General merchandise catalogs: They have a way of showing up in our mailboxes every day, often unsolicited. They offer everything from coffee pots to car tires. It is fun to leaf through these catalogs; often there are many unusual items that just can't be found elsewhere, especially in stores.
Lockers are one of those items that you can't just pick up at your local discount department store or even at hardware superstores such as Lowes or Home Depot. However, lockers are often included in general merchandise catalogs, making it easy for the average Joe to place his order for lockers.
But are catalog houses the best place to go to buy lockers? The advantages are convenience and price. But for the ease of ordering and low price, are you getting what you expect and what you need?
Catalog houses sell prepackaged lockers in a few sizes and a couple of colors at a low cost. This is certainly convenient, but it is a one-size-fits-all approach. Your needs, however, may require some tailoring. For example, do you need a locker base? Do you need sloped tops? What about finished ends, filler panels, locks? And, who is going to assemble and install these lockers when they show up on your loading dock? Who do you call if you run into problems putting your lockers together, or if you are missing parts?
And the $64,000.00 question: When you call the catalog house for specific information about their locker offerings, will you be able to speak with someone who is knowledgeable about lockers, someone who can ask important questions about your specific installation and offer you the components that you will need to make your installation "work" for you?
The answer to the big money question is likely "no." And that means that you can really use expert help. A locker expert can save you from a lot of pitfalls, hassles, and inconvenience, and in the process save you money and give you what you want and expect in a new locker installation.
Keur Locker Services has 30 years in the locker industry, furnishing new lockers and locker repair parts to schools, businesses, and institutions of all kinds. Keur can furnish everything you need in lockers from the prepackaged, quick-ship type, to repair parts for your existing lockers, to entirely new, custom-designed and engineered locker rooms. When you are not sure where to turn for your locker needs, contact Keur Lockers Services and let us put our experience and expertise to work for you.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Friday, September 07, 2007
Purchasing New Lockers: Are All Locker Companies Created Equal?
Purchasing new lockers means making important decisions involving a lot of money. You want to get it right, not only because of the expense, but also because it may be another 30 - 50 years or more before you pass this way again--yes, we are still furnishing replacement parts for lockers installed in the 1930's and 40's!
There are several paths to purchasing new lockers. Let's list some of them here and save a discussion of the pros and cons of each for a later time:
1. Purchasing from a general merchandise catalog house;
2. Purchasing from a material handling company, either by phone or through their catalog;
3. Purchasing from a company specializing in lockers;
4. Purchasing over the internet.
For larger projects involving new construction or extensive remodeling, lockers are often purchased through a general contractor as part of a complete building package. There are pluses and minuses to lumping your new lockers into a general construction contract, and we will take a look at that method of locker purchase as well.
In the meantime, if we can help with any of your new locker or locker parts needs, click on any of the links on the link menu to the left.
There are several paths to purchasing new lockers. Let's list some of them here and save a discussion of the pros and cons of each for a later time:
1. Purchasing from a general merchandise catalog house;
2. Purchasing from a material handling company, either by phone or through their catalog;
3. Purchasing from a company specializing in lockers;
4. Purchasing over the internet.
For larger projects involving new construction or extensive remodeling, lockers are often purchased through a general contractor as part of a complete building package. There are pluses and minuses to lumping your new lockers into a general construction contract, and we will take a look at that method of locker purchase as well.
In the meantime, if we can help with any of your new locker or locker parts needs, click on any of the links on the link menu to the left.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Handles - Recessed Or Projecting!
Locker handles come in two general types: recessed and projecting. Recessed handles are a fairly new phenomenon, having been introduced by most locker manufacturers in the early 1980's. Recessed handles provide a clean, modern appearance. They also provide for a "flush" front on lockers, which eliminates the potential hazard of projecting handles in places like crowded corridors. Also, recessed handles are easier for elementary age children and ADA students to operate. For these reasons, recessed handles have been extremely popular for school corridor lockers.
