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Author Topic: Mexico quality issue  (Read 11465 times)

dizzyfugu

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Mexico quality issue
« on: August 05, 2007, 06:42:32 PM »
I am posting this here since it is about Brunswick as ball manufacturer. I just got my Awesome Finish a couple of days ago (from the Mexico plant), and the surface got me worried and I'd like to know if others have this phenomenon with other Brunswick balls in the last couple of weeks/months (say, since April).

My AFi came with pretty looks, even surface, but the engravings - very large on Morich equipment - and their filler material noticeably protruded from the surface. I did not pay much attention to it at first, since I know this phenomenon from resurfacing at home on the spinner. But after first ball tests on oilier shots I found the ball to be very inconsistent at the break point, and I blame it on the lack of traction due to the (too) thick OOB engravings which are so large that they are always in the track area.

I started "shaving" them back manually and gave the ball a light resurfacing to even the surface out (green pad, then 1.500 grit pad and finally polish, all 4-sided). Doing so, I also found air bubbles in the coverstock material right under the original surface - Small in size, only cosmetical, but I never had this on any ball before?

Somehow I have the feeling that Brunswick's production quality is on the decline.

Take this post as a minor rant, but I'd like to know if others have similar recent experience?
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DON DRAPER

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2007, 05:55:02 AM »
most of my arsenal( mammoth, awesome hook, fury, total inferno, rampage, power groove ) were all made in mexico. the only one that was made in the usa is my target zone. i haven't noticed any difference in quality or the way the balls roll.

REVerse

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2007, 07:05:16 AM »
No issues on my Mammoth, Wizard, Awesome Revs, Awesome Finish. All made south of the border.
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2007, 07:10:34 AM »
Thanks you very much for the input. I am a bit suprised - the ball in itself is O.K., but I am just wondering since I never had THIS case before?
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adman

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2007, 08:46:58 AM »
I have a couple of Morich balls that look like they have been re-pinned. It looks like there was one pin in the ball already and then they put another pin through it. Just a little of the original pin shows. But other than that the balls roll great and have not cracked or anything like that.

Djarum

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2007, 09:53:30 AM »
I saw a Radical inferno in my LPS Thursday. It was NIB and I noticed that there were thick white pieces of engraving material comming out of the engraving area. When I rubbed the ball, the engraving was actually above the ball surface. I found it rather odd.

Dj
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Jepp114

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2007, 12:23:27 PM »
My Radicals engravings were also sticking out, mostly the "OCTANE" engraving, and it made that scraping sound that you hear Robert Smith's ball making at the 2006 Dydo cup, I have kinda scraped it off and it doesn't make anymore noise and it doesn't roll any different, rolls just fine, pretty much only cosmetic. I'm guessing they make the balls oversize with the engravings and resurface it down and that's what is causing the filler to stick out, just a guess though.

Well I was completely wrong, Rico Answered it below, Engraved, cures, and shrinks.

Edited on 8/6/2007 5:43 PM

KDawg77

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2007, 12:24:59 PM »
Levity time:

I, too, take issue with the quality of Mexico.
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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2007, 12:30:42 PM »
At first I saw some inconsistency in the "finish" of a few balls, but not lately.  I just threw the odd ones on the spinner with some abralon or scotch brite and evened the cover out.  Since it was such an easy fix, I didn't really consider it a "quality" issue.


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REVerse

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2007, 09:53:17 PM »
Here is one for all the Anti-Mexico Brunswick haters- My Power Groove Purple Silver was made in the good ole US of A. Serial #AYP7248 The stamp/engraving is slightly raised and pulls/snags strings out of my towel when the ball is wiped. It ruined my Ebonite towel. It still rolls great and I have had some honor scores with it. The Mexico balls I mentioned earlier have been flawless.
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2007, 04:07:42 AM »
quote:
I saw a Radical inferno in my LPS Thursday. It was NIB and I noticed that there were thick white pieces of engraving material comming out of the engraving area. When I rubbed the ball, the engraving was actually above the ball surface. I found it rather odd.

