Advice for covering cutting table

[rnye14]

Need to recover the top of my cutting table...anyone have a suggestion on what to use?  Painted it before, but after time it cracks and peels.  What holds up the best, carpet, tile, etc.?  Table is 14' x 5'

Thanks before hand for any suggestions.

[otlass]

I staple masonite on the top and replace it if it gets bad after a while. It is cheap, smooth for cutting with the foam saw and easy to clean.

[bobbin]

My tables are made of the particle board that comes with a white "formica" laminated to it (brain cramp, can't recall the correct name).  I also have homosote toppers that I can put on and take off when I want to swap over for drapery work (requires a lot of pressing, and steam will bubble the "formica" finish without protection).  Over that I have custom fitted pads and a canvas topper that snaps into place to create a giant "ironing board".  I made them myself.

I do a variety of work; and Roman, London, and Austrian shades are part of it.  I have to have a surface that allows me to press the goods (so steam, heat, and humidity are part of the deal) and also pin things out to get a precise and "square" shape.  The homosote pcs. protect against steam degradation and allow for easy pinning.  Sure, it's work to "change over", but I build that into the quoted price for the work involved.  My canvas covers have been washed several times and still fit beautifully.  In drapery work, cleanliness is important!

[MinUph]

Thats Melamine, bobbin

[bobbin]

Uhh, yeah... the stuff!  thanks, Min..

[Darren Henry]

I don't use knives or heat on my cutting tables (unless I lay something down for that purpose)n , so I just staple some remnant herculite or clear out vinyl on and have at it. When they start to get grungy I recover. 

[chrisberry12]

I use linoleum, just go get piece at home store for $40 and staple to the sides, works great, easy to keep clean, can stick pins in and does not get dusty like the Masonite does, I used to do that too till I was introduced to the linoleum idea by a good friend. When I iron skirts I lay duck down and iron on that

Chris B

[otlass]

I got confused here, I meant Formica not Masonite.

[gene]

I use linoleum,

Reminded me of this old joke:

In the deep South of the good ol' US of A, the very deep South, a woman goes into the pharmacy and tells the pharmacist that she needs some feminine napkins. The pharmacist asks, "How's your flow?" The woman says, "Linoleum."

gene

[sofadoc]

I made mine out of particle board topped with Peel & Stick linoleum floor tiles. This table is 25 years old.

[kodydog]

I don't use knives or heat on my cutting tables (unless I lay something down for that purpose)n , so I just staple some remnant herculite or clear out vinyl on and have at it. When they start to get grungy I recover. 

I do similar to Darren. I use vinyl fabric face side down. I'm careful not to use spray glue near my cutting table and replace about every 3 years.

[Darren Henry]

Back in Kenora I had a designated glue table. It was 3X8 with an 8" backsplash and I laid pieces of cardboard down on it.

I like to use the vinyl face up so I can tell the delivery guy to---" put it on the red table" or "use the blue saw horses".

[Mike]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-Melamine-White-Panel-Common-3-4-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Actual-750-in-x-49-in-x-97-in-461877/100070209

my cutting table is my sewing table so has to be slippery for the canvas to slide smoothlyoi tryied a different boat=rd and it was to sticky   non slippery