Topic: Tornado T-3000 shopping...

[Vaggeto]

Hi there,

I am looking into buying a brand new or possibly like new used Tornado T-3000.

I am only interested in the newest version with the newer side-strips, new men, new handles, and new bearings.

Does anyone know what I should expect to pay for home and coin-op version? I'm more interested in the home version right now.

Also, any reputable shops with good prices? (Other than here ^_^, I already sent the sales question in)

Thanks!

[alaskan thunder]

Get a tournament used coin-op from tornadofoosball.com.


/end thread

[ZekeNDestroy]

Yea, give Charles Mackintosh a call or send him an email (www.tornadofoosball.com). You can also check out other online website. You can also get a pretty good deal from tournament players that win tables. I won a table last year and sold it for 25% off. The Hall of Fame classic is coming up in Vegas at the beginning of march. Not sure if you were planning on going to that. I remember a guy 2 years ago sold the table he won for $800. The only problem is it usually takes about 8 weeks to receive the table.

-zeke

[Vaggeto]

Hmmm... tournament used... any idea what they usually go for?
I'm more interested in the home edition at this point since this won't be used for profit, but I guess coin isn't out of the question.


What is the condition usually like for one of these?

Are the 2-rods usually bent?

Thanks!

[PatRyan]

Used tournament tables are (in my experience) the best tables you can buy.  Yes, they have already been played on.  BUT, they have also already been assembled once, and usually, anything that was found to be defective has already been fixed.  Additionally, they have been played on by top players, and believe me, they will try to fix any problems with the table before they play a match on it.  So you are getting a table that has, essentially, undergone a thorough quality testing, BEFORE you buy it.  It is a great way to buy a quality table!

[ClearScreen]

I bought a used Tournament table a year and half ago it was, by far, the best deal.  I got it from Charles at TOrnado Foosball.  As was mentioned already, it was cheaper than a new coin-op and some higher end new tables.  It has already been assembeld, tested and used by pros.  Belive me, you can tell - no bent rods, no warped playfields, etc.

On my table, there were virtually no visible signs of wear.  The only issue was the handles were wood and had tape residue on them (I don't use wraps) and that was kind of gross.   I replaced the old wood handles with the new handles, set the thing to free play (explained on many other threads) and I have a table that is going to outlast me.  I also made other changes when the T-3000 kit came out last year.  I mean, seriously, this thing weighs 350 pounds and is built like a tank.  My kids play on it with me so it gets a good workout.

Just my two cents from having been down this road.

ClearScreen

[bbtuna]

as everyone has said, tornadofoosball.com and Charles Mac is really the only reasonable source to get what you want and he is as far as i know the only one who can get tournament used

on those tables, make sure when you talk to him that they have replaced the 2 and 3 rods on both sides with the updated/upgraded rod..the factory ones that shipped with the tables were not a good rod and bent very fast...as they did, they changed them to a better rod that shouldn't have that issue

you just want to make sure they have been changed

Tour used will sell for around $1150-$1200 give or take $25 and then plus shipping which will run around $150-$200 depnding on where you are at and if you want it shipped to your door (which cost more)

buying one of these is like buying brand new...he sells brand new for about $100 more but either way, make sure the rod issue is taken care of

[Vaggeto]

Ahhh... so what is up with the rods? A different type of commercial grade comes with these compared to the old cyclone IIs? or are they upgraded to merkel with that request?

Should I expect any T-3000 nowadays to be the REAL updated one with the new men, side strips, bearings, handles, and balls or are they still shipping the ones with the older accessories and possibly the older warped playing surfaces?

[bbtuna]

the Rods
they got a cheap/bad batch of rods on the first fully converted coin ops they used at tournaments they ran this year.  They had problems with the 2 and 3 rods bending...long story on the fix and I am not certain where they are at with it right now, i will dig around and see what i come up with but the bottom line is that as they found them bent, they replaced them with good rods...not Merkels but good rods ---- full Merkels as talked about in my thread and others, have not been available for a couple of years and won't be any time soon unless something happens

they have talked about buying chinese rods and having Merkel put them through part of his process which would make them a pretty good rod, not as good as when he gets the raw tubes and preps them all the way but still a good rod...

What table can you get now?
Charles MacInosh knows all this and more and if you ask him for the latest T3000 as used at Tornado Worlds with replacement 2 and 3 rods he will know exactly what you are asking for and will tell you straight up if he has any (which he did last time we talked not too long ago)

[Vaggeto]

So I talked to Charles and he informed me only 2 rod were being replaced due to issues. The 2 rods they had were actually sent to merkel to be re-heattreated. He said they are good but not as good as original merkels were.
He also said any table you buy now unless it came from Worlds should have the newer 2bar and that the 3bar shouldn't bend unless abused.

Thaks for the help everyone!

[bbtuna]

well i heard 3 bars were bending too, so when you buy from Charles, just tell him you heard the 3 rods were bending too and will he replace them if they do bend not from crazy abuse

tell us what you decide and let us know when you get the table, how set up goes, and how you like it

[Vaggeto]

The way Charles explained it... the 2 bars were the only ones sent back from Tornado to be re-heattreated by Merkel. So a new 3 bar would be the same.

Will do!
I mentioned you guys recommend I buy from him and he was very happy to hear that!