Kohler sinks

[JEST]

Any one notice a marked decline in Kohler sink "quality"?
There has always been some variation, but lately we are having to exchange sinks.
Bumpouts off center or sinks so far out of level that it take a ¼ thick bead of sealant to fill mating gaps.
We started telling all clients to rethink sink purchase if planning Kohler.
I draw every sink anyway, but we can't undermount a washboard and not have gaps show.
Thoughts/solutions?

[GMRTools]

I haven't heard of anyone having any problems, But I will ask around and see if this is a wide spread problem.

Kevin Emery Jr
GMR Quality Stone Products
gmrtools@charter.net
c: 248-867-9875

[ViperTX]

Jest....are you buying from a recognized distributor.....just wondering if someone isn't importing some sinks that are not really Kohler?

[Switcher]

All I can say is business must be good for Kohler. I drive buy the factory to work, all the time. They just doubled the size of the factory.





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[JEST]

Yes to the distributor question. Some are even factory shipped (not many)

For the last month been seeing sink edges sagging as though removed from the mold before hard. As I've never made one of these sinks, I don't really know if that is possible.

And having of center trouble??? I have been involved in molds for years and I have never seen a mold that could be "assembled" off center. Specific sink model#2341-96 I've got three in shop for a client now.
We will have to overhang the granite to hide the off center bumpout (not the overflow side).

We only do custom work here and our clients expect perfection. I can't cut an exact match hole due to finish not reaching mating lip. (unless I cover it with silicone). The jobs come out looking like we are hiding our mistakes if we cut an exact match. A reveal is out of the question! It's all overhang (mold trap!)

And before anyone asks, I don't have a preference or recommendation for sink supply. I just cut rocks. lol

[ViperTX]

Ah, these are the cultured marble ones...not the stainless ones.....I wonder if Kohler is on strike at this time....

[JEST]

Funny
Just had a customer swap out a 2341 due to poor mating surface (¼" gap)
and the one they brought back is FLAWLESS.
1 out of 4 aint bad
lol

[IceBlue91z28]

I believe there are two different factories for the kholer sinks. One factory ships to high end distributers and the other ships to mega stores like lowes and home depot. So depending on where you get it from probably depends on the quality.

[kf364]

I use to work for Kohler CO. They have a very strict quality process. I use to make sinks, commodes and tanks. I know what goes into making these, alot of hard work.

[antcnc]

I have seen some new kohler templates with about a quater offset. It seems to appear more often in the ceramaic bowls.

[JEST]

I have not had any trouble with SS sinks (changes, but not variations). That being said...
I have in the shop now 3 VERY different 2210 sinks and no less than 5 different 2215...
If it is going to be a Kohler ceramic/clay (crap!)...
Draw EVERY ONE! Kohler did not change the template included in the box. You have a chance of your local CC art students being as consistent making them by hand.

To be fair, I have been required to cut more Kohler vanity sink holes. (Customers have no idea the "tolerance" in Kohler products, and buy them often) Other brands may be just as wide ranging in finished size, but I haven't seen that to be true..

Also note. EVERY sink is sold with a manufacturer warning. NEVER cut before matching (NEVER trust the manufacturer supplied cutout per their own instructions!). These sinks are not art. They are just wash basins.

[machineoperator]

I saw an episode of This old house and they toured a kohler factory, they were making commodes and they showed the whole process. to make a long story short when they fire the clay is shrinks and when it shrinks it does not shrink evenly with every sink.

We just check every porcelain sink to uor template and if it doesn't fit we digitized that sink.