What to charge for a reassembly

n10spool

n10spool

PHD in table mechanics
Silver Member
I just meet a customer that owns a construction company that moved his own table but can't figure how to reassemble it.

Here's the kicker,

1 unknown manufacture noproblem

2 He disassembled it with a sawsall no other tools that I know of....

3 I havn't seen the table yet I will in a couple of days and will take some picture for you guys.

4 Do you think gorilla glue will hold it ..........just kidding.

5 Would you spend time removing all the cut\broken screws to reassemble it the right way..

6 I asumme the rubber is good.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHARGE IF YOU TOOK ON THIS CHALLENGE???????


Just wondering what everyone thinks I have some idea's.

Thanks,
Craig
 
n10spool said:
I just meet a customer that owns a construction company that moved his own table but can't figure how to reassemble it.

Here's the kicker,

1 unknown manufacture noproblem

2 He disassembled it with a sawsall no other tools that I know of....

3 I havn't seen the table yet I will in a couple of days and will take some picture for you guys.

4 Do you think gorilla glue will hold it ..........just kidding.

5 Would you spend time removing all the cut\broken screws to reassemble it the right way..

6 I asumme the rubber is good.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHARGE IF YOU TOOK ON THIS CHALLENGE???????


Just wondering what everyone thinks I have some idea's.

Thanks,
Craig
Click to expand...

Craig, everything is based on time!! You need to figure out what you are worth per hour to do the job. If that will not work for them let them find someone else, why deal with the headache!!!!!!!!
 
manwon said:
Craig, everything is based on time!! You need to figure out what you are worth per hour to do the job. If that will not work for them let them find someone else, why deal with the headache!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
I agree with manwon, if the table is repairable, then repair it and re-assemble it, but charge for the extra labor and parts, including the time needed to go get any parts needed. All jobs in this business fall into 2 category's, either you take on the task at hand, just make sure you're not getting in over your head, or you pass...that's it.

Glen
 
n10spool said:
I just meet a customer that owns a construction company that moved his own table but can't figure how to reassemble it.

Here's the kicker,

1 unknown manufacture noproblem

2 He disassembled it with a sawsall no other tools that I know of....

3 I havn't seen the table yet I will in a couple of days and will take some picture for you guys.

4 Do you think gorilla glue will hold it ..........just kidding.

5 Would you spend time removing all the cut\broken screws to reassemble it the right way..

6 I asumme the rubber is good.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHARGE IF YOU TOOK ON THIS CHALLENGE???????


Just wondering what everyone thinks I have some idea's.

Thanks,
Craig
Click to expand...

RUN Craig, I would probably charge $200 until the sawsall was mentioned, then quote about $350 hoping this would deter him.
 
This is an all new meaning to hack work I will probably run from it but I got to see it to belive it and get some picture's just cause I want to. He will probably say yes to any price because he watched me all day reconditioning a table with felt and new rubber @ the local bar. I picked up 2 other jobs that day to but this one takes the cake i think...


Thanks for the input's,

Craig
 
I'm no table mechanic but you sure got my attention with the dreaded "sawzall" reference. Hope you post the pics.
 
candidate for Darwin award

I have heard and seen A LOT in the thirteen years I have been a table mechanic but this, by far, takes the cake. I thought it was bad when I walked into a basement and the guy had flipped his slate table upside down on the floor because he was going to try to take it apart and thought that was how you do it. I'd charge $500 just for his stupidity. Normally I would charge around $175.
 
Last edited:
I got out to a house one day and the owner of the table told me over the phone that the table was out in the garage and the job was to dismantle the table, move it into his living room, recover, and then reassemble the table. No big deal right? Thats what I thought.

He failed to mention that the table was flipped upside down on top of a trailer, and still completely put together. The worst thing about it was there was only about an inch of clearance around the table so there was no way to get it apart. It was a uni-rail table, so I couldn't get the rails off one at a time either. I finally told the customer he needed to get his buddies over and flip the table, and I would come back and do the work once it was on its feet in the garage. He called me about a week later and the work was done.
 
I also have funny situation. I was called out to level this table and this is how I found the rails. sorry for the picture quality, I use my phone. They backwards if you cant tell from the picture.
 

Attachments

  • cornerpocket.jpg
    cornerpocket.jpg
    38.1 KB · Views: 220
  • sidepocket.jpg
    sidepocket.jpg
    32.8 KB · Views: 209
You guys are lucky!

Some of you guys are really lucky... All these really interesting people and challenging jobs you run into. I wish I was lucky enough... no wait I take that back... I was told to be careful what I wish for because I might get it. So, I'll just wish for the same old boring jobs. But I can't wait to see the pictures of the Sawsall job.
 
sdbilliards said:
I also have funny situation. I was called out to level this table and this is how I found the rails. sorry for the picture quality, I use my phone. They backwards if you cant tell from the picture.
Click to expand...

That is just toooo funny!!!
 
sdbilliards said:
I also have funny situation. I was called out to level this table and this is how I found the rails. sorry for the picture quality, I use my phone. They backwards if you cant tell from the picture.
Click to expand...

At last, a side pocket I can make a ball in!
 
reverend said:
I got out to a house one day and the owner of the table told me over the phone that the table was out in the garage and the job was to dismantle the table, move it into his living room, recover, and then reassemble the table. No big deal right? Thats what I thought.

He failed to mention that the table was flipped upside down on top of a trailer, and still completely put together. The worst thing about it was there was only about an inch of clearance around the table so there was no way to get it apart. It was a uni-rail table, so I couldn't get the rails off one at a time either. I finally told the customer he needed to get his buddies over and flip the table, and I would come back and do the work once it was on its feet in the garage. He called me about a week later and the work was done.
Click to expand...

I did one a couple years ago...antique table with a frame that doesn't break down in the loft over a garage. Got the rails, slate and everything off no problem. Frame would NOT fit around the turn at the bottom of the stairs. Now this table was from an estate sale so this wasn't the guy's house we were moving it for. But he still thought it would help to take a hammer and knock out the ceiling where the frame wouldn't clear. Then he grabbed a crowbar in the garage and started tearing out the bottom stairs...with me still holding the back end of the frame on the top!!! I ended up asking the guy since it was obvious this peg didn't fit in this hole if he had any idea how they got it up here in the first place. Without missing a beat he says "Well they brought it in the window with a crane, but those aren't the same windows so we can't get it out that way"!!!!! I ended up doing the same thing you did...tell him if he could get the frame out, I'd come back and put it in his basement (just across the street! LOL). Somehow this Miracle Worker got it out and had it in his basement waiting for us the next week but I'd hate to see the garage when he was done with it!!!
 
I went to do a table move last spring about 20 minutes south of Sacramento, for a "partially dissassembled table upstairs ready to carry out the door." The legs were already at the new house about 45 minutes west of Sac, and the rest of the table was sitting on the floor still completely intact. Although the best one last year was when someone cut out holes in the slate , epoxied and cemented them into the regular slate screw holes to form a perfect seal, and sanded everything flush. I was the fifth person to get called to see what could be done about getting the table moved out of their kitchen and into the new owners house across town.

As to what to charge.....outside of the above mentioned expenses, at the very least a Kodak disposible camera for the before and after effects! Ya'll ain't gonna believe this s*** pictures are always a must around here!
And call in the old number 9! lol!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top