protecting my wood table?

Just for the pinning exercise, could you perhaps cover the table with a sheet; and then place a large sheet of hardboard to cover the table (or most of it). hardboard is preferable to ply, as it has a shiny side which would be great for pinning. It is also heavy, so won't move around too much (hopefully). . In message , claudia writes

Claudia, I pin on my Olfa rotary cutting mats; it's never harmed them. BQ ( before quilting) I had a cardboard folding sort of cutting mat that I used for pinning and it protected my tabletop. Beneath either, of course, you'll want to protect the table with something - table cloth, sheet, quiet cloth. I even top those with a flannel-backed tablecloth. You would think I am protecting a magnificent antique table. Actually the tabletop in my sewing room is a hefty sheet of plywood from the days when we had toy electric trains going. Whatever you use, do be sure it is so soft that it won't scratch your wonderful table. Polly

"claudia" Hello everyone

Hi, Claudia, My suggestion would be to get plexiglass the size of the table top. I, too, wouldn't want to be sticking pins into a nice wooden table top. Also, put little felt circles under the plexiglass so it does not come into direct contact with your wood table top. It might be a little cumbersome to handle, but perhaps, hubby could help with that part of the process.

Marlys in Indiana

Another thought: those cushioned table pads that protect wood table tops. I had some made for my dining room table and they weren't awfully expensive. They fold into very manageable sizes (mine about 16 x 32 inches) and are not heavy. Easy to store when not in use. These things are about 1/2 inch thick, bottom is a flannel-like material, top is made of a vinyl-like substance. They would be subject to pin pricks I suppose, but the table would be protected! And if you didn't want to have them custom-made, a handyperson could probably make small individual pieces of plywood that could be glued with a felt on the bottom, maybe a laminate on the top. Mine are held next to each other by velcro strips on the edges of the boards, so they don't slip around. Very portable.

Hope this helps! KT. in MI

What I do is cover the dining room table with a folded painting drop cloth. Then on top of that I place 4' x 8' x 1/4" piece of plywood. The drop cloth protects the table top and who cares what happens to the plywood. It has worked for me for years now, and is easy enough for one person to handle. John

Hi Claudia,

I use my dining room table from time to time for pinning and cutting fabric. To protect the table surface, I use one a Cardboard Pattern Cutting Board that unfold to 36''x60'' and little plastic clamps (purchased at Lowes) to clamp it to the table. It works great.

-Irene

I use a cardboard folding dressmakers' cutting board which opens up to

60"x36" and is easily stored away when not in use. It is also good for blocking an item using the grid lines since it is pinneable. I used it to enlarge the Nativity design for the Navan church quilt several years ago ... here's a link to purchase:

It is possibly the most useful item to have > Hello everyone

Thank you all for the suggestions. You have all given me plenty to work with.

Claudia

On Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:37:21 -0500, claudia wrote (in article ):

I've seen large, folding cardboard cutting mats at TSWLTH. I think something like that would work.

Although, since you'll probably also want to protect the top from warm dishes, etc. when you're using it as a dining table, I'd probably go ahead and have those expensive table protecting pads like MSM has for her table made.

Maureen

May I suggest that a sheet of MDF (masonite) would be less expensive and lighter weight than plywood?

You could still use 1/4 inch, though I fancy that 1/8 inch would work just as well for this purpose.

I frequently snag one of my painting panels for small work of this sort. They are made from MDF that I have cut to size, sanded, coated with acrylic gel, and gessoed. I usually keep some 16x22 and 18x24 panels around all the time. Sometimes I have to throw another coat of gesso on when I want to paint on them because they have pin pokey places.

NightMist

Depending on the finish on the table, you may not have to use anything.

I have my grandmother's old oak dining room table; it's probably about

100 years old. When I got it, the top was in good condition because Grandma always kept an oilcloth or plastic tablecloth on it. But the legs had many coats of varnish, because Grandma put on a coat every few years. I stripped it all and varnished it with a good polyurethane varnish. I often use it without a tablecloth. And I do all my pinning on it -- without any protection -- and have no scratches on it from the pinning. That polyurethane is tough!

Julia > Hello everyone

I have a really simple & inexpensive way to protect your table. A bunch of friends take quilting classes at the local Adult Ed. The room has huge tables that are covered with muslin. When we want to pin baste a quilt top, we take out a piece of oil cloth and lay it on the table with the shiny side up. It's lightweight, inexpensive & easy to store - and the pins don't pierce through it.

Pauline Northern California