ChrisR: I'm really bugged now as I can't remember the name of the penetrant ... I'm sure the process was known by the brand name but I'm bu**ered if I can remember it ... If it comes back to you let me know or I'll go insane 
-
Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.
Astracast ROK sink - Avoid like the plague
- Thread starter megawatt
- Start date
So try a claim on your buildings/contents insurance for accidental damage and let them argue with ROK
dye penetrant inspection (DP)
Is that the stuff you were thinking about ChrisR
Magnaflux must be the most common name/penetrant
I've never seen an astracast sink in an aircraft although we've mostly been involved in mil spec and large commercial stuff. Maybe they fit them to private jets
Do you know if there's a shore (or is it slope? Slump? Shear? I can never remember. Or is it only urethane that has this) number for the sealent or any kind of recommendation with the sink? The crack would suggest repetetive load failure rather than impact. Possibly the wood counter moves a little (as expected) stressing the already pre-stressed corner point beyond it's capability. If astracast don't specify slope/slump/shore/elasticity/whatever for the fixing compound then I fail to see how they can control peak loading
Does the crack ever open?
I would never ever fit Astracast after the experience of my folks one which has severely discolored after a couple of years. Mind you, apparently this was down to them repeatedly filling it with dirty water (astracast's own paraphrased words). ER, hello, earth to astracast, it's a sink for washing dirty stuff in you ........... Anger level rising
Good luck MW
I've never seen an astracast sink in an aircraft
although we've mostly been involved in mil spec and large commercial stuff. Maybe they fit them to private jetsDo you know if there's a shore (or is it slope? Slump? Shear? I can never remember. Or is it only urethane that has this) number for the sealent or any kind of recommendation with the sink? The crack would suggest repetetive load failure rather than impact. Possibly the wood counter moves a little (as expected) stressing the already pre-stressed corner point beyond it's capability. If astracast don't specify slope/slump/shore/elasticity/whatever for the fixing compound then I fail to see how they can control peak loading
Does the crack ever open?
I would never ever fit Astracast after the experience of my folks one which has severely discolored after a couple of years. Mind you, apparently this was down to them repeatedly filling it with dirty water (astracast's own paraphrased words). ER, hello, earth to astracast, it's a sink for washing dirty stuff in you ........... Anger level rising
Good luck MW
Hmmmnnnn ... This may not be such a great idea now that I have made such a big issue of the fact that it has not been accidentally damaged and is indeed a manufacturing defect ... My insurance company may actually consider my claim to be slightly fraudulent
Fumb: My experience with Astracast is the same, they aren't prepared to concede that it may be a faulty product when there's so many other possible causes which aren't their fault
The crack doesn't appear to get any wider though it is obviously stressed as it is getting longer ... A fact Astracast aren't prepared to accept either ... Well, their unskilled customer services aren't anyway.
I have taken ChrisR's advice and started adding this to every site I can find and have told Astracast in the hope that the adverse publicity may bring some sanity to the situation.
I think they make a very nice sink, but prone to staining from tea or being touched by aluminium utensils. It looks even worse on the darker colours as it looks like you're trying to hide the dirt.
IMO this makes them unsuitable for use as a kitchen sink
"Barkeepers Friend" will get them clean, but, on consideration, I think I'd go for a heavy Stainless next time,with a matt finish.
I know someone who made the mistake of getting (may be a different make) one of those all-in-one moulded worktops and sinks, it has cracked (no surprise) as it spans several units underneath and probably needs better support.
IMO this makes them unsuitable for use as a kitchen sink
"Barkeepers Friend" will get them clean, but, on consideration, I think I'd go for a heavy Stainless next time,with a matt finish.
I know someone who made the mistake of getting (may be a different make) one of those all-in-one moulded worktops and sinks, it has cracked (no surprise) as it spans several units underneath and probably needs better support.
We had similar concerns prior to buying the sinks (we also have a single bowl ROK unit just about to be fitted into the utility room).
My gut instinct was to go for stainless steel but my conscience (wife) preferred the look of the ROK units (and I agree that they look great in our kitchen) ... The deciding factor was the promise of a 20 year guarantee from Astracast ... A factor I have now realised may not be worth a great deal.
On reflection ... If Astracast do not honour their guarantee then stainless steel in future I think
MW
My gut instinct was to go for stainless steel but my conscience (wife) preferred the look of the ROK units (and I agree that they look great in our kitchen) ... The deciding factor was the promise of a 20 year guarantee from Astracast ... A factor I have now realised may not be worth a great deal.
On reflection ... If Astracast do not honour their guarantee then stainless steel in future I think
MW
Update on the outcome
Astracast played the couldn't give a toss card to the bitter end but my supplier (Alaris Avenue) were superb.
