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A Shed Downunder.

OP
1

1/2 Cup

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Apr 28, 2012
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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
Hmm..... Plenty have done that to the old Singer Sewing Machine stands. They do make good tables.

HOTFR8 You are right the Singer stands make great tables, we have one in every room of the house, last count.

There are a couple that I must post some pics of, one that I had a black granite top cut for and another that we use as a TV stand and it also houses all our surround sound stuff underneath.

Regards
 
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Strouty

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Southern Maine
My GF would be jealous, she wants one in our house, but I like to walk around barefoot and I can just feel my toes hitting the base. She has collected two of them and I need to make something out of them, maybe a patio style table.
 
OP
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1/2 Cup

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My GF would be jealous, she wants one in our house, but I like to walk around barefoot and I can just feel my toes hitting the base. She has collected two of them and I need to make something out of them, maybe a patio style table.

They work great for a patio table Strouty, some of the bases I have powder coated the others I have left the just the way they are.

You have got me going now I will post pics of the others.:thumbup:

Regards
 

Strouty

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Southern Maine
I may even show her your pictures, this winter my shop will be a shop, last winter it was a warehouse with a boat in the middle of it. I hope to start getting many projects done. You and Riven have been motivation for me, some of the projects you guys do are down right awesome.
 
OP
1

1/2 Cup

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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
I may even show her your pictures, this winter my shop will be a shop, last winter it was a warehouse with a boat in the middle of it. I hope to start getting many projects done. You and Riven have been motivation for me, some of the projects you guys do are down right awesome.

Strouty, Rivenn sets the bar pretty high and does some awesome work:thumbup:

Here are a couple I did some years back.

The TV stand.

View media item 53946
And the black granite topped one complete with Mrs 1/2 Cups dust collectors.


View media item 53947
I trust your GF will find some inspiration there, enjoy.:thumbup:
 

Grizz1963

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Jan 7, 2010
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Rochester, KENT. UK
Love these old treadle tables.

I have seen a couple reduced to junk at the yard before. SAD !!

The guy that used to be my "inside man" has now left so I am trying to train the new guy to look out for me in case more come in.

As Bob Heineken mentioned, you are the king of functional tables.

Always nice to see a wife appreciate your work :D
 
OP
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1/2 Cup

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AWESOME 1/2 Cup!! :drool:

Thank you nines, I really must get my fascination with tables under control.:lol_hitti



Love these old treadle tables.

I have seen a couple reduced to junk at the yard before. SAD !!

The guy that used to be my "inside man" has now left so I am trying to train the new guy to look out for me in case more come in.

As Bob Heineken mentioned, you are the king of functional tables.

Always nice to see a wife appreciate your work :D

Thank you Rian :thumbup:

The Singer cast iron frames bring anything from AU$40 to $80 any day, the two in the pictures above we Mrs 1/2 Cups grandfathers that were used as pot plant stands so they hold a special place here.

I can't claim being king of the functional tables though but can claim being the king of stealing some great stuff off the GJ.:thumbup:

Thanks again and have a great day every one.:thumbup:
 

Strouty

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Southern Maine
They are great looking and it is even better that they have the history behind them. Sometimes the story is better than anything.
 
OP
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1/2 Cup

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They are great looking and it is even better that they have the history behind them. Sometimes the story is better than anything.

Strouty, Thank you, I have to agree the story behind an item should never be lost. That's one aspect I am very keen to preserve with the things we have been given from our families over the years, is the stories behind them are passed to the next generation.

Oh my....love the tables...pure bespoke!

Matty, thank you very much.:thumbup:

Have a great day every one.
 

shortykorte

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Sep 1, 2014
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8,034
Location
Tallahassee, Fl
Yep your right HOTFR8:thumbup:

The under bench draws should compliment the storage containers I did earlier this year.

View media item 47886
Whilst contemplating life in the Shed Downunder last night, I was looking at my peg board above the benches.

View media item 27589
Another area of interest for my Continuous Improvement Program Looking fairly drab, It needs an up lift and has been used to hang some of my everyday tools there.

