[KellyRainey]

I am looking for a small work table for a very small studio (I mean very small studio). I do not mind building one but I have no idea where to start. I will using it just for working. I already have a cement board covered in canvas that I can put on the table when I need to wedge but I need something other than it to work on that my clay won't stick to like crazy.. Anyone have instructions, ideas, photos, etc? I would greatly appreciate any help..

Thank you!!!

Kelly

[bciskepottery]

I use folding tables in my studio -- both 4' and 6' lengths. I have several pieces of 24"x24" plywood that I use as the non-sticking work surface and then sponge them down when I'm done. I also use sheets of newsprint under clay slabs to work on.

[Pres]

KellyRainey, on 15 February 2012 - 10:52 PM, said:

I am looking for a small work table for a very small studio (I mean very small studio). I do not mind building one but I have no idea where to start. I will using it just for working. I already have a cement board covered in canvas that I can put on the table when I need to wedge but I need something other than it to work on that my clay won't stick to like crazy.. Anyone have instructions, ideas, photos, etc? I would greatly appreciate any help..

Thank you!!!

Kelly

The problem with a good work table is stability a lot of the times. If you can attach the table to a wall, then a piece of 3/4" plywood would probably do with a couple of 2X4 front legs. If you need it to come down, consider a couple of old door hinges on the wall to support it and then the legs. Otherwise I would go with the folding table even though it won't be really steady-especially for wedging.

[Ivar]

My husband made me a table. Structure is made of steel 4x4 cm, and 4 mm thickness, height is bit higher then standard because I am 180 cm tall so I need it to be 100 cm tall. On top of structure he placed wooden board 4 cm thick. It is screwed to a structure from below so no screws or anything is on top surface. Also I have one shelve maybe 15 cm from floor, and here I keep my clay, slip buckets etc.

And to protect the wood I aplied layer of oil and left it to soak for 2 days. Now it has nice surface, it absorbs extra watter but is protected from deformations. I will try to make a photo later and post it. I also have samall studio, so this was perfect solution for me.

[neilestrick]

I love my work tables, and they are super easy and cheap to build. Use 4x4's for the legs, 2x4's for the rails, all screwed together, with 2x4 corner braces. Super stable. I can jump on them. The tops are 3/4 MDF (cheap!) with about 8 coats of linseed oil. The oil keeps the MDF from falling apart when it gets wet. It's a nice smooth, durable surface that's still porous enough that clay doesn't stick to it much. I've got two of these tables in my studio that get used daily (up to 50 students a week), and after 8 years they still look great. Every couple of years I give them a fresh coat of oil.

[Jeri]

I use two old and heavy folding tables in my itty bitty home studio. They are both against a wall so give me the stability needed. For wedging clay I took two 3x3 foot pieces of plywood and covered them with canvas; they work quite well for me most of the time. I am considering having some cement board attached to the table tops as the boars slip sometimes. My son also helped me build a reclaim table that can be stored under one of the tables, it also has a shelf under it where I store my clay and other supplies. Hope this helps a little.

[KellyRainey]

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas. If anyone has photos of their tables that they would not mind posting so that I can get a visual of what it should look like that would be great.


Thank you again



Kelly

[Christine]

KellyRainey, on 16 February 2012 - 03:52 AM, said:

I am looking for a small work table for a very small studio (I mean very small studio). I do not mind building one but I have no idea where to start. I will using it just for working. I already have a cement board covered in canvas that I can put on the table when I need to wedge but I need something other than it to work on that my clay won't stick to like crazy.. Anyone have instructions, ideas, photos, etc? I would greatly appreciate any help..

Thank you!!!

Kelly

Ikea! I have a Bekvam kitchen trolley which is just brilliant - solid wood, cheap with two shelves underneath and wheels on two of the legs. It's about 20"x24" and a good working height. I have to admit I usually use other surfaces (usually my slab roller) for working on, but tend to work on damp closeweave cotton anyway.

..... ooooh! I didn't expect that to work - this is its picture

Christine

[metal and mud]

KellyRainey, on 17 February 2012 - 09:28 AM, said:

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas. If anyone has photos of their tables that they would not mind posting so that I can get a visual of what it should look like that would be great.


