Massage tables

My wife got an oakworks and were happy with it. Didn't try any others so I'm not sure how they are.

"Greg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Hi, I'm going to be starting massage training at MTI in Cambridge, MA in February, and am trying
to decide on a table. The school is recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names
like LifeGear and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Thanks, Greg

"Greg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... trying to decide on a table. The school is

Quoted message said:

recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names like LifeGear

and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Greg,

I've used just about every major table manufacturer's table on the market. Oakworks, Custom
Craftworks, and Earthlite all have good tables. LifeGear makes an inexpensive and solid table
package ($180) but is not meant for professional work, something their warranty makes clear. Check
if your school has a relationship with the manufacturers they recommend. If they do (most schools
do) they can get you a good deal on a package that you might not otherwise get. For instance
Oakworks has a student pricing package on their Nova LS2 table with bag, bolster, face cradle, etc.
that saves some money. Between Oakworks and Custom Craftworks/Earthlite I'd probably go with
Oakworks as a personal preference. Of course the table I use most is from Golden Ratio.

Ben Crabtree, RMT, MTI, CNMT San Antonio, Texas massagebyben.vze.commassagebyben.vze.comOpen ↗

I love my earthlite but like the other manufacturers as well - it is really a matter of personal
preference - see if your school has some tables you can try out before you buy one - but at first,
it really doesn't matter. If memory serves, the Custom Craftworks doesn't have a place to store the
face cradle when you fold the table up, so that is a drawback - it doesn't fit inside. Also - you
can get tables with wood or metal framework. I own a wood one but use a metal one from time to time
and find it very easy to deal with when changing the height of the table to work on different sized
clients - it is a very easy mechanism while the wood ones have the screws in the legs. Well - like I
said, it is really a matter of personal preference.

Best deal I found online to buy an Earthlite was at the following: e-e-Open ↗
mcity.com/earthlite_ix.htm

Good luck. -Helen

"Greg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I'm going to be starting massage training at MTI in Cambridge, MA in February, and am trying
to decide on a table. The school is recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names
like LifeGear and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Thanks, Greg

Greg <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I'm going to be starting massage training at MTI in Cambridge, MA in February, and am trying
to decide on a table. The school is recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names
like LifeGear and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Thanks, Greg

I vote Oakworks. 🙂

T

(Greg) said:

Hi, I'm going to be starting massage training at MTI in Cambridge, MA in February, and am trying to
decide on a table. The school is recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names like
LifeGear and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Thanks, Greg

I own two tables, a LifeGear that I got from Sam's Club for about $200.00, and an Oakworks Aurora
that was covered by my tuition at the massage school, but lists on their website at $349.00

LifeGear Pro: It's a good, sturdy table, rated to 500 lbs, came with a carry bag and an armrest for
the client.

Con: It's pretty heavy, *not* something I'd want to be carrying around on a regular basis. Also,
setup is a bit more complicated--there are wooden struts that have to be inserted into each leg
before the table goes up.

Oakworks: Pro: Several pounds lighter than the LifeGear, very quick setup. Good for doing
mobile massage.

Con: It doesn't have an armrest, nor a carry bag (although it fits into the LifeGear bag just fine.)
Rated to 400 lbs instead of 500.

Ultimately it may depend on how you're using the table. If you're working out of an office, then
something like the LifeGear may be a better bet. If you're doing a lot of mobile work, a lighter
table would probably make more sense.

-Chris Zakes LDP Massage Texas

Life isn't fair. Anyone who tells you different is either selling something or trying to get
your vote.

[email hidden] (Greg) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I'm going to be starting massage training at MTI in Cambridge, MA in February, and am trying
to decide on a table. The school is recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names
like LifeGear and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Thanks, Greg

greg, i dunno know anything about your school, but at my school (psmt) they have tables (oakworks)
for us to work on in the classrooms. if this also applies in your school, i would hold off a while
before investing on a table. learn a little bit about what you want to do as a massage therapist
before shelling out a few hundred dollars.

that being said, we work on oakworks nova ls tables in the classrooms. there is nothing fancy about
these tables, but they hold up very nicely under the kind of abuse (they do double duty as desks) we
give them. the school has a a deal with oakworks that if we buy the table through the school we get
a whopping 10% discount on a "package." you can do much better shopping around online. i suggest
gotyourback.com. they are local to me and are great to deal with.

personally, i own an earthlite spirit, which i love. i found it on ebay, used but in near mint
condition. it turned out to be an awesome buy, too, as it saved me nearly $400. finally, remember
that this table will be your one major investment, besides school.

good luck finding the right table, and with your schooling. if i can be of any help, don't
hesitate to ask!!

cheers!! jc

I am also a student, looking for a first table (portable). I'm in the UK, so that might affect
what's available. I'm willing to spend what it takes to get something good. I'm looking on ebay but
my one fear is that I'll buy something that squeaks. Does anyone have any experience of tables that
feel more or less stable? Anything to avoid? Wooden legs or metal?

Thanks, Jay

I use a Custom Craftworks "Athena" that I'm very happy with. I bought it used on ebay.

"What" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:nsmEb.583750$HS4.4337829@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

My wife got an oakworks and were happy with it. Didn't try any others so

I'm

Quoted message said:

not sure how they are.

"Greg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I'm going to be starting massage training at MTI in Cambridge, MA in February, and am trying
to decide on a table. The school is recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names
like LifeGear and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Thanks, Greg

Actually, the face cradle on my Custom Craftworks stores inside quite securely and easily
using velcro.

Mark

"Helen Gutfreund" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I love my earthlite but like the other manufacturers as well - it is

really

Quoted message said:

a matter of personal preference - see if your school has some tables you

can

Quoted message said:

try out before you buy one - but at first, it really doesn't matter. If memory serves, the Custom
Craftworks doesn't have a place to store the

face

Quoted message said:

cradle when you fold the table up, so that is a drawback - it doesn't fit inside. Also - you can
get tables with wood or metal framework. I own a wood one but use a metal one from time to time
and find it very easy to

deal

Quoted message said:

with when changing the height of the table to work on different sized clients - it is a very easy
mechanism while the wood ones have the screws

in

Quoted message said:

the legs. Well - like I said, it is really a matter of personal

preference.

Quoted message said:

Best deal I found online to buy an Earthlite was at the following: e-e-Open ↗
mcity.com/earthlite_ix.htm

Good luck. -Helen

"Greg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I'm going to be starting massage training at MTI in Cambridge, MA in February, and am trying
to decide on a table. The school is recommending Oakworks and Custom Craftworks, but I see names
like LifeGear and Earthlite around alot. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful hints for me.

Thanks, Greg

My husband is a machinist and we took a close look at several table
companies. We decided on a little company called Robert Hunter. I think
the web addy is his name.com. I purchased it 6 years ago and it's still
wonderful. You can get them so that they lay flat on the floor for shiatus.
Wendy
"Jay" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am also a student, looking for a first table (portable). I'm in the UK, so that might affect
what's available. I'm willing to spend what it takes to get something good. I'm looking on ebay
but my one fear is that I'll

buy

Quoted message said:

something that squeaks. Does anyone have any experience of tables that

feel

Quoted message said:

more or less stable? Anything to avoid? Wooden legs or metal?

Thanks, Jay

don't get one with ply thinner than 9mm.