Official EK statement - Nickel Plating Issues

[aoch88]

You have a point there prznar1 but unfortunately for someone that had multiple issues with EK products, I believe you would think otherwise. It's simple and if you had quite a number of parts with all sorts of silly problems from them, you probably won't be bothered buying EK again

[NaeKuh]

speak for your self only.

its only an issue with one product line, not with whole company. rads, pumps, fittings should still work fine. also copper blocks are also problemless. this will hit EK VERY HARD but will not destroy it.

spoken by not fan of ek at all

+1

There is nothing wrong with their pump tops.
There dual tops are one of the best u can buy right now even.

And they also have a spinner Bay Res which i have yet to hear any real issue on.

Not to mention the SLI bridge is still a major bling and working bling from eK.

This problem only lies in the Nickle.... which is like less then 5% of what they sell.

And using that 5% to void out the 95% is just silly.

[prznar1]

You have a point there prznar1 but unfortunately for someone that had multiple issues with EK products, I believe you would think otherwise. It's simple and if you had quite a number of parts with all sorts of silly problems from them, you probably won't be bothered buying EK again

after multiple problems i would pass on EK anyway

[Panthols]

This problem only lies in the Nickle.... which is like less then 5% of what they sell.

And using that 5% to void out the 95% is just silly.

The problem also lies with EK trying to pass the blame on to users and basically tell us what we can and cannot use in our systems. I don't want to purchase anything from a company that can't own up to a mistake they made, and will not be purchasing anything from them due to this issue.

[aoch88]

I can post some photos of Acetal+Nickel blocks warping. The Acetal part actually warped, imagine that crap happening to your block

[prznar1]

The problem also lies with EK trying to pass the blame on to users and basically tell us what we can and cannot use in our systems. I don't want to purchase anything from a company that can't own up to a mistake they made, and will not be purchasing anything from them due to this issue.

yes this is strange. but this happend for the very first time from them. would you leave your wife after one argue? dont pass on ek totaly.

[shazza]

Straight and simple here ... links to RRTech are not allowed. No need for discussion on this point.

[wermad]

Extremely disappointed and this point, I'm done with EK

Good thing I bought Watercool gpu blocks this time Now to start fixing EK's bad nickel,

[KingOfsorroW]

So, what are the the coolants that are 100% safe to use with the ek nickel WBs? links please...

[NaeKuh]

The problem also lies with EK trying to pass the blame on to users and basically tell us what we can and cannot use in our systems. I don't want to purchase anything from a company that can't own up to a mistake they made, and will not be purchasing anything from them due to this issue.

This doesnt really help this thread tho...

What were trying to do is not say eK is this, eK is that...
If someone keeps telling you, your wrong... no your wrong... even tho you are wrong, do you think you will feel good?

What were trying to do is tell eK, ummm ok, your half correct, now take what you found out.. and look at it HERE and not THERE.

Then hopping eK will go OH I SEE.
Instead of going... FROM WHAT WE ONLY SEE.

And as i have said, sometimes eddy can not express the best ways in english what he wishes to say.
He types and writes, and even speaks very good english for it being his second language, or even third or fourth.
So sometimes you need to take the words he write very literally as if it was a straight translation, and not interpret what he is trying to say.

[NaeKuh]

Meh.... my picture has played this thread... there is a killer in it.. and not one but several.

[NKrader]

The problem also lies with EK trying to pass the blame on to users and basically tell us what we can and cannot use in our systems. I don't want to purchase anything from a company that can't own up to a mistake they made, and will not be purchasing anything from them due to this issue.

this is my main problem. if i do indeed purchase somthing. and it does end up having an issue am i gona end up s.o.l.? becuase they just blame it on me?... most likely..

is a scary thought that i would rather just avoid the company as a whole rather than wasting what little money i do have.

hate that "no other forums here" rule. hate it on every forum i found it.