Thank you again



Kelly

Late post: If you had the extra cash, Harbor freight has a workbench (meant for woodworkers) that is made of nice wood, has four drawers underneath the top and a shelf below. If you get it, be sure to glue the connections instead of just screw them. I find it a very nice unit. I put plastic wood in the holes on the top meant for the woodworker's items, then sanded them down.

[Karen B]

KellyRainey, on 15 February 2012 - 10:52 PM, said:

I am looking for a small work table for a very small studio (I mean very small studio). I do not mind building one but I have no idea where to start. I will using it just for working. I already have a cement board covered in canvas that I can put on the table when I need to wedge but I need something other than it to work on that my clay won't stick to like crazy.. Anyone have instructions, ideas, photos, etc? I would greatly appreciate any help..

Thank you!!!

Kelly

Hi Kelly,
I was thinking that if you need a table that you can not only work on, but also do your wedging on, you would probably do well to use legs a little heavier than 2x4s. I used 8x8s scraps that were under my friends deck (they were used for the legs of the deck several years prior). I put on a nice thick plywood top. It is a small table, but it doesn't budge! 6x6's would do too. The folding table is a great accessory for working and toting to craft shows, but you will not be able to wedge on it.

[Peter]

If space is at a premium or you'd like your table for multiple uses, I cut 4 pieces of 3/4 plywood ( 2- 24x48 for white clay and 2- 18x36" for red clay) and screwed 2 together then covered them with canvas. A small piece of rubberized shelf liner laid on the table will prevent the
wedging/handbuilding boards from sliding around. The afterwards, just put the boards against the wall out of the way.....
Just a thought...

[Heidi]

Peter, on 20 February 2012 - 06:08 AM, said:

If space is at a premium or you'd like your table for multiple uses, I cut 4 pieces of 3/4 plywood ( 2- 24x48 for white clay and 2- 18x36" for red clay) and screwed 2 together then covered them with canvas. A small piece of rubberized shelf liner laid on the table will prevent the
wedging/handbuilding boards from sliding around. The afterwards, just put the boards against the wall out of the way.....
Just a thought...

What a nice idea! I will do this

[Heidi]

Heidi, on 20 February 2012 - 01:34 PM, said:

Peter, on 20 February 2012 - 06:08 AM, said:

If space is at a premium or you'd like your table for multiple uses, I cut 4 pieces of 3/4 plywood ( 2- 24x48 for white clay and 2- 18x36" for red clay) and screwed 2 together then covered them with canvas. A small piece of rubberized shelf liner laid on the table will prevent the
wedging/handbuilding boards from sliding around. The afterwards, just put the boards against the wall out of the way.....
Just a thought...

What a nice idea! I will do this

thanks very much

[KellyRainey]

Peter, on 19 February 2012 - 10:08 PM, said:

If space is at a premium or you'd like your table for multiple uses, I cut 4 pieces of 3/4 plywood ( 2- 24x48 for white clay and 2- 18x36" for red clay) and screwed 2 together then covered them with canvas. A small piece of rubberized shelf liner laid on the table will prevent the
wedging/handbuilding boards from sliding around. The afterwards, just put the boards against the wall out of the way.....
Just a thought...

That is a good idea. This would surely come in handy no matter what table I end up building, buying, etc. Did you try to find a smooth plywood or did it matter since you were covered with canvas?

Thank you for the suggestion..

[KellyRainey]

Christine, on 17 February 2012 - 01:57 PM, said:

KellyRainey, on 16 February 2012 - 03:52 AM, said:

I am looking for a small work table for a very small studio (I mean very small studio). I do not mind building one but I have no idea where to start. I will using it just for working. I already have a cement board covered in canvas that I can put on the table when I need to wedge but I need something other than it to work on that my clay won't stick to like crazy.. Anyone have instructions, ideas, photos, etc? I would greatly appreciate any help..

Thank you!!!

Kelly

Ikea! I have a Bekvam kitchen trolley which is just brilliant - solid wood, cheap with two shelves underneath and wheels on two of the legs. It's about 20"x24" and a good working height. I have to admit I usually use other surfaces (usually my slab roller) for working on, but tend to work on damp closeweave cotton anyway.