Their customer support person (Susanna) took over the battle on my behalf, negotiated a discounted replacement (which I refused) and then finally supplied a replacement themselves free of charge.
Moral of the story, I guess, is to use a good supplier as manufacturers such as Astracast really can't be bothered with individual complaints and their 20/25 year warranties aren't worth a damn.
I cannot praise Alaris Avenue enough though.
MW
Astracast played the couldn't give a toss card to the bitter end but my supplier (Alaris Avenue) were superb.
Their customer support person (Susanna) took over the battle on my behalf, negotiated a discounted replacement (which I refused) and then finally supplied a replacement themselves free of charge.
Moral of the story, I guess, is to use a good supplier as manufacturers such as Astracast really can't be bothered with individual complaints and their 20/25 year warranties aren't worth a damn.
I cannot praise Alaris Avenue enough though.
MW
Reading Meggawatts xp I am not even going to bother contacting the company , but our Astracast Rok , ok it's a circa 7 years old sink has developed a leak from the draining section of the board, this necessitates the drying of spoons in that section underneath, unless we remove said spoons prior to washing up, I wonder can any sort of repair be carried out to these units?
Brian
Brian
I don't mean to turn this into a watchdog thread but i can share an exact same problem that just emerged on my sink a week ago. (top 3 in google for "astrocast claim" 
" ) I have a quartz rok 1.5 bowl sink btw Image here if its important
Anyway, last week, noticed few small puddles in the cupboard beneath the sink. Initially thought waste pipes had been knocked and rubber seals disturbed (didnt entertain a crack at all at this point) I checked all pipe connections and HAND tightened it back up again, ran few inches of water, unplugged, still leaking,
, felt around the side of the bowl really out of desperation to make sense of the continued leak and felt water on the side?! checked he top again in the cold light of day was a hair line crack angling towards the plug, loads of marks from cutlery, newer even noticed it, tip avoid black, especially if you live in a hard water area, lime scale et al.
Interestingly after further checks on the base involving some extreme constriction photography my suspisions that arose from firstly touch, were confirmed in pictures. The crack was consistent with a streak of inconsistent surface texture on the bowl surface. in other words the surface was not rough and unfinished all over but there are streaks of smooth glazed lines all over the base of the bowl 3 from when it was moulded during MANUFACTURING and molten plastic dribblings across it. Maybe its as a result of usage over time, hot, cold, swelling, shrinking workops but those lines are obviously weak fracturing points for what are simple stresses Crack runs from 1 to 2
I bought mine in Jan 08 from a ebay trader
just dug out my guarantee that i kept fortunately, though it seems like a futile struggle against a small time company and is probably worthless. Wish me luck in my pursuit. I will post my findings if i am not in trouble for resurrecting dead topic, i know people subscribe to threads like this though.
" ) I have a quartz rok 1.5 bowl sink btw Image here if its importantAnyway, last week, noticed few small puddles in the cupboard beneath the sink. Initially thought waste pipes had been knocked and rubber seals disturbed (didnt entertain a crack at all at this point) I checked all pipe connections and HAND tightened it back up again, ran few inches of water, unplugged, still leaking,
, felt around the side of the bowl really out of desperation to make sense of the continued leak and felt water on the side?! checked he top again in the cold light of day was a hair line crack angling towards the plug, loads of marks from cutlery, newer even noticed it, tip avoid black, especially if you live in a hard water area, lime scale et al.
Interestingly after further checks on the base involving some extreme constriction photography my suspisions that arose from firstly touch, were confirmed in pictures. The crack was consistent with a streak of inconsistent surface texture on the bowl surface. in other words the surface was not rough and unfinished all over but there are streaks of smooth glazed lines all over the base of the bowl 3 from when it was moulded during MANUFACTURING and molten plastic dribblings across it. Maybe its as a result of usage over time, hot, cold, swelling, shrinking workops but those lines are obviously weak fracturing points for what are simple stresses Crack runs from 1 to 2
I bought mine in Jan 08 from a ebay trader
just dug out my guarantee that i kept fortunately, though it seems like a futile struggle against a small time company and is probably worthless. Wish me luck in my pursuit. I will post my findings if i am not in trouble for resurrecting dead topic, i know people subscribe to threads like this though.OMG I have been cleaning my Astracast black geo rok sink tonight and have just found 2 cracks. Don't know how long they have been there but they have developed since installation approx 6 months ago. They are at the front and back of the half sink/drainer section on the top near to the molded bit which goes over into the big sink. I have checked underneath and the cracks have not yet gone right through the material yet. The sink is not overtightly fitted so there has been no pressure on it. I have emailed Astracast and will contact the supplier tomorrow, I am gutted. I will upload pics if anyone is interested.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local