machine in a portable cart thingy with a lift. Something like this: https://www.arrowcabinets.com/shop/crafting/cabinets-crafting/sewnatra-cabinet/

Is there something similar that's made out of nicer materials? Or cheaper so I don't mind paying for the low-end materials? (I do realize there's a couple hundred bucks of hardware there. And my machine will be pushing the weight capacity of that hardware which appears to be screwed into furniture board...eek!)

I'm at that point in my life where I want the machine at the correct height AND I don't want to lug its 40 lbs around anymore. :)

Any recommendations? Thanks!

Comments (5)

blueskyquilts
3 years ago
If you live in a populated area look on craigslist. I have a koala cabinet with a side table and foldout back that I love and i got for $450 including a chair.

It is wonderful having your machine level with the counter and the lift makes it easy if you want to use the freearm or clean it. It may take awhile to find one but The savings might make it worth it. Figure out how much space you have first though. I have space to keep my cabinet open all the time. Go to a local dealer and look at what is available. They are likely made mostly of pressboard and veneer and laminate but it is likely of better Quality than the one you linked to.

If you find a used one you will probably have to order the correct plastic insert for around your specific machine but I don’t remember it being very expensive.

Barb
Fori thanked blueskyquilts
Fori
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks, Barb! I'll look around.

I'll also be looking around for an empty old cabinet of the proper size (but I'm not desperate enough to buy one on eBay--gotta pass a smell test!). The machine is from the era when you could order it in a cabinet and if I could find a suitable cabinet I could spruce it up and leave it in the living room and just use a tote for associated sewing junk. I don't sew a lot, but when I do, I have to be in the middle of the house for some reason. :)

I do want something small enough to wheel into a closet unless it looks fabulous enough to keep out.
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You can buy luggage carts all by themselves. Basically, a scaled down, foldable hand cart. (hand cart - like you might use to move boxes - what the UPS guy uses to stack boxes on and wheel them out to the truck) Luggage carts are often more heavy-duty than a wheeled suitcase, as they are designed for strapping on several suitcases at a time. You'd still have to have the sewing machine in a case of some kind, and you'd have to strap it on - probably with bungee cords, but you could also strap on additional cases. Look for a sturdy one; some are on the lighteight side because the goal is to make them easy to put in a carry-on bag, while others are clearly designed to carry up to 200 pounds. Here are a couple of links you might find interesting: http://www.adorama.com/ZZC.html?sid=1153027279764319 http://www.luggageonline.com/product.cfm?product_ID=382 http://www.keysan.com/ksu2606.htm CMC Here is a link that might be useful: Also, Target luggage cart only $39
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southernstitcher, I wont tell anyone over on patternreview that you got rid of your featherweight. Your right, you might actually be banned ;-) I spent a total of $400 on my 6460 to guy and have it rebuilt and oiled. It was $175 for the machine and another $225 for the rebuild. The guy I go to is a five star Viking certified repair person. He has been doing this since this machine was first made. My figuring is that you can't buy a new plasticky machine for that price that can do what this one can. I got my few decorative stitches I wanted, plus buttonholes, and I also figure it will easily last another 30 years. It was the most I have ever spent on a machine, but after sewing for as many years as I have been and as much as I do, it was overdue. You are right about the old Singers though. I did leave them off my list of must buy vintage. I am soured on Singers for some reason. I was handed down a "newer" 90's Singer, and at one point it was my only machine. I also had an opportunity to sew on a new Singer. I have no more respect for Singer. Sorry. But I have owned an old Steel vintage Singer. I forget the model. One I picked up for $25 at a junk shop. My first machine ever. It was great. I made every curtain for my first apartment. I also made slipcovers for a junkie old couch. Everything was great till the foot pedal caught fire. Now that I know more about machines, I would have kept the machine and found a new pedal. Back then I junked the machine when I moved, it was really really heavy and I was moving. The old Singers are great, the new ones I wouldn't take if you paid me.
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blueskyquilts
3 years ago
Sewing machine cabinets are a dime a dozen on my craigslist. Is your machine a Singer? What number? When in a cabinet they don’t take up much room and work as end tables and side tables. Some are simple and some are elegant Queen Anne type things. I have a Singer 201 in a cabinet as a bedside table in my guest room. I don’t use it a lot but when I do it is easy to rotate it and open it up.
Fori thanked blueskyquilts
Fori
Original Author
3 years ago
It's a Kenmore 158-330 from 1969. You can guess by that fact that I am not serious about my sewing but it's well-behaved and easy to use.

Some of the old cabinets are acceptable for functional furniture--the Singers tend to be a bit nicer than the Kenmores, I noticed. Cabinets from this era aren't quite as fancy as the older ones but that just makes them easier to refinish.

I'll keep an eye on Craigslist--there's currently a very cool sewing armoire from the 70s for sale. So functional! So ugly. I'm sure it was very on trend in the 70s...and I don't have a place for it.

If this were local to me I'd be very tempted. A parts donor and a table! (and a demonstration on how the machine fits into the table). : https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sears-Kenmore-No-158-330-Sewing-Machine-w-Table-Manual-Footswitch-566-102-/164227592562

That's what my machine would look like if it were tired and dirty looking. :)
wednesday morning
3 years ago
I used to have a Kenmore in a cabinet just like the one in the photo. It was a good enough machine.

I much prefer to have a small table with more space on it.

sewing machine cart recommendations?

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blueskyquilts

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sewing machine cart recommendations?

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blueskyquilts

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blueskyquilts

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