Toto Eco Drake - finish quality not as expected

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ifurita143

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I just bought my first toilet - a Toto Eco Drake (C743E bowl, ST743E tank). I chose it due to the great reputation of Toto toilets on this forum, even though it costs nearly double the equivalent Home Depot special here in Canada.

I haven't installed it yet, so I can't speak to the flush performance. But I must say I'm disappointed by the finish quality, given that above-mentioned price premium.

As you can see from the photos below, they seem to have cut every possible corner when applying the glaze. The underside of the bowl is not completely covered, nor is the back of the tank. Probably not something I'll notice once it's installed, but I was expecting more from a Toto.

Of greater concern is the fact that the trapway is not completely glazed, as trumpeted in all of the Toto literature. The top and sides of the trapway are glazed, but not the bottom. The store had another bowl but it was even worse. It looks like they pour the glaze without bothering to check if the trapway is completely covered. Again, hopefully it's not something that will affect performance, but it's not what I was expecting from a Toto.

Any comments from other Toto Eco Drake owners would be much appreciated.
 

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Tomw

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I just bought my first toilet - a Toto Eco Drake (C743E bowl, ST743E tank). I chose it due to the great reputation of Toto toilets on this forum, even though it costs nearly double the equivalent Home Depot special here in Canada.

I haven't installed it yet, so I can't speak to the flush performance. But I must say I'm disappointed by the finish quality, given that above-mentioned price premium.

As you can see from the photos below, they seem to have cut every possible corner when applying the glaze. The underside of the bowl is not completely covered, nor is the back of the tank. Probably not something I'll notice once it's installed, but I was expecting more from a Toto.

Of greater concern is the fact that the trapway is not completely glazed, as trumpeted in all of the Toto literature. The top and sides of the trapway are glazed, but not the bottom. The store had another bowl but it was even worse. It looks like they pour the glaze without bothering to check if the trapway is completely covered. Again, hopefully it's not something that will affect performance, but it's not what I was expecting from a Toto.

Any comments from other Toto Eco Drake owners would be much appreciated.

The back side of the tank is not normally glazed - at least it isn't on any of my American Standard toilets.
 

Redwood

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I can't think of any toilet I have ever seen that had the underside of the bowl glazed or the back of the tank where it goes against the wall glazed...

I would say maybe you have unreal expectations even for the best of toilets...

How is the glaze where you can se it when it is installed?
 

99k

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There was another thread with similar complaints. The traps on both of mine are similar to yours which really contradicts the "fully glazed trapway" they boast about. That said though, it doesn't negatively impact the flush quality and you will be very pleased with the product.
 

Jadnashua

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Your perceptions may or may not be correct. Reports have indicated that if the porcelain is smoothed then glazed, stuff like toilet paper tends to stick easier. So, if you leave it rough, then glaze, it stays rough, and water can get under any that might tend to stick - a little more turbulance helps. So, it could just be truely glazed, just not smooth (intentionally).

There's more to engineering a toilet that works than most people think...Toto seems to have done it well, whereas some of the older American firms don't.
 

Terry

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That said though, it doesn't negatively impact the flush quality and you will be very pleased with the product.

In fact in may even help.

Try throwing a baby wipe on your mirror, and one of the textured wall.
Which one sticks?
You don't want something so smooth that everything sticks to it.
 

Micp879

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Just for comparisons sake, I checked my Mansfield Maverick toilet. The area under the bowl is 100% completely glazed, the area along the backside of the tank is not.
 

Redwood

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Just for comparisons sake, I checked my Mansfield Maverick toilet. The area under the bowl is 100% completely glazed, the area along the backside of the tank is not.

You pulled the toilet off the floor to check it?:eek:
 

Kingsotall

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If your concerned about the outside of the trapway, as that is the pic you posted, that has no bearing on any toilets flushing performance. It does look like a substandard glaze job regardless.
 

Scuba_Dave

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I think one issue if the toilet is not glazed on the outside is cleaning
If its not glazed dirt will not come off as easy
Not a problem usually with the back of the tank
My wife weasr gloves when wiping down the toilet
As she wipes it down if she hits an unglazed part then the dirt will go into the unglazed part
 

knocknock

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I just bought my first toilet - a Toto Eco Drake (C743E bowl, ST743E tank). I chose it due to the great reputation of Toto toilets on this forum, even though it costs nearly double the equivalent Home Depot special here in Canada.

I haven't installed it yet, so I can't speak to the flush performance. But I must say I'm disappointed by the finish quality, given that above-mentioned price premium.

As you can see from the photos below, they seem to have cut every possible corner when applying the glaze. The underside of the bowl is not completely covered, nor is the back of the tank. Probably not something I'll notice once it's installed, but I was expecting more from a Toto.

Of greater concern is the fact that the trapway is not completely glazed, as trumpeted in all of the Toto literature. The top and sides of the trapway are glazed, but not the bottom. The store had another bowl but it was even worse. It looks like they pour the glaze without bothering to check if the trapway is completely covered. Again, hopefully it's not something that will affect performance, but it's not what I was expecting from a Toto.

Any comments from other Toto Eco Drake owners would be much appreciated.

I just installed a Toto Eco Drake RF CST743E yesterday and I did notice similar things that you have. On mine, under the rim, where the holes are, it was not glazed. I also had what might be glazed but rough underside of the toilet (under where the Toto print). I also had an issue seating the tank to the toilet, I cannot achieve the three point contact that the manual is talking about. It felt I was going to crack either the tank or the seat if I wanted it to seat like the manual said, I have a gap no more than 1/32 of an inch where it suppose to be touching. BUT, it works like what people have been saying about Toto - great product!
 
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