Oakworks

[lippylou]

In an effort to make it easier to decide which chair to purchase, seperate threads are being started for each brand of chair.

Please make objective comments concerning only OAKWORKS massage chairs in this thread.

Thanks!

 

[rorpino]

I could not find a page at http://www.oakworks.net that describes their Portal Pro chair, but here is a picture of it:
http://www.oakworks.net/images/package_portal_pro.jpg

This chair is super comfortable, and is the quickest set-up of the chairs that I have encountered.

The only thing that I didn't like is the strap that holds the arm rest, which you cannot see in the picture. I'm used to giving a hand and arm sequence as part of the massage and it is in the way.

 

[johnny fettcakes]

I have a Portal Pro. I have had it for about 7 years and it works well for me and my routine.

It is lightweight enough that I can carry it and all my other bags at the same time - bonus for me - I don't like making seperate trips.

It is starting to creak a bit - I have to find out why. Nothing major, just annoying.

It is comfortable to work with (I am 5'4") and easy to adjust for the clients.

 

[MzTique]

i had a portal pro II. i really thought it was a great chair.

i've moved out of the chair business and sold mine, but i'd buy one again if i needed one.

 

[Tiocfaidh ar la mo chara]

PortalPro 3

I have a PortalPro 3 and like it a lot. It's the most solid feeling chair I've tried, and that includes most of the common chairs. I agree that having a nylon strap to adjust the armrest isn't really in keeping with the quality of the chair, but it works well.
There's two things I would change. First, the wheels on the back legs shouldn't stick out so much. More than once I've kicked them while moving to the other side. Second, it would be great to have removable knee rests for people with knee and leg flexion issues, which is not uncommon. Overall I'm very pleased, though, and would buy one again.

 

[theoneandonlycharlotte]

I've had my PortalPro II for about six years, and I still would buy another. It's so much more stable and easy to set up and transport than the others I've tried. I love that I can use a simple carbiner clip to attach a small pack with my iPod speakers, facecradle covers, etc. to the chair frame itself and then zip the whole thing neatly into it's carry case and wheel everything with no effort instead of lugging it over my shoulder.

It fits neatly into the trunk of both sedans and my SUV...it even fit in the passenger seat of my 2-seater. The Earthlite folds small, but it is a thick, wide package and didn't roll around.

The nylon armrest strap never bothered me, but that the attachment hardware underneath the armrest was made of plastic did...no matter how you try to prevent it, some powerful, big guys WILL push down on the armrest, and one day it finally broke. I just looped the strap under the arm bar and rethreaded it up into the adjustment clip to use the chair until Oakworks to sent me (free) the new metal part that is now used.

I've replaced the wheels and patched a very small cut in the UltraTouch vinyl and that's the only other maintainence this hard-working chair has needed. Clients always coment on how much more comfortable it is than other chairs they've tried. Note that I did replace the standard foam inside the face cradle with CORE foam, a Tempurpedic-type product, and that instead of the standard flat pad I use the wedge-shaped sternum pad vertically; with pregnant or overweight clients I turn it horizontally.

For those clients with knee issues, I just have them sit on it as if it were a chair, with legs forward instead folded under them, and bring the face cradle up to allow a comfortable more upright position.

The wheel placement did bother me a bit in the first months of use but my feet quickly learned where to step without the need to look down.

 

[Shyblue]

I've replaced the wheels and patched a very small cut in the UltraTouch vinyl and that's the only other maintainence this hard-working chair has needed. Clients always coment on how much more comfortable it is than other chairs they've tried. Note that I did replace the standard foam inside the face cradle with CORE foam, a Tempurpedic-type product, and that instead of the standard flat pad I use the wedge-shaped sternum pad vertically; with pregnant or overweight clients I turn it horizontally.

May I ask how you replaced the foam inside the face cradle? Did you do this yourself?

I have owned a Portal Pro III for 1 year; it was gently used when I purchased it. It is so portable and easy to manage. It has been a great addition to my practice. Now I just need to get some chair massage gigs. :?

 

[happygolucky]

Oh my, replacing the foam was easy. Unzip and gently pull out the old foam. Unzip the new foam from the fuzzy shell and squish it down firmly, then put first one 'leg' and then the other into the cradle. It goes in best when compressed. You may need to work it a bit to get it to lie smooth. Work it all in, then zip it up. I used the empty fuzzy for the CORE to zip over top of the vinyl Oakworks cover, and there you are! t023

 

[juls4pj]

I have 4 types of massage chair and the oakwork and stronglite are by far the superior chairs. I perfer the oakwork and 9 of the 11 therapist who are on my team perfer the oakwork.


Maria, RMT
Massage in Motion
http://www.massageinmotion.ca

 

[korgrue]

I really like the Oakworks Portal Pro. It's been a very rugged chair, and adjusts for different-sized clients very easily and quickly. I strongly recommend them.

 

[teena]

LOVE IT!!!!! I learned on these in school...bought an Earthlite TravelPro after I finished... the Oakworks is a MUCH better table. Easier to carry, easier to adjust, more comfortable to sit in, and sturdier/more stable overall.

 

[Smoked Ham]

i was at a chair massage CEU yesterday brushing up on a topic that wasn't well-covered in the school i attended. the instructor had two portal pro 3's and one of the participants brought in their avila II that they've had since around 2004 (i've posted about it in the applicable thread).

i regret that i didn't remember to take the opportunity to adjust the base length to accomodate my not-quite 5'4" stature while working on it as i found slight difficulty maintaining proper body mechanics while trying to use compression strokes at the medial shoulders, etc. we had an issue with face cradle not lowering vertically far enough, but the other participant i was working with and i had forgotten we could raise the seat. same situation of when i was receiving on the portal 3, had forgetten to try raising the seat and the underneath of my chin was making contact with the top of the chest/sternum cushion. i also would prefer having a quick-release mechanism for the arm support (like many massage chairs) rather than the nylon strap, but the quickness/ease of adjusting it was impressive when done by the instructor (who owned the chairs for 6m-1yr).

i like the ability to adjust for therapist height. i like the stable sturdiness of it. it was easy to fold and unfold, easy to carry without case and rolls nicely (another feature i like). i also like the adjustment of the face cradle, static height, a quick-release pivot adjustment at the top of the static portion, and another quick-release pivot adjustment at the base of the face cradle. it aided somewhat in the above-quest for adjustment with forgetting to raise the seat.

the instructor had been to the oakworks facility a couple years ago and was extremely impressed with the thrashing they gave their products when testing them for use, durability, and strength. they're truly working to put out an excellent product. the instructor also stated that the curvature of the portal 3 allows for more even weight distribution.

i wish i could fiddle with it further so that i can try out the feel of it if i had it fully adjusted to work for ME. i'm not driving for five hours round-trip to accomplish that though....:

 

[moo goo gai pan]

i regret that i didn't remember to take the opportunity to adjust the base length to accomodate my not-quite 5'4" stature while working on it as i found slight difficulty maintaining proper body mechanics while trying to use compression strokes at the medial shoulders:

I am even shorter than this at 5 feet tall. Having read this I am now concerned about getting an Oakworks chair. We have nowhere near me that sells them and so I would have no opportunity to try out before ordering mail order

 

[Jazeera]

Oakworks - Portal Light massage chair

I've had my heart set on an Oakworks Portal Pro chair for a few years. I looked at the Oakworks website recently and saw they have a new chair - Portal Light - it weighs 15 Ibs and the package cost is $299. Apart from what Oakworks say about the chair I cannont find any user reviews. Not sure if the height of the chair can be adjusted like for the Portal Pro.

Do any of you have this new lighter chair and what are your thoughts about it?