Topic: Buy spare rods for new (to me) table?

[Denverericj]

Just picked up my table - Tornado coin op Cherrywood.  Pretty good shape, flat table top, rods are straight, veneer has a few chips but just cosmetic.

Question - a local guy has a bunch of replacement rods on Craigslist.  He said they are new.  $20 for Tornado brand.  Should I buy 4 spares (one of each) or is that overkill?  I know they can be bent back if damaged and I would like to think my friends won't trash the table.

I already ordered some replacement men and pins.

Thanks for your advice!!!  Eric

[marty]

from what i read mainly on these boards is tornado had a real solid rod made for them can not recall what they were called mekells our some thing like that but then they went threw a period after they give up on them rods with real bad rods lots of flakeing so you might want to see why he replaced his rods i
would think it would not hurt to have a extra 2 rod laying around  there is a way to tell if there mekells
sorry if i got the name wrong our am just wrong on this but if you take the handle of the rod there should be a counder sunk dill mark 1/4 inch i beleave from the end  of the rod

[alaskan thunder]

2 and 3 rods are all that ever need replaced and that is rare. particularly on older tables as they used better quality materials. Unless you need them now, I would just hold off.  Our tournament tables have gone through a few 2 rods over the last few years but they are new tables with crappy Chinese metal and we are pretty rough on them.

[Denverericj]

Thanks.  I will save the dough for any future repair needs. This table sat in a the arcade vendor's warehouse for 3-4 years but likely spent 7 or 8 years in a bar.  If they weren't bent from that experience I doubt my kids or drunk friends will bend them.