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Electric Lift Tables

I'm finally ready to splurge and purchase a lift table, but I'm having trouble comparing available models.

Does anyone have any comments or recommendations regarding their lift table. This is a pretty big expense and I want to be sure I'm getting the best table for my investment. Model, size, lift capacity, warranty... its all a little confusing.

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Permalink Reply by Kay Warren on March 18, 2011 at 10:00pm

Hi, I've worked with all 3 major brands of lift tables, so here goes...

Touch America (used to be Golden Ratio) I currently own Touch America's pedestal lift. Thanks to inherent difficulties with pedestal lifts, it doesn't go down as far as I'd like, I've got a couple of really big clients. Thanks to it being perched on one point, it can feel a little wiggly to the client during vigorous work. Moving it without a second person is a class A pain in the ass. I chose them because their padding, and quality of upholstery is the best I've found. I've never been on a table so well padded, not just cushy, but supportive. You don't "bottom out" on this table. After Katrina in '05 a lot of companies changed their padding, and not for the better. The motor is great, I've never had an issue.

I've worked on Earthlite, and the reliability was good, but it's a single bar scissor lift. You can tilt it easily onto the 2 wheels to move it around, and it gets quite low to the ground. The upholstery doesn't sag over time, but their padding needs to be better.

I've used Oakworks too. The double bar scissor lift makes it exceptionally stable. Excellent motor reliability, and it will go VERY low. Wheels make it easy to move. Padding is decent. Upholstery quality needs to improve, it gets loose over the padding and sags after a couple of years. Perhaps they've improved it, not sure.

What I am sure of is that Oakworks will now sell you the scissor lift base separately. WOO HOO! Now, if you can get Touch America to sell you their top separately, and you can mount it up, you'll have the best thing out there. If I were replacing my table today, it's what I'd try my best to do. Barring that, I'd get the Oakworks, and I'd opt for a tilt-up back. I don't need the full "tilt everything" salon options. As much as I LOVE my Touch America table, the pedestal lift is just too damned high for some of my older clients. On the Oakworks, the stability of the double bar scissor lift is important for the heavier work, and it's still easy to move. The padding is acceptable, but not great, and I'd say the same for the upholstery. padding and upholstery can be changed later on, but stability and a rock solid motor are priceless.

That's my 2 cents worth, I hope it helps.

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Permalink Reply by Kris Moris on March 20, 2011 at 5:17pm

Thanks so much! I'll take all this into consideration. Thanks again for taking the time to share information.

Kay Warren said:

Hi, I've worked with all 3 major brands of lift tables, so here goes...

Touch America (used to be Golden Ratio) I currently own Touch America's pedestal lift. Thanks to inherent difficulties with pedestal lifts, it doesn't go down as far as I'd like, I've got a couple of really big clients. Thanks to it being perched on one point, it can feel a little wiggly to the client during vigorous work. Moving it without a second person is a class A pain in the ass. I chose them because their padding, and quality of upholstery is the best I've found. I've never been on a table so well padded, not just cushy, but supportive. You don't "bottom out" on this table. After Katrina in '05 a lot of companies changed their padding, and not for the better. The motor is great, I've never had an issue.

I've worked on Earthlite, and the reliability was good, but it's a single bar scissor lift. You can tilt it easily onto the 2 wheels to move it around, and it gets quite low to the ground. The upholstery doesn't sag over time, but their padding needs to be better.

I've used Oakworks too. The double bar scissor lift makes it exceptionally stable. Excellent motor reliability, and it will go VERY low. Wheels make it easy to move. Padding is decent. Upholstery quality needs to improve, it gets loose over the padding and sags after a couple of years. Perhaps they've improved it, not sure.

What I am sure of is that Oakworks will now sell you the scissor lift base separately. WOO HOO! Now, if you can get Touch America to sell you their top separately, and you can mount it up, you'll have the best thing out there. If I were replacing my table today, it's what I'd try my best to do. Barring that, I'd get the Oakworks, and I'd opt for a tilt-up back. I don't need the full "tilt everything" salon options. As much as I LOVE my Touch America table, the pedestal lift is just too damned high for some of my older clients. On the Oakworks, the stability of the double bar scissor lift is important for the heavier work, and it's still easy to move. The padding is acceptable, but not great, and I'd say the same for the upholstery. padding and upholstery can be changed later on, but stability and a rock solid motor are priceless.

That's my 2 cents worth, I hope it helps.