I posted this little contraption on the Quilting Board last fall. I find myself spinning the machines around several times during cleaning and tune up. When I irritated the bulged disk in my back, I found I couldn’t lift a machine anymore. It was obviously time to change the way I was doing things.
It sure makes hauling all of these machines around my workbench a little easier. You never really appreciate how much you move a machine around until your eyes water each time you do. I was SO not going to start fixing them on the floor.
It’s one of those Lazy Susan things for inside a cupboard. I originally bought it hoping to spin a motorcycle around in the garage, but it wasn’t heavy duty enough. It’s been in the basement for about 4 years!
Dimensions are about 12″ by 18″
12″ is the minimum, because that’s the diameter of the lazy susan. 18″ because it’ll accommodate almost any sewing machine.
I had the DH cut the corners so that they would be less likely to catch on things (me mostly) while spinning. The added bonus is that the metal is large enough and thick enough that my magnetic dish sticks to the top of the platform and doesn’t go anywhere.
The spinning part was originally bought from Home Depot, I think probably any Home Renovation place would have them. The company’s name was “Richelieu”. I found it in the cupboard fasteners aisle, where you’d find the hinges and drawer pulls and such. I don’t think it was that expensive either.
Be warned though, it’s not quiet. The bearings in the lazy susan are pretty much exposed, so it’s noisy to rotate. significant others may not appreciate it if sleeping in a room nearby, but otherwise, go to town!
One person on the Quilting Board suggested that it would be great for using while doing a paint restoration on machines as well. I bet there are a ton of uses for it.
One word of warning though. Make sure once you’ve finished the machine you stand and lift with both hands. That’s the one thing that got me, I got used to the machines moving so easily, and tried to shift it with one hand, and it just spun. Otherwise, I wouldn’t go back to the way it used to be.
Great idea, I’ll have to make one ,for my workbench. A wood wedge makes an excellent parking brake. My wife has an adjustable height castered work table, made from a van table support. The 28 inch round top is on a turntable and the grandchildren love spinning it.
I have a used 24″ industrial ring bearing that I put between 30″ plywood discs. The grandchildren lay, sit, stand on it and spin each other.Keeps them entertained for hours. This bearing will support at least a ton.
I have it on the “Honey Do” list for Ryan to look for a wedge in the garage. Great idea. With me limited on lifting at the moment, the last thing I need to do is start chasing a machine around while I’m trying to lift it.
I’ve got most of the bike turning thing sorted these days (if I can’t do it, I get Ryan to. :D), but I might keep an eye out for the bigger bearing races to see if it works for a bike.
What were those things they used to sell – it was about 12″ in diameter and seemed to be for “exercising” – you would stand on it and twist back and forth… my grandma’s was orange. I had a ball on that as a kid.
Your Grandma probably had the Twist ‘N Tone – Back in the day, it cost $5.95, and claimed to ‘provides the same simulating exercise as expensive equipment used in health clubs’.
Ha! I looked those up and it’s really close to what she had. Hers was a thicker device and had grooves almost like a record but otherwise, I’m guessing sold exactly the same way. 🙂