Any suggestions welcome.:thumbup:

My suggestion is to practice on my pegboard until you get the design right. :bowdown:
 

Bob Heine

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Oct 24, 2009
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Boca Raton, Florida
My paternal great grandmother had her treadle sewing machine converted to electric power in the early 1950's but left the treadle in place -- possibly because I enjoyed making the wheel turn as fast as a 7-year-old could. That machine stayed in my uncle's family but my wife found a complete, irreparable machine in an abandoned barn in the late '60s. We saved the base and soon after found two more in a pile of trash in the woods.

For 4 decades we have had 3 tables with many different tops. The most recent top on the one next to the barbie is a piece of plywood stained to match the walnut edges. The two glass-topped bedside tables in the master bedroom have "found" glass tops. The glass was too small and thin to mount to the base so I routed pieces of 1"x2" oak to frame the glass on two sides.
Singer%20Tables_zpskrssnysn.jpg


The clock was a "Train Party" gift. It's the loudest alarm clock I have ever owned -- so loud it rarely goes off -- I almost always wake up in anticipation of it going off. Here's a short video clip with sound -- I wouldn't play it with the volume set too high!
 
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OP
1

1/2 Cup

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Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Messages
19,283
Location
Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
My paternal great grandmother had her treadle sewing machine converted to electric power in the early 1950's but left the treadle in place -- possibly because I enjoyed making the wheel turn as fast as a 7-year-old could. That machine stayed in my uncle's family but my wife found a complete, irreparable machine in an abandoned barn in the late '60s. We saved the base and soon after found two more in a pile of trash in the woods.

For 4 decades we have had 3 tables with many different tops. The most recent top on the one next to the barbie is a piece of plywood stained to match the walnut edges. The two glass-topped bedside tables in the master bedroom have "found" glass tops. The glass was too small and thin to mount to the base so I routed pieces of 1"x2" oak to frame the glass on two sides.
Singer%20Tables_zpskrssnysn.jpg


The clock was a "Train Party" gift. It's the loudest alarm clock I have ever owned -- so loud it rarely goes off -- I almost always wake up in anticipation of it going off.

Bob, that is just fantastic that you were able to save them as well, there is nothing better than having a story to tell like that and to pass that down the line so to speak.

Your tables and clock look great and many thanks for sharing.:thumbup:

Have a great day every one.
 
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hewey

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Sep 5, 2014
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Blue Mountains, Australia
Love the tables too. I made one using some recycled timber floorboards from our ute tray (which I replaced with ply). We used it at our wedding for our cake table. I've got a second matching table base, so we can make a longer table from them some time...
vintage-wedding-photography-sydney-018.jpg
 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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Pacific Northwest
1/2: i like what you've done with the old sewing frames making tables that look very cool. i still like the steel welding table you made better which might be closer to the one i build once i get my welder or my skills up to the task.

just curious are the sewing machines worth saving or just junk on those old sewing tables because i do see a lot of them i don't buy?
 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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1/2: i started a few new threads over in the vintage tool section about metal cabinets and another one for wood cabinets in case you didn't see them. would love to see a few of yours over there if you own or have seen any. i'm still getting ideas for my Organizing 101 thread.

cheers and i'm guessing it's warming up down your way because i'm getting ready to go out and start putting tarps on my wood piles and stuff here.

how was your first couple days back at work? did you get the engine cleaned up?
 
OP
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1/2 Cup

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I'm just glad Mrs. Coop doesn't read GJ and get any ideas...

Coop, Mrs 1/2 Cup doesn't read the GJ or not that I am aware off anyway, I do share posts with her at times.:thumbup:

Love the tables too. I made one using some recycled timber floorboards from our ute tray (which I replaced with ply). We used it at our wedding for our cake table. I've got a second matching table base, so we can make a longer table from them some time...
vintage-wedding-photography-sydney-018.jpg

Hewey, your table looks great, I have often thought of doing a long one using couple of pairs. In fact I can recall seeing one done on the GJ but can' t recall what thread.


