Glen Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 We are a Pre-School based in a village hall. We have to set up every day, which means getting tables out of cupboard. Does anyone have, or know where you can buy suitable trolleys to put them on to save a bit of carrying morning and night. I know they have such things in school, but they are quite big. I really need a smaller size to suit our tables. Thanks in advance Glen
Inge Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 would really depend on the type of tables but try gopack although they are for folding tables. (when we bought new tables we bought round ones easy to roll around the hall and move in and out of the cupboard!!) Inge
Guest Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 The ones schools have are very expensive. The only thing I can suggest is a handy person to make one. B&Q sell the caster wheels which are quite heavy duty, just attach to a strong board the same size as the tables, use strong rope as a pulley, leather belts or octopus hooks to secure. ( octopus hooks, I think that is what they are called can be dangerous though, they are elastic and can ping into the face) Good luck. Peggy
Guest Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 We use shared premises (church hall) too and I am sick of lugging furniture, equipment etc. Its been 10 years now!!! Just an idea - have you got a handy Andy amongst your parents? You can buy big trolley type wheels in the DIY store and someone might be able to cut some marine ply or wood or whatever (handy I am not) to the right size and shape. I remember the ones at school were actually metal frames with the wheels underneath and then there was a little trough bit which held the bottom of the table legs snuggly so they couldn't slip. The church just bought some Gopak table trolleys which were delivered last week. No one's assembled them yet tho so I can't comment on whether they would fit the bill, but I do know they weren't cheap. Good luck!
Glen Posted January 17, 2006 Author Posted January 17, 2006 Thanks for all your replies. I am not sure anyone actually makes what I want. Go pack trolleys and tables look good. Perhaps that is something to aim for in the future. Anyway am still open to ideas if anyone has any more. Glen
Gezabel Posted January 17, 2006 Posted January 17, 2006 (edited) I highly recommend the gopack tables - it's the only sort we have in pre-school. They seemingly withstand anything, they are folding tables but are put up and taken down with ease. I am surprised that they just don't seem to wear at all ! We put them and up and take them down with great regularity, up when needed and extra space to play when they are not! I admit they are pricey but I think they are worth every penny. Some of the ones we have are 15 years old, they have been painted, glittered, glued, yogurted on you name it and it has been done and yet they still look great! Edited January 17, 2006 by Geraldine
Inge Posted January 17, 2006 Posted January 17, 2006 we recently bought gopack.....if you do- buy direct - it was a lot cheaper than the same ones in any resource catalogue, you can specify height colour and size and they are made for you, discounts for larger orders and if it is wrong (they sent one the wrong height to us!!) the service and exchange of the legs were completed in a week. They are easy to clean,light, sturdy and easy to move as geraldine says and the round ones easier still just roll them around ....staff are very happy no more lifting. If you buy the rectangle ones we highly recommend also buying the tool to collapse the legs , makes it much easier. The round ones have a differnt mechanism for folding the legs. Inge
Glen Posted January 18, 2006 Author Posted January 18, 2006 I think Gopack is the way to go. Can you tell me please, do the children tend to slide and move them around as they are lighter than normal tables. This could be a problem on wooden village hall floor. The idea of not carrying tables around morning and night is becoming very appealing. I must be getting old!! Thanks Glen
Inge Posted January 18, 2006 Posted January 18, 2006 No the tables do not slide or move at all , I think they have rubber feet on them, cannot remember unless I look!! We have very old floor tiles on the hall floor and other items can slip occasionally, but they have proved very stable. I also thought they may tip when they leant on them , particularly the round ones but they dont. just took a lot of fundraising to get them !! but well worth the effort, no more lifting heavy tables is a real treat. Inge
hali Posted January 18, 2006 Posted January 18, 2006 im sick of getting all stuff in and out each day too, only been back 1 1/2 weeks........
bubblejack Posted January 18, 2006 Posted January 18, 2006 Glen I purchased some large wire trolleys from SBS to wheel stuff in and out. They held 3 gopak tables, car mats, easil. not as strong as Gopak but a lot cheaper and suitable if not overloaded. Cost was about £30.
Glen Posted January 18, 2006 Author Posted January 18, 2006 Thanks for all your replies. I will look at trolleys in SBS. I have worked at Pre-School for 12 years and have always accepted the lifting and carrying. Now that we are all far more risk aware, I think we have to look at what we do and if it is acceptable. I am sure we are all the same, struggling to store everything, lifting tables and manuervoring through doors, etc. Apart from that think of all the time we would save. We have 16 tables to get out of the cupboard before we start anything, and it is only possible to lift one at a time. I will be able to have a lie in in the morning (ha ha I wish). Going to a committee meeting tomorrow evening, armed with details of gopack tables. Glen
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