Blog posts tagged with 'product testing'

When exhibiting at the Quebexpo in March we had the chance to experience a new way to test the quality of bistro chairs. From our previous post on how strong bistro chairs are, we know that they're pretty tough chairs – our strongest we've tested to date in fact. But just because they're capable of holding a lot of weight doesn’t necessarily mean the backs won't break if customers lean back on them (and let's be honest – a lot of people lean back on chairs). One of the Quebexpo attendees showed us a great way of telling if the chair backs on a bistro chair are strong yet flexible enough to deal with a customer’s weight and adjustments as they eat or attend an event. He asked if he could see one of our NES Reliable Bistro Chairs and proceeded to do what Jonathan does in the video:

We found out after from the attendee that in cases where the plastic is too brittle (i.e. doesn’t allow flexibility for the chair to move and bend with a customer) if you attempt to bend the chair back backwards it snaps clean in two – signalling a poor quality bistro chair that won’t hold up to the rigors of the rental world.

There are many different kinds of plastic folding chairs on the market today. Understanding the quality of the product, especially as a rental operator, will help you ensure the investment you’ve made will stand up to the wear and tear associated with rental products. We learned of a test to tell whether the plastic folding chair was susceptible to breakage years ago but never thought to film it until recently.

If you have a plastic folding chair that is made of recycled plastic of any kind, you can tell by the give of the plastic. If your plastic folding chairs do not have recycled plastic in them, you should be able to attempt to bend the chair back and notice that there’s a give associated with this move. If your plastic folding chairs do have recycled plastic in them you shouldn’t be able to notice any give at all. This might seem as though a plastic folding chair made of recycled plastic is a better quality chair – but in the rental industry that’s not the case.

Unfortunately there’s a number of clients or even staff that may be less cautious in how they handle your products. A stiffer plastic with less give means it’s more prone to breakage. If they fall over upon delivery or two get hit together during setup, the plastic with more give will be more forgiving to a potential blow.

Enter the Hammer Test.

If you’re unsure whether a plastic folding chair contains recycled plastic I’d suggest asking for a sample – and then do this to it:

Here’s what one of our plastic folding chairs will do (note that we do not have recycled plastic in our chairs):

Pretty cool huh?

Replacing missing or broken folding chair feet is relatively standard for most special event rental businesses. With thousands of plastic folding chairs in their inventory, they are bound to have a few chairs that need new feet. Chair glides are often lost due to the plastic folding chairs being set up on soft ground. The chair sinks slightly with the weight someone sitting on it and when it is pulled up to be put away, one of the feet gets left behind in the ground. Other party rental companies may also decide to replace them after years of wear and tear.

Whatever your reason, here are two easy steps to replacing your missing or broken folding chair feet with replacement chair glides.

Tools and Supplies:

• Adjustable Pliers
• Rubber Mallet
• Colour Correct Chair Feet
• (Optional) Cloth Rag

Step 1:

Properly fitting chair feet should be snug making them difficult to remove. To assist you in the removal process we recommend using adjustable pliers to assist you with the job. If you plan on reusing the feet, wrap them in a cloth rag to help prevent damage in the removal process. (If chair feet are already missing move to step 2).

Picture of Folding Chair Foot removed

Step 2:

Hold the chair foot in position and carefully tap onto chair using a rubber mallet. (Watch out for your fingers!)

End result:

A new and installed replacement chair glide

Over the three and a half years we’ve been publishing this blog, we’ve been subscribing to the belief that our customers and potential customers deserve to have the knowledge needed in order to make informed decisions. This means being transparent and answering the questions asked of us by our clients. Because of that, we’ve been consistently answering common questions related to our products such as how much does a plastic folding table cost, how strong is a wood folding table, and what’s the difference between a plastic folding table vs a wood folding table. Below rounds up in an easy to reference list the definitive party rental guide to folding tables.

Folding Tables 101:

• The 8 most important questions to ask before buying plastic folding tables
• 5 problems with wood folding tables
• 5 problems with plastic folding tables
• Banquet Table Seating Capacities
• The Advantages of Plastic Folding Tables
• How Far Apart Should Round Folding Tables be Setup?

Folding Table Cost:

• How much do folding tables cost in Canada?
• How much do wood folding tables cost?

Folding Table Weight Capacity:

• How much weight can a 60” round plastic folding table hold?
• How much weight can a Lifetime 6ft Commercial Plastic Folding Table hold?
• How strong are your 6ft rectangular plastic folding tables?
• How strong are 8ft rectangular wood folding tables?
• How strong are 8ft plastic folding tables?
• How strong are Tall Plastic Folding Cocktail Tables?
• How strong are Plastic Card Tables?

Folding Table Durability / Quality:

• The Durability of a Plastic Banquet Table – Exposed 357 Days to the Canadian Elements
• What are Wood Folding Tables Made Of?
• Not All Wood Folding Tables are the Same

Folding Table Maintenance & Storage:

• What to do when the top layer of a wood table is cracked and peeling
• How to Store Round Folding Tables
• How to Store Rectangle Folding Tables
• How to Clean Plastic Folding Tables
• How to Assemble a Cruiser Table Cart
• How Many Cruiser Tables Fit in a Cruiser Table Cart

Folding Table Reviews:

• McCourt Manufacturing vs. Palmer Snyder Banquet Tables
• Cocktail Tables vs. Cruiser Tables
• Wood Folding Tables vs. Plastic Folding Tables

Did we miss any burning questions you may have? Don’t be shy – we don’t bite! Tweet us at @NatlEventSupply, Like our page on Facebook and comment on our wall or send us an email at sales (at) nationaleventsupply.com with your question!

2014 has been an exciting year for the National Event Supply Blog. We announced 5 new products and 3 new product lines including the 4.75" straight sloped bowl, 13.125" flat pizza plate, 11.125" square plate, propane patio heaters, a new folding chair dolly that seamlessly transfers from grass to pavement, a new line of wholesale tablecloths and crystal stemware. We were awarded Canadian Rental Association Ontario Division’s Supplier of the year. We invested in expanding our market as a restaurant supply in Toronto. We introduced a brand new site design and enhanced functionality including the ability to buy products online. We launched the NES Reliable Rhino Plastic Banquet Table collection – a proprietary folding table line manufactured to compete with MityLite ABS Plastic Tables at a 50% lower cost. We provided comprehensive coverage of the Rental Show 2014, the world's largest party rental, equipment rental and tool rental conference.

Over the course of the year thus far, more than twenty-five hundred readers visited our site. So what were the most popular posts of the first half of 2014?

10. How Strong are 60inch Round Plastic Folding Tables?

9. What to Expect at The Rental Show

8. It's Radiant Orchid! #2014ColorOfTheYear

7. Resin Chiavari Chairs vs. Wood Chiavari Chairs

6. How Much Weight Can Plastic Folding Tables Hold?

5. Where to Buy Wedding Linens Direct in Canada

4. How Much Weight Can a White Resin Folding Chair Hold?

3. How Much do Wedding Folding Chairs Cost in Canada?

2. How Much Do Chiavari Chairs Cost to Buy?

1. The Best Restaurant Supplies Store in Toronto

Did your favorite posts from the past 6 months make this list? If not, share them in the comments below -- and on social media!