LOL..
there is so much more to it than you know. just know it is for a good reason

[Eddy_EK]

Dear Eddy EK

I bought 4 EK's nickel plated blocks ( Supreme HF, Full cover block for evga x58 classified, and two FC580 GTX+ blocks) 2 months ago without knowing about this problems with nickel plating, I discovered all this last week so I've been running my blocks for last 1 and half months now.
After reading this statement I was disappointed that your company will only provide this "special RMAs" until July 31st its obviously puts me and other people with similar situation in a bad spot because if i decide to believe in you and let my system run for about 8-10 months more and after that discover that all my block are ruined, and according to this statement I wont be able to replace them after that.
BTW I'm using Thermochill EC6 and i did not used anything else but that doesn't make me less worried about my blocks.

Srry for bad my English, not my 1st language

If you use EC6 coolant based on our tets and experiences you will not have any problems with nickel plating.

Eddy, i got new nickel blocks (sr-2 and 2 RAM blocks) that i bought for my project.
i dont want to fit them on my board and remove them in few weeks because of flaking.

can i RMA them?

If you use what we recommend, or at least don't use what we don't recommend, you will be fine.

So what happens to the people who have paid an extra premium for the nickel products and opt to have the copper one? Will the reseller refund the difference?

We will deduct the difference from the shipping costs.

Question for Eddy:

I have three EK FC580 nickel-plated blocks that haven't been used yet, but I wish to exchange them for the copper-only versions, can that also be accommodated by this RMA process? I don't care if I get the price difference back, at all. An even exchange is just fine.

If not, I don't know what I'm going to do with my 3 brand new nickel-plated blocks, but they are not going into my watercooling loop.

Thanks

If you want to exchange it we will exchange it without a problem. But if you use coolant with anticorrosion additive based on our experience and tests you will not have any problems!

Thanks for the info Eddy but I do have a few questions for you.

First is regarding the RMA process. What do you anticipate the turn around will be for us here in the US? Where will be sending the block to and will the replacement block be sent once you have received the old one or once verified by the info requested sent with the RMA form. Granted it be from you or the reseller.

Now the other is in regards to the testing that has been done. Has the same test been performed on other nickel plated blocks or plated products from other vendors to further study the affect? If not do you plan on doing so? It may seem crazy to do but this has not occurred with nickel plated blocks form other vendors and if it did they did a hell of a job keeping it quiet. I have been using distilled water and silver for 2 years with other nickel plated blocks and they look as new and shiny as the day I got them.

We will try to make the process as quick as possible and prepare the blocks to be send as soon as we get the blocks back. The US customers will have their blocks shipped from one of US resellers although they ordered from EK directly to save on shipping. Also we will try to arrange that customer will ship to our closest reseller in order to lower shipping costs.

I would like to see the "Institute" perform a test on an EK wb from a vendor to see how good the plating is before hand. It has to be a random vendor with stock and not a hand-picked special one from EK.

edit - link removed by shazza

--MikeP

Only a comment.

In production we have random checks for all important dimensions and qualities of the product. After it gets into assembling line every product goes through numbers of QC points before it gets QC sticker and is packed in the box.
1. Surface visual check
2. G1/4 Threads check
3. Few random mounting thread check
4. Leaking check (2 bar pressure test)
5. Visual inspection and cleaning
6. Product packed in PP bag
7. Product packed in box with QC numbers.
Since the beginning of my watercooling time such cases, as shown on that forum we had exactly 0.
And If ever there was such case and we would be notified we would immediately ask customer to ship the product back to reseller and that he will get the replacement. Because that is how EK policy is.

EK, I just purchased 3x Acetal & nickel blocks for my GTX 580s.

- In order to check and see if corrosion is occuring on my blocks, I'll need to remove the "warranty void if removed" sticker. Will you still honor the RMA proceedures as outlined in the OP?
- Also, if my blocks are OK...I'll need to get an official recommendation for a fluid which can be obtained in the USA. I am not familiar with the options you listed.

Thanks

If you remove warranty void sticker you will only void warranty on sealing. The warranty on material and manufacturing process will of course remain.

