Standard 90 Degree One Adjustment Grooming Arm

The industry standard, in saying that I mean that it is the grooming arm I see used most frequently for its low cost, convenience and ease of use. The first reason ‘low cost’ being the primary reason that this particular type of grooming arm is so popular for both home and commercial use. These arms are simple and are nothing more than a piece of tubular metal bent on a 90 degree angle with an attachment point for a groomers noose/sling/loop. To attach it to the table there is a base that consists of a simple clamping mechanism with a turn handle that slides over the lip of the table and allows you to tighten it to the table. The upper arm then slides through the center of the base so that it may be adjusted to the desired height and locked into position.

In many cases this type of arm will be included for free with the purchase of a grooming table. That being said, the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ comes into play. As with many grooming products, while two items may look the same, there may be substantial differences in quality and durability. Depending upon the manufacturer some of these arms are constructed from tough stainless steel while others a cheaper pot metal, some are made from 1/2 inch tubing while others are 3/4 inch; the latter obviously being stronger. Some include two tightening clamps at the bottom and a wider base so it attaches to the table more securely, some only one clamp and a narrow attachment point making more likely to twist or rotate when an animal puts stress on it. As for the 1/2 inch version I have seen the weight of a Basset Hound or Border Collie bend these, imagine a fishing rod bending under the weight of a large fish. The difference being that grooming arms don’t bounce back into place when the weight is removed, they tend to stay bent. To add insult to injury, repairing these arms by bending them back tends to crease them which in turn makes it impossible for the arm to slide freely up and down through the base.

Depending upon the quality of construction these grooming arms can be used with any dog, large or small. The important thing to remember is that the larger the dog, the further up (higher) the grooming arm must be positioned. In order to understand why this matters you must think of the arm in terms of a lever and fulcrum. The higher the arm (lever), the lower the base (fulcrum) will be on the arm which creates leverage. This leverage can then be used to bend the arm regardless of how well it is constructed. If you have a solidly constructed grooming arm and a proper length grooming loop this is typically not an issue, however, many groomers use a noose that is way too long, which requires the arm to be lifted much higher than in should in order to secure the dog. One trick is to instead of raising the arm, just loop the noose over the top of the arm once to shorten its length.

Some variations you will encounter include multiple eyelets on the upper portion. I prefer two eyelets on top so as to facilitate the use of a belly strap for dogs that like to sit. It also allows you to position the head closer too are farther away from the bar if you have a wiggler. As of 2017, these can be acquired for as low as $Free with the purchase of some tables up to around $100.00 for an independently purchased high quality stainless version.

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