Managing a restaurant is a complex dance of customer service, maintenance, inventory, conflict resolution, and a million tiny details that must be kept perfect for the restaurant to run smoothly. For many, it can seem like you are constantly on the move dealing with one little problem after another. One particular issue that never stops rearing its ugly head is the issue of wobbly tables. Any competent restaurant manager knows that a wobbly table spells doom for dining experience and customer satisfaction, after all, who wants to pay for a meal at an unstable table? And yet somehow no matter how many times you adjust the table legs, that wobble keeps coming back. The only questions are why the tables keep regaining their wobble and how can you resolve the problem once and for all?
One of the causes may lie in the four-legged table design. While this seems perfectly practical and is simple for any amateur carpenter to put together, the necessity that all four legs be both perfectly even and on even ground means that the slightest variation in either your floor or table legs will invariably cause a wobble. Many restaurant managers struggle with a venue that has an uneven floor with very little recourse to pull out the furniture and have it re-finished. This means that four-legged tables are likely not to have a completely flat floor space to rest on. Even if your tables have adjustable legs or feet, a single nudge will move the table out of position and reactivate that wobble.
Because the tables are often moved (sometimes dragged) across the floor to rearrange for larger parties, or simply because of cleaning, the bolt that holds the table base together might become loose. This will result in a slight wobble between the column and base or top plate. Because the nut is at the bottom of the cast iron bases (under the base plate) you can check to make sure the bolt is tightened down easily.
When table top screws come loose, you've got more than just a wobbly problem on your hands. You might be risking full instability. Loose screws can create an insecure connection and allow the table to move in ways it shouldn't. Whenever you find a table that wobbles, especially if it wobbles or twists horizontally, make sure to check the screws underneath that secure the table top to the base.
Even if your table is set on a sturdy table base and the bolts and screws are completely tight, you might still be dealing with a "lean" rather than a wobble. Why? Because sometimes top plates, the part that connects the table top to the base, can become bent with use and break the perfectly flat set of your table. This usually happens when you rely on stamped steel top plates which eventually bend in response to hundreds of people leaning on one side or the other; or, when the person gets up to leave - they push down with much more force than you might realize and consequently bends the top plate. An invisible problem to be sure.
So how do you make sure your tables don't start leaning or wobbling without permission again? The answer lies in solid, cast iron. First, you might want to ditch your 4-post legs in favor of the pedestal-style table base. Whether you choose a 4-pronged, 3-pronged or Round style, the pedestal base does help to eliminate the potential that someone has to straddle the post legs. While you keep the pedestal in mind, remember that the top plate should also be made of cast iron, rather than stamped steel. Because stamped steel has the potential to bend over time; the cast iron will hold up.
If your floor is unlevel, you may have other issues to resolve rather than blaming your table bases, however, with your tabletops supported by cast iron pedestal bases, they will be sturdier over the long run. No lean at the top because the top plate can't bend.
With this seemingly small worry taken care of, you can finally rest easy. JI Bases has you covered. As the table base experts for 60 years, they know a thing or two about table bases and what makes them sturdy. For any questions, or concerns, to find out more about the full table base selection, visit them at www.jibases.com today! If you'd like to receive a FREE sample 22"x22" 4-pronged industry standard model, click here.