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Reprinted by permission from PET AGE 12/06
Choosing a Grooming Table
Quality grooming tables boast an almost-dizzying
array of features designed to accommodate the work styles and preferences of
almost any stylist. Here are some tips to help you choose a model to suit
your individual needs. By Daryl Conner
My first grooming table was a handmade affair,
hip-high and solid-fronted, with ribbed matting stapled to the top. It was
big enough to give dogs travel room, so I spent a lot of time chasing them
up and down the length of that sucker. Consequently, I was pretty excited
when I got my first “real” folding grooming table. Years later, my joy was
boundless when I experienced a hydraulic table. It let me work with the dogs
pretty high, and it let me spin the pets to my heart’s content. Nowadays my
aging back and I are in love with a new electric table.
In the grooming business, we have a fairly limited
selection of places to put pets while we’re working:
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Homemade tables of various shapes and sizes.
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Folding, portable tables designed specifically for grooming.
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Hydraulic tables.
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Electric tables.
Given these basic categories, your choice might seem
simple. But this piece of equipment represents a fairly sizeable investment,
so you want to educate yourself to avoid making costly mistakes.
Stationary tables, manufactured or handcrafted, can
provide good, sturdy work surfaces. The drawback is that they do not move up
and down. And once you’ve worked on a table that lowers or raises pets, a
stationary table will seem like a poor substitute.
Hydraulic or electric tables make daily life easier in
many ways. Lower them so heavy pets can step or jump onto the work
surface—and you don’t have to do any heavy lifting. Raise them to just the
right height so you can work on different parts of the dog without turning
into a contortionist. For instance, if you are clipping feet, you can raise
the table very high so you don’t have to bend and twist to get to those
toes. If you are scissoring the top line, you can lower the table so you can
reach the animal’s back without standing on tiptoe.
Does the Table Suit Your Needs?
When considering different models, ask yourself these
important questions:
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What is the table’s maximum height? Taller stylists appreciate
all the height they can get. Then again, some shorter people like me just
like to work with the pet up high.
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What is the table’s minimum height? Some tables can be lowered
to within 6 inches of the floor, allowing any dog to step up so you don’t
have to do any lifting.
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What is the shape of the base? Round bases have a smaller
footprint, but are less stable than H-shaped bases. Z-shaped frames are the
most stable.
·
What is the table’s weight limit? In general, the heavier the
load rating, the sturdier the table.
·
Does the table come with casters? Some stylists like to roll
large dogs right to the tub. If this seems like a good plan to you, make
sure the table you are considering has this feature.
·
What are the dimensions of the tabletop? Perhaps you prefer a
smaller top to minimize canine movement—or a large top to accommodate the
largest dogs.
·
What is the shape of the tabletop? An oval might work better
than a rectangle in your setup. Or vice versa.
·
Does the tabletop rotate? Most electric tables do not have
rotating tops, which some groomers find to be a drawback.
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What is the tabletop made of? Look for high-grade wood (not
particleboard) or steel for strength and durability.
·
Does the table have an illuminated top? Some tables
incorporate lights right into the top to illuminate the dog’s underside.
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What material is used to cover the tabletop? There are new and
better options than ribbed rubber.
·
Will the table accommodate a standard grooming arm? Some
tables have very thick tops that will not work with standard arms.
·
Does the table come with an arm? Do not assume it will. Ask
about all accessories.
·
Is the arm moveable? Some arms are on clamps that can be
moved, and some rotate around a portion of the table.
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Can a LIPS System from Hanvey Specialty Engineering L.L.C.
(Pickens, S.C.) or a Groomers Helper from Groomers Helper (Margate, N.J.) be
adapted to the table? If you use either piece of equipment, make sure it
will work on the table.
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What storage options are offered? Some stylists prefer tables
that incorporate a drawer and/or hooks for clippers.
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Where are the controls? Some are located on one side, others
on both sides. If you groom from both sides of the table, this is an
important consideration.
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What color options are available for the top and/or the base?
It’s nice to have a choice other than black.
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Is assembly required? If so, how much? Consider whether you
can do it yourself or will need to beg, borrow or hire help.
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What is the warranty? Consider what parts of the table are
covered, and for how long.
Hydraulic Versus Electric
Hydraulic tables are human-powered: The stylist operates
a foot lever to raise the table, and depresses the lever to lower the table.
The first hydraulic grooming table was developed by
Petlift Equipment Corp. (Sarasota, Fla.), according to Steve Apatow,
president of the company. “We were in the beauty industry. We took a
hydraulic chair base and put a tabletop on it. It was so successful that we
still make this same model today,” Apatow added.
Hydraulic tables tend to be more affordable than tables
powered by electricity. When I bought my first hydraulic table, I asked lots
of questions. I learned that the actual hydraulic pump varies little from
table to table, but the other options can make a big difference.
I bought a unit with a round base, a rectangular top and
a centrally placed hydraulic pump. Due to space limitations in my mobile
van, I placed the table against the wall and bolted the base firmly to the
floor. Even then, a large, nervous dog could shake enough to make the top
rock alarmingly. The problem: The top was supported at a single point, the
center shaft. Another issue: Because the pump took up space, the table had
limited downward travel.
Newer designs feature Z-shaped or scissor-shaped bases,
which offer greater stability. They also allow the table to fold very
low—some as low as 6 inches from the floor.
However, because hydraulic tables are not tethered to a
power source, they can be moved if they are outfitted with casters. “Our
Elevator model is both a groom table and a transporter table. It comes with
4-inch casters. A groomer can have the dog step onto the table, and then
roll the dog right to the tub. This virtually prevents any bending and
lifting by the groomer,” said Lorraine Hanvey, chief executive officer of
Hanvey Specialty Engineering.
Electric tables are powered by—you guessed
it—electricity. A touch of a button offers smooth and effortless movement.
“Electric systems are more expensive than foot-pump hydraulic tables, but
many groomers say the cost is offset by the convenience,” said Jeanne Caples,
director of operations for Forever Stainless Steel (Omaha, Neb.).
The smooth movement is popular with stylists and pets
alike. Most dogs are happy to hop right up onto my electric table—I think
they even enjoy the ride!
Of course, manufacturers are constantly improving the
products they offer. For example, Wahl Clipper Corp. (Sterling, Ill.)
unveiled a new table in September at GroomExpo. Unlike any other table on
the market, the Grooming Center features pegboard storage, storage trays, a
hair collection system, built-in electrical outlets and even a small seat
for people who like to perch on the side of the table to groom.
Whichever model and style works best for your grooming
needs and budget, a quality table is worth the investment. A good table will
help prevent back strain and keep you grooming more safely and comfortably
for years to come.
“I have a hydraulic table, and my chiropractor and I are
both in love with it!” said Kim Scea, owner of Riverview Pet Grooming
(Trenton, Ontario). pa
Daryl Conner is certified by the International Society of
Canine Cosmetologists as a Dermatech Petcare Specialist and as a Master Pet
Stylist Meritus. The recipient of Cardinal Laboratories’ Crystal Award for
Outstanding Grooming Journalist of 2005, she has loved styling cats and dogs
for more than 20 years and is happily employed at Yankee Clipper Pet
Grooming in Rockport, Maine.
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