1/2: i like what you've done with the old sewing frames making tables that look very cool. i still like the steel welding table you made better which might be closer to the one i build once i get my welder or my skills up to the task.

just curious are the sewing machines worth saving or just junk on those old sewing tables because i do see a lot of them i don't buy?

drives, Thank you very much, I have to admit that I am just a little proud of how my welding table turned out.

IMHO, I would not destroy a complete sewing machine just for the legs. If they are in good condition they are keepers in their own right. If you see legs only or a complete unit that is pretty rough we pay any where between AU $40 - 80.:thumbup:


1/2: i started a few new threads over in the vintage tool section about metal cabinets and another one for wood cabinets in case you didn't see them. would love to see a few of yours over there if you own or have seen any. i'm still getting ideas for my Organizing 101 thread.

cheers and i'm guessing it's warming up down your way because i'm getting ready to go out and start putting tarps on my wood piles and stuff here.

how was your first couple days back at work? did you get the engine cleaned up?

drives, I did see the thread and certainly will contribute.

It got to 94 F here yesterday, hot and windy as well. There have been a number of bush fires around that are causing concern at the moment.
Much cooler today.

I am still trying to catch up on the 115 emails I received and it has been fairly full on back here at work.

I am leaving the engine until the week end now as the hot bath was in use earlier this week and my eldest will give me a hand.

Thanks for dropping by:thumbup:

And have a great day every one.:thumbup:
 

southern_tango

Active member
Joined
Jul 13, 2013
Messages
33
Location
Melbourne ,Australia
Thanks HOTFR8




Thank you akdiesel I have been looking at your set up and that has been the inspiration to do something with mine.:thumbup:

The new drawer faces will match the fabrication bench, handles and all. I am trying to achieve some semblance of continuity in doing so.:thumbup:

View media item 46305
Have a great weekend guys.:thumbup:
Cup honestly don't know why I keep coming to your thread ,It' like watch the ******* mansion ,makes my life go down like the Hindemberg ,just one thing to say CONGRATS!!! Your level of dedication ,detail and aesthetic is of the chart mate...
 
OP
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1/2 Cup

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Cup honestly don't know why I keep coming to your thread ,It' like watch the ******* mansion ,makes my life go down like the Hindemberg ,just one thing to say CONGRATS!!! Your level of dedication ,detail and aesthetic is of the chart mate...

Many thanks southern_tango your comments are truly appreciated.:thumbup:
I just really luv doing stuff and my dad always says if you are going to do it give it your best shot.
I try, I don't always get it right and still make my fair share of stuff ups I can assure you.

Once again many thanks and have a great day...
 

rixtrix1

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Aug 25, 2013
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Location
Chandler, AZ (from west NE)
Always great stuff when I visit, 1/2 Cup. Inspiring, for sure. And thanks to Bob H for sharing his tables, and train clock. My son has a similar train, and it could "wake the dead" as they say!
 
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OP
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1/2 Cup

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Thank you Ric, Its great to see every one sharing their experiences as well. Some of those clocks are great reminder of time gone by. I can remember my grand father setting his clocks daily not like today were every one is synced. Oh for those simple pleasures in life.

Have a great day and thanks again:thumbup:
 
OP
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1/2 Cup

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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
After getting some domestic type stuff (lawns and the like) out of the way this morning my eldest and I made a B line to my workplaces' mechanical workshop and ran the MG F K series engine through the hot bath then pressure hot washed every thing. Pretty pleased just how clean every thing came out.

Nearly ready to start to bolt things back together.

View media item 54048
Have a great week end every one.:thumbup:
 

akdiesel

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Aug 8, 2008
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Wasilla, AK
1/2 Cup

Purty looking. That's a lot of aluminum.
I have had a Harbor Freight bench buffer sitting in my cabinet for about a year and half waiting to be used (still in the box). I just ordered some buffing wheels for it to get started on polishing some stainless and aluminum pieces. I don't have the baths you do but we will see if they turn out as nice as yours did.
 
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