Dj
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The views and opinions of Djarum expressed on BallReviews.com do not necessarily state or reflect those of the BallReviews.com.


Sounds like my Awesome Finish! After the surface work, the ball is now noticeably smoother and even on the surface. I just had not hat a chance to throw it yet, due to lots of work

I already passed the info, as Ric suggested. Thank you all for impressions and feedback!
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Edited on 8/7/2007 4:10 AM
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2007, 10:33:30 AM »
quote:
This is the biggest joke I have ever heard.  Does anybody actually think that a major ball company such as Big B would risk their reputation and turning off loyal customers as well as possible new customers by putting out sub-standard balls?  Brand new plant with the latest in pouring, casting, and finishing equipment.  Plus the latest and greatest inspection equipment.  Because of a production locale changing, and ONLY a locale change, people are looking for fly specks in pepper (fly doo-doo in black pepper in not detectable).  This needs to be put to rest once and for all.  


What is newest technology good for when you either cannot control it, or other organizational flaws ruin the product? If Brunswick does TQM at Mexico, than this should[/] not happen. And it does not seem to be a singular occurrence. Fly doo-doo can ruin the day, if it is in YOUR pepper pot...
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2007, 03:20:16 AM »
Just to put things right: I do not want to bash Brunswick. It just occurs to me that "surface problems" on several balls occured after the Mexico move, and this is just my personal case.

My ball driller knows what he does (being a Brunswick amateur staffer), and the ball selected is exactly what I asked for - it is even a ball with a side-shifted CG that makes a perfect base for my intended drilling for a righty. Overall, the ball is O.K. and evertything I asked for, and the setup performs as planned. I am just worried about these... sluggishly finished balls slipping out into sales and into bowlers' hands where they do not perform as good as they could, and leave customers puzzled, even angry (remember the many flaming comments regarding the OOB Radical Inferno) and disappointed about the brands. High risk, and word of mouth spreads widely.
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Matt Fortney

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2007, 04:50:51 PM »
please don't mis-read this...i'm not trying to start a war, and i have absolutely nothing against brunswick, or the move to mexico. business decisions are business decisions. my question is this though, why has brunswick had to move to mexico, yet the other manufacturer's...or well, manufacturer now...can remain in the United States...just curious.

Matt

Grayson

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Re: Mexico quality issue
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2007, 05:41:12 PM »
mhh.... I got a H2O (Lane#1 but produced by Brunswick - and as it say on the box MEXICO...) and a cobald bomb (also mexico) and both balls had nicks and air inclusions in the coverstock... not a problem as I sold one and the other one the nick that has built/ is there is not on the track area... so I would say there is a problem from my point of view.

The engraving is not that much of a problem but I always have a problem with those filled engravings as they always stand up from the normal coverstock. /on my Tsunami and on my BCB and both are also brunswick produced and the BCB is old.. really old)

Imho the mexcian plant lacks a good quality controll as I heard from others that there were:
Pins set wrong (Brunsnick wrote he had a Solid uranium where the pin was wiered...)
CGs labeled wrong (on ball and once on a box it sad 2-3 and it was actually a 4.3 pin! I was a bit sad about that)
Coverstock problems like air inclusions (and I talk not about little bubbles but a long and deep nick from such an inclusion that was set free during the process if grinding the ball into shape and polishing on my Cobalt I sold and I have a smaller on on my H2O)

I had some problems also with my Tsunami (original Brunswick plant) with those fillings on the engraving being full with airbubbles but the coverstock was ok...so also no problem there just cosmetically..

But maybe I got 2nd hand balls as I am German and not likly to complain and send the balls back? Dunno...

I also heard people here complain that we in europe get more of the "not so good" stuff... but I just don't want to believe that.

Whatever...
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