Fixing Crowned Slate on a GC4
- Thread starter TableTek
- Start date
Cross cut a 12" board, then wait a while and try to put the board back together again to the point that you can't tell it was cut in half, that's the same thing being done with slates. Sometimes clamping the slates together is the only real way of matching the seams together flush, except you can't put a clamp 1/3rd of the way in between the slates...so superglue becomes a clamp. Weighting the slates?...Why, when glueing makes so much sence:wink:
I've only known Brunswick to warranty slates if the table is within 20yrs old, and the original owner, I've had Brunswick replace 2 9ft sets in the last year as well, one set was ground so bad it was a joke, and the second set on a GC4 were so crowned end to end and side to side no one could have leveled them...what surprises me, and pisses me off...is that both tables were set up by Brunswick authorized mechanics...and both sets of slates were completely over looked as in WHO CARED! But I do commend Brunswick for taking care of the problem when I notified them in both cases:grin:
Glen
OTLB
Banned
that brings up a good point. at what point do you accept a crown and just because you can fix it, should you? Or should you let a manufacturer learn the hardway that their product is defective by replacing it? fine line I know but there must be a limit. If the slate is out of spec 2\100th's?
The "limit" is when I can't level the slates to the point that I know a ball won't roll off, then and only then to I go back to the manufacture. Doing what is needed to make the slates level is the job of the mechanic, if the slates can't be leveled, then it's the job of the mechanic to represent the customer and go to bat with the manufacture. There is no such thing as "perfect" slates in my experience
OTLB
Banned
I agree but also think that if mechs just keep fixing a problem it will never be corrected as the manufacturer will never be aware they even have a problem. Once I received an entire pallet of crowned 8ft slate from AMF. I could have fixed them but I just paid them good cash for good product. I rejected them, my buddy has them now for patio blocks. To me, new product should be good and within the standard that was promised.
What would the ABIA or a real org of mechs say? Wouldn't they be obligated to dictate a std level of performance in this area? There would have to be all kinds of std's approved and designated. This would quickly distinguish poor performers. Guess thats why Olhausen likes screw holes in the middle.
What would the ABIA or a real org of mechs say? Wouldn't they be obligated to dictate a std level of performance in this area? There would have to be all kinds of std's approved and designated. This would quickly distinguish poor performers. Guess thats why Olhausen likes screw holes in the middle.
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The standards for slate flatness has already been established a long time ago, but sometimes bad slates slip through the cracks, yes even Diamond gets them sometimes too. The quick fix to not having to deal with them at the customer level begins with the manufacture first, the second thing to do is have a trusted relationship built up with the manufacture(s) of the tables you work on, the third thing is to prove to the manufacture(s) that you have the credibility to call a bad slate...a bad slate and back your call, which means as a mechanic you need to first know HOW to level a slate correctly in the first place:wink: And last, as a mechanic you need to stand up and say something to the customer if something is wrong, not PASS over it just to get PAID!
Glen