Eddy Im glad ur taking the RMA's however your statement makes no sense.

Did it ever occure to you, if you guys are the only one having the problem, then possibly its just you guys, and NOT us?

Take an example at koolance or swiftech even.
Have you heard anyone complain about there nickle plating?
And im fairly sure those of us who are on swiftech and koolance are doing what u are telling us not to do without any ill effects.

And after all the flaking pictures you've seen, your still not saying its flaking?

Sorry if i dont sound civil, but Eddy, it looks like you guys are going around the bush..
Instead of saying stop using this ... stop using that... maybe its best if u guys CHANGE your nickle process to something that works.
Because if u get professional nickle platers come in here and tell you, what you said is a result of trying to cut cost, these scars you have are going to turn into amputations.

Based on our tests and results we can say that these certain additives caused EK nickel plating to fail.


Regarding RMA shipping costs: it is standard in industry. It is same as if your kitchen mixer fails and you have to drive to deliver for repair nad drive again to pick it up after repairing.

Regarding other brands and no damage: EK did tests on EK products. We cannot comment or speculate as why are differences between brands. I would like to reiterate again that results didn't find any mistake in EK products, but it is number of factors which users and EK were not paying attention to because of lack of knowledge. And EK will RMA damaged products. And EK will be on top of things - dispersing newly acquired information and taking care of users.

[prznar1]

And as i have said, sometimes eddy can not express the best ways in english what he wishes to say.
He types and writes, and even speaks very good english for it being his second language, or even third or fourth.
So sometimes you need to take the words he write very literally as if it was a straight translation, and not interpret what he is trying to say.

maybe he got no sense of humor. its pretty common for that part of europe and specialy for all those with german/austria roots (family or something, you know, german grandpa). i know cos im from that part to XD

[aoch88]

If someone keeps telling you, your wrong... no your wrong... even tho you are wrong, do you think you will feel good?

If I kill your parents, will you not tell me I'm wrong but instead trying to console me with nice words, telling me what I did was just not correct? Come on buddy, get a life. If it's a product problem then please take more responsibility instead of blaming on the users. If Toyota doesn't recall their cars and everyone ends up crashing with them, do you think it's even fair for the owners?

[Panthols]

yes this is strange. but this happend for the very first time from them. would you leave your wife after one argue? dont pass on ek totaly.

No, I wouldn't, but leaving my wife is a little bit different than choosing not to buy from a certain manufacturer in a niche market. First it was PT Nuke cracking acrylic reservoirs (no other acrylic had problems with this) and now it's silver ruining nickel plating (no other nickel plated blocks have a problem with this). I see a pattern here and I don't particularly like it.

This doesnt really help this thread tho...

What were trying to do is not say eK is this, eK is that...
If someone keeps telling you, your wrong... no your wrong... even tho you are wrong, do you think you will feel good?

What were trying to do is tell eK, ummm ok, your half correct, now take what you found out.. and look at it HERE and not THERE.

Then hopping eK will go OH I SEE.
Instead of going... FROM WHAT WE ONLY SEE.

I'm hoping EK will see that saying "our process is fine, it's your fault but we'll RMA anyway" is not making them any friends. Saying "we were cutting corners with our plating, and we apologize. We are using a different company for this now and everything looks great" would save a lot of customers, and restore some faith.

3 months is a long time, and if you have a LOT of waterblocks and pumps, as I'm sure EK does, setting up 10 loops with common fluids and letting them run for that long and posting results would be great also. We would then have proof that distilled + silver ruins their special nickel plating, instead of "the problems were in this setup, so it must be that" response given. The same should have been done before attacking PT Nuke specifically.

Again, this is starting a trend that I don't really want to see from companies I make purchases from.

[prznar1]

If I kill your parents, will you not tell me I'm wrong but instead trying to console me with nice words, telling me what I did was just not correct? Come on buddy, get a life. If it's a product problem then please take more responsibility instead of blaming on the users. If Toyota doesn't recall their cars and everyone ends up crashing with them, do you think it's even fair for the owners?

have you owned a ford at anytime in the past?

search ford with exploading fuel tanks.

now, ford is still here. and look at how tiny EK problem is compared to that.