..... ooooh! I didn't expect that to work - this is its picture

Christine

Ohhhhh That would be a good size... I will have to see if I can order online here in the states. I love Ikea but I do not have one in my area so I can only purchase what they carry online or in the catalog...


Thank you for your suggestion and the picture... Pictures always help...

[KellyRainey]

metal and mud, on 17 February 2012 - 02:06 PM, said:

KellyRainey, on 17 February 2012 - 09:28 AM, said:

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas. If anyone has photos of their tables that they would not mind posting so that I can get a visual of what it should look like that would be great.


Thank you again



Kelly

Late post: If you had the extra cash, Harbor freight has a workbench (meant for woodworkers) that is made of nice wood, has four drawers underneath the top and a shelf below. If you get it, be sure to glue the connections instead of just screw them. I find it a very nice unit. I put plastic wood in the holes on the top meant for the woodworker's items, then sanded them down.

Ironically, I have seen that one a million times and I keep telling my husband that if I had the cash, I would buy it in a heartbeat... But the cash flow always seems to be very short when they actually have it in stock. I live right down the street from a Harbor Freight and I think everyone and their brother buys up the worktables every time they get them back in stock.. :-)

[Peter]

KellyRainey, on 20 February 2012 - 07:18 AM, said:

Peter, on 19 February 2012 - 10:08 PM, said:

If space is at a premium or you'd like your table for multiple uses, I cut 4 pieces of 3/4 plywood ( 2- 24x48 for white clay and 2- 18x36" for red clay) and screwed 2 together then covered them with canvas. A small piece of rubberized shelf liner laid on the table will prevent the
wedging/handbuilding boards from sliding around. The afterwards, just put the boards against the wall out of the way.....
Just a thought...

That is a good idea. This would surely come in handy no matter what table I end up building, buying, etc. Did you try to find a smooth plywood or did it matter since you were covered with canvas?

Thank you for the suggestion..

The sheet was smooth on one side. They've been in use now for 2 years and show no sign of wear.
Peter

[Jeri]

Peter, on 19 February 2012 - 09:08 PM, said:

If space is at a premium or you'd like your table for multiple uses, I cut 4 pieces of 3/4 plywood ( 2- 24x48 for white clay and 2- 18x36" for red clay) and screwed 2 together then covered them with canvas. A small piece of rubberized shelf liner laid on the table will prevent the
wedging/handbuilding boards from sliding around. The afterwards, just put the boards against the wall out of the way.....
Just a thought...

I hadn't thought of using the rubberized shelf liner to hold my canvas covered boards in place. I use it in my home studio all the time, (even have it on shelves as intended), I'll have to give it a try today, I have some reclaim that needs some good wedging! Thanks for the suggestion!

[Pres]

KellyRainey, on 20 February 2012 - 10:20 AM, said:

Christine, on 17 February 2012 - 01:57 PM, said:

KellyRainey, on 16 February 2012 - 03:52 AM, said:

I am looking for a small work table for a very small studio (I mean very small studio). I do not mind building one but I have no idea where to start. I will using it just for working. I already have a cement board covered in canvas that I can put on the table when I need to wedge but I need something other than it to work on that my clay won't stick to like crazy.. Anyone have instructions, ideas, photos, etc? I would greatly appreciate any help..

Thank you!!!

Kelly

Ikea! I have a Bekvam kitchen trolley which is just brilliant - solid wood, cheap with two shelves underneath and wheels on two of the legs. It's about 20"x24" and a good working height. I have to admit I usually use other surfaces (usually my slab roller) for working on, but tend to work on damp closeweave cotton anyway.

..... ooooh! I didn't expect that to work - this is its picture

Christine

Ohhhhh That would be a good size... I will have to see if I can order online here in the states. I love Ikea but I do not have one in my area so I can only purchase what they carry online or in the catalog...


Thank you for your suggestion and the picture... Pictures always help...

I was just in Home Depot last week and noticed that they have a knock down table for sale that is workbench type for around $70. This table can be put up in about 5 minutes so it should work very well as a work surface with a piece of plywood over top. It is sturdily built, and would not have much give.