I read the comments. Asking for refund is wrong because you successfully used the parts for their intended purpose, which was to demonstrate that a fixture table is seriously helpful. If you earned back the cost, a refund is definitely wrong.
You should send them a “smile, you’re on candid camera” note with link to the video. Or something like that.
I think that if you had stated that the parts had to fit into an existing structure and that you could not use them if they were out of spec, the shops would have done a better job, or else not accepted the job. Sometimes, tolerance specs are arbitrary and not actually critical.
I have a garage workshop strictly for my own entertainment. I finally got a relatively small (3 x 4 foot) fixturing welding table. Makes life a lot easier and the final product higher quality. If you’re welding professionally, the table would pay for itself in time saved and better quality.
Fix/Redo or refund. They accepted a job with the given tolerances and failed. Close only counts for hand grenades. And if you want a job free of consequences you better become a teacher or politician.
I am shocked for the number of do nothing votes.
Make the responses the third part of the frame/table series. No need to direct the Fabs to your identity or videos. May be the fab shop with the rusted tubing will fix that too
I don’t think that 1.5mm at 500mm is such a tight tolerance. But if you only use tape measures…
I agree. The specifications are specified for a reason: they’re called specifications. And every single shop was like “sure, easy” no problem", and my favorite:“you won’t get junk”. Ha! It’s so sad that that’s like most of the made in the USA stuff. Ugg. Fireball Jason was right on with this.
In my shop no matter what the project we try to keep within a 32nd even if the clearance allows for more to stay in the practice of being as precise as possible. That said if this was produced from where I work they would have them completely remade at no extra cost and would be very apologetic. Hard to find shop who hold themselves accurate as they should
I’m surprised to see myself commenting here, but if I were you I’d use this as a challenge to other fabricators. Capitalize on the facts of the video and remain humble as you were in the video. I think you could make a lot of money and become an even bigger name then you already are. This has great potential, if done the right way! Even if you can not get fabricators on board at first, eventually they won’t have an option. If you were to depict this to the consumer and reliably show consistency. They will demand it, leaving fabricators no choice, but to step up performance! And if fabricators don’t see this as a win for them, then they shouldn’t be in a business. The more consistency of precision in a product, will no doubt add to your bank account. Being able to take on better, harder and more high paying jobs, making you money and consumers happy! It’s a win, win! (In my opinion) hope all is well!
Thanks
Any professional fabricator worth the title wants feedback on their work. Both the successes and the opportunities for improvement.
Definitely go back and let them know that they failed to follow your specs. And then offer them the opportunity to make it right by either refund or remaking/repairing the piece.
Take them back and ask if they can actually handle these tolerances. They should have been upfront about the tolerance being outside their capabilities.
Maybe a more personal discussion with them about how important that would have been for you might have had them seen tout properly. But it appears you walked in like any regular random person. Locally they likely don’t need anything so tight.
The ones that ground down the welds when you asked them not to were clearly careless and didn’t take you seriously. Ask them to try their best.
Do not show them this video like others have suggested.
And I absolutely don’t believe you are trying to sell them tables, like others believe. Though if they come through with a fix maybe give them a good discount, lol.
I’d say it would depend on what what he considers to be his primary business. If YT is primary, scrap the squares.
Otherwise, invite the owners to the Fireball shop and pay each of them (total expense of all the squares / 3) to allow you to videotape them watching both videos.
Offer to to take jobs that they are unable to meet specs on. It’s possible the big shop boss would decide a table is a needed investment.
Take them back and explain what’s wrong, then use that as an opportunity to show them why they really do need your fixture table. Turn a negative into a sale.
Even though this was a test. by bringing them back to the shops allows for them to correct their issues in fabrication. You had a very simple detail that had tolerances. Money talks now more than ever, and if these businesses do not know what they are doing wrong they have no way of knowing what to correct. I use to fab various 316SS parts for all sorts of food grade. I used their details, and gave them what they asked for withing their tolerances. The 3rd one I fabricated was brought back, they showed me what the issue was, and it was because I did not account for enough stretch in my forming. I made the adjustments and learned so much about metallurgy and fabricating that I eliminated further mistakes for other customers.
You were anonymous, and these businesses will benefit from knowing they produced a insufficient product.
This is how our country has got to the place we are in… spineless people allowing “whatever” to happen because it “doesn’t affect them”. typical BOOMER mentality that has screwed this country over the past 40 years.
take it back, demand refund and show them the video to shame them into not screwing people over in the future
If you want to improve the standard of what you expect, I would take them back and point out there faults,
E.G Not to size, not square and out of wind.
That way they understand why people don’t come to there shop, if you let it slip to an associate, and it spreads around the area where you live and work.
I would recommend that you take them back. Maybe pick 1 of the 3 companies and offer them a table. Free of charge or at an extremely discounted parts only price. This could change their business forever by you being the good dude that you are. Yo can also do an update video with how the table changed their business in a positive way. That’s what I would do if it was in the cards of making sense monetarily and time wise.
I would suggest to just send they a message back and judge them on the same points plus “No or little argument”. Plus, give Drew a bonus point for dellivering within tolerance.
I would find it interesting to see if they would manage to fix it or at least give a refund and say that they can’t do it plus it seems like verry little job for a follow up video.