No, I wouldn't, but leaving my wife is a little bit different than choosing not to buy from a certain manufacturer in a niche market.

same goes for killing parrents comparison
but sure, you can do whatever you want.

[NaeKuh]

Eddy and what about those additives you recommend?

Do you not recall the nightmares they caused on the supreme?
Dont you recall all my supreme testing and the result of what happens from glycol based coolant + injectors?
Dont you figure it would cause nightmares on the HF?

What are you guys going to do then?
Change the HF design so its like the old apogee design where less collection can occur and take step back in watercooling just because you want nickle blocks?

Maybe if you took your results to the plater, and told him look, this has happened because the plating job failed, it might be easier to fix?

Because going back to premixes and those in particular because of the glycol, and having to suffer from collection of mystery gelly, is that what you want your customers to suffer?

[Waterlogged]

Eddy is right but he forgot to mention all the details; it’s true that an electrolyte can cause what we see on the blocks, but what he forgot to mention, is the nickel have to be in close contact with copper in this electrolyte, and the only way it can happen it’s when defective platting expose the copper, that explain why other manufacturers don’t have the same problem , now Ek will replace the block, of course they was damage before been put in the electrolyte, and EK ask you to not use anymore electrolyte to not damage other block with imperfection. All that to cover manufacturer imperfections. .

Nickel plating starts out with a layer of copper (regardless of what the base material is) so the nickel can better adhere to the item being plated. Nickel and copper also are found in the same mines.

Here is some enlightening reading on the relationship between copper and nickel. (link)

As for this report, the smell of the fud was so strong by page 7 that I had to stop reading it.

[aoch88]

have you owned a ford at anytime in the past?

search ford with exploading fuel tanks.

now, ford is still here. and look at how tiny EK problem is compared to that.

That's a good example and this shows what's in store when manufacturers are not being responsible That's the exact point on what I'm trying to say.

[Roadhog]

I bet it would be easier and cheaper just to go buy some nickel stripper and strip your affected blocks back down to copper.

[NaeKuh]

Oh god seriously people...

If its not a supportive or contradiction to eK's statement, please dont post.

If your not going to do future purchases on eK, well, best of luck to you.
eK has a lot of stuff which u cant find on other vendors, so have fun cutting an Arm off in Liquid cooling.

Lets leave personal reflection statements out people, and go straight scientific debate.
If your statement holds no information merit besides your personal feelings, dont post.

We left all the jokes in page 1 before eddy replied...

[MrToad]

Eddy and what about those additives you recommend?

Do you not recall the nightmares they caused on the supreme?
Dont you recall all my supreme testing and the result of what happens from glycol based coolant + injectors?
Dont you figure it would cause nightmares on the HF?

What are you guys going to do then?
Change the HF design so its like the old apogee design where less collection can occur and take step back in watercooling just because you want nickle blocks?

Maybe if you took your results to the plater, and told him look, this has happened because the plating job failed, it might be easier to fix?

Because going back to premixes and those in particular because of the glycol, and having to suffer from collection of mystery gelly, is that what you want your customers to suffer?

Agreed. I'm not taking chances with premixes... I've run EK blocks (2x5870 and a HF in this build) with silver Tygon for 5 months and I haven't had issues. I know this is anecdotal, but I'd rather take my chances with the silver than with premixes...

[Vapor]

hate that "no other forums here" rule. hate it on every forum i found it.

To clarify, it is no other forums/sites/organizations run by people who have been banned from XS. Once they're banned here, they no longer have a voice here; they cannot be linked and cannot be referenced or discussed. We're making a small exception on discussion just to clarify our stance. All further posts on the matter will be removed.

[Aedubber]

So eddy the statement you made quote on quote nickel is nickel , then why is your nickel need special treatment but yet other vendors nickel does not need special treatment ? Just going by what you stated , I mean if nickel is nickel right ?