Topic: Buying a table and need input!!!

[El Magico86]

Hey all,

I just stumbled upon this website the other day and have been reading up on everything in these forums. 

I just moved in with a new room mate 4 months ago and he brought over a 20 to 30 year old table, single goalie with ramps, to our house that his parents had in there basement. 
We did some service work on it to get it up to performance but notice that there are a ton of dead spots and the playing surface isn't even/flat.  We are intermediate level with passing and all and it is very difficult to execute multiple passes and maintain the ball control that we need. 

I am looking at purchasing a table whether it is new or used.  I have looked all over the web but I haven't been at any retail store lately.  In my reading through the internet I have noticed that Tornado tables set the standard for the Foosball Industry.  I am a college aged student,work full time, that is at an intermediate playing level and would like to farther my foosballing.  I would like to get a table that has no dead spots, even playing field, smooth rods, etc. 

What are some tables that you all would recommend and approximately what I should pay for these tables?

I am gun-ho to buy a table but want to research and make sure I make the right choice that will last me many many years of enjoyment and high performance play. 

Thanks,
-El Magico86

[marty]

welcome to these forms, where ya from ,  a tornado coin opp is in my opion the best  but never played on a bonzni , our a shelti yet. you can pay up to $ 2,200 for a new bonzni  and around $ 1700 for anew tornado
our a shelti, just read a few more of these posts theres some good contacts , try ebay , there a guy on here from montana that wants to sell
his tornado cyclone 2  i think for $500  + shippen  not to bad a table 
our buy

[El Magico86]

I just went to a local retailer for Tornados and they have all of the 2008 line and 1 left over from the 2007 line.  THe one that is left over is the Cyclone 2 which is brand new but just left over stock from last year and they are asking $850 for it. 

Should I go ahead with this or should I keep on looking or try to talk him down?

[bbtuna]

we have gotten the table question many times now since I have been on the board...I will create a document which I will make available to people but for now, read the thread below on the front page entitled

thinking of buying a table t2000 F5? « 1 2 3 »

This covers most of it.  Stop what you are doing and slow down.  Lets think through this and get you the right table before you make a decsicion.

The person quoting prices doesn't know what they are talking about.  Nobody, and I mean nobody maybe ever, has paid $1700 for a new T2000 home or coin-op model Tornado.  That is just a book price.  Yes, buy Tornado, but not like that.  If you are willing to spend $850 on a Cyclone, just pay a little more and get a Tornado coin-op that can last you the rest of your life literally.

As always, feel free to contact me if you want to talk through details there are quite a few things to consider but once you work through those details, you will be pleased and proud of your purchase.

bbtuna
Charles

[El Magico86]

Hey BBtuna and everyone else,

Please see the link below.  I saw this on the local craigslist and want to know if it is a t-2000 or just a bar grade total.  For $695 it looks good but would like you input as well. 

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tag/495611763.html

Please let me know.

[wildcard]

That is a 98-99 era T-2000 blonde table. I have one, and mine didn't have heat-treated rods so check the rods (especially the 2bars) for flaking chrome. I also had problems with the laminate separating from the lower cabinet on the opposite side from the coin mech. The surface plays slower than todays surface when using todays new fuzzy balls, but when they start getting dirty they get a little slicker. Not bad price if the table is in above average shape. If I were you I would still try to save up another $300-400 and get the latest used grey marble from Charles McIntosh, but that's just my opinion.

Also Bobby Diaz is supposed to have some of those grey marbles I mentioned for sale at the same price as the blonde on craiglist, you should definitely check his out before you buy anything. Look up a post by EdGeer, he can hook you up with Bobby.

[bbtuna]

don't buy the blond...they weren't a bad table just not as good as the brown marble or the grey marble...if you want to buy old used and fix it up buy brown marble, otherwise buy a Grey Marble from Charles McIntosh

[EDGEER]

Help me with a timeline of Tornado Tables.  This may be totally wrong, so feel free to correct me.


Brown Marble  19?? to 1994  -  Does not have the word Valley on playing surface.  Descent table with exception of 2 rod bending if torqued

Cherry Wood  1994 to 1998 -  Has the word Valley on logo on playing surface.  Same as above and Goal corner blow out  started to be a problem

Blonde wood  1998 to 2000 -  Rods bend and Chrome can flake.  Goal corners blow out

Grey Marble   2000 to 2001 - Same as above

Grey Marble  2002 to 2006 -  30th Anniversary, hard chrome rods introduced, corner blow-out not as bad.  Loose fitting men became problem.

Grey Marble 2006 to 2007 -  Hard Crome rods made in china,  Nylon men experiment on some tables,  playing surface warpage on some tables.

Metal side  2007 to         -  The Frige  Model.  Playing surface Warpage problem.


Please help me fill in the gaps here.

[B,inSA]

i will be gettin a tornado when i can afford it, but i am in love with my Harvard Table. its gotta be 10 yrs old too. plays great, got it at the thrift store for $70 and created foos mania throughout my cirlce o' friends. if you cant afford a T then pick up a harvard off craigslist (they are everywhere). two buddies of mine have gotten tables since the histeria began. one got a Premier, eh. another got a sportscraft, eh. Harvard Baby, Harvard !!!!