Projecting handles, however, tend to be more rugged and durable than recessed handles. For this reason, they are often referred to as "kick-proof" handles--although, as most school officials will attest, there is no such thing as a "KID-proof" product. Projecting handles generally require less maintenance than recessed handles. They do not have as many parts as recessed handles, and they do not collect dirt and grime to the degree that recessed handles do. They are also easier to clean. For these reasons, projecting handles are often found on lockers for industrial and employee use where they will provide many years of maintenance-free use.
For a new locker purchase, which is the best choice in locker handles? Choose recessed handles with confidence for school corridors. For school locker rooms, perhaps a better choice would be projecting handles. The preferred handle for industrial and employee lockers is the projecting handle.
Projecting handles, however, tend to be more rugged and durable than recessed handles. For this reason, they are often referred to as "kick-proof" handles--although, as most school officials will attest, there is no such thing as a "KID-proof" product. Projecting handles generally require less maintenance than recessed handles. They do not have as many parts as recessed handles, and they do not collect dirt and grime to the degree that recessed handles do. They are also easier to clean. For these reasons, projecting handles are often found on lockers for industrial and employee use where they will provide many years of maintenance-free use.
For a new locker purchase, which is the best choice in locker handles? Choose recessed handles with confidence for school corridors. For school locker rooms, perhaps a better choice would be projecting handles. The preferred handle for industrial and employee lockers is the projecting handle.
Locker Hardware Versus Locker Body Parts
Locker hardware items consist of such things as handles, lock bars and lock bar components, coat hooks, lock hole fillers, number plates, nuts and bolts. These parts are readily available for even the most obscure or obsolete lockers (check out the "locker parts home" link to the right).
On the other hand, body parts include all of the sheet metal of a locker, i.e., doors, sides, backs, tops, bottoms, shelves. Generally, only current body parts are available from most manufacturers and dealers. Older parts, obsolete parts, or parts for lockers from now defunct manufacturers are--for the most part--simply not available. What's a "body" to do?
Fortunately, most current body parts manufactured by any manufacturer can be used in just about any locker--past or present--regardless of manufacturer. However, generally some drilling may need to be done. So go ahead; get crazy! Start replacing those old, rusty, or worn out locker body parts.
Next time . . . door and frame replacements--get a new look for much less than a new cost.
On the other hand, body parts include all of the sheet metal of a locker, i.e., doors, sides, backs, tops, bottoms, shelves. Generally, only current body parts are available from most manufacturers and dealers. Older parts, obsolete parts, or parts for lockers from now defunct manufacturers are--for the most part--simply not available. What's a "body" to do?
Fortunately, most current body parts manufactured by any manufacturer can be used in just about any locker--past or present--regardless of manufacturer. However, generally some drilling may need to be done. So go ahead; get crazy! Start replacing those old, rusty, or worn out locker body parts.
Next time . . . door and frame replacements--get a new look for much less than a new cost.
Lock Bars That Play Hard To Get
The real mechanics of any locker are found in the handle/lock bar combination. While replacement handles are fairly easy to come by, lock bars can be a completely different story--especially for older lockers.
The good news is that in most cases the lock bar does not need to be completely replaced. Rather, it can be rebuilt using new parts. And parts are available in abundance.
So just remember that if the sheet metal part of the lock bar is good, replace the springs and latches and your lock bar will be good for another 30 years. Be sure to call or email Keur Locker Services with your latch and spring needs. In most cases, we can have your parts to you in a few days, and you can quickly have lockers that work like new again.
The good news is that in most cases the lock bar does not need to be completely replaced. Rather, it can be rebuilt using new parts. And parts are available in abundance.
So just remember that if the sheet metal part of the lock bar is good, replace the springs and latches and your lock bar will be good for another 30 years. Be sure to call or email Keur Locker Services with your latch and spring needs. In most cases, we can have your parts to you in a few days, and you can quickly have lockers that work like new again.
Replacement Locker Handles
Did you know that locker handles are available for nearly all lockers manufactured within about the last 75 years? Click on the lots of locker parts link here or on the link menu and see what we have available.
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