ShuffleTech Shuffler - Install and Mini Review

[Guma]

This is my personal review of the ShuffleTech Shuffler that will soon be available to everyone. Please bear in mind that I had a Beta version of the shuffler and did NOT have the actual model that is being produced for distribution. The differences being the noise factor will be reduced and the light bar that was being affected by light coming in through the clear door on top was adjusted so there is no problem there anymore.

First looks, it is appealing. Outer shell is made of plastic which seems like it could stand up to some abuse. It actually stood up pretty well to an accidental 2 foot drop on to concrete. No noticeable damage! The flush mounting plate is made of metal however and sits nicely on top of the unit.

Here is a picture of everything that comes with the shuffler.

Shuffler
Power Adaptor
Flush Mount Kit (will be explained in step by step pictures)

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4935.sized.jpg

Drawer on the side if you choose to have the cards exit the bottom of the shuffler. There is a very small switch on the bottom of the unit. I had to use a tweaker to get at it.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4937.sized.jpg

Top of unit with door open

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4936.sized.jpg

Flush Mount Plate sitting on the shuffler

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4938.sized.jpg

The Flush Mount Kit left a lot to be desired for me. The little brass tabs you see below are not the greatest thing I have seen. The good thing is that once the install is complete you will not see these at all, unless you are crawling around looking for them.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4939.sized.jpg

Brass tabs installed

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4940.sized.jpg

Next I cut the hole in the table surface. Yeah, yeah I have too many line on there. I screwed up and had to redo them and my dog had graciously chewed up my big eraser.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4941.sized.jpg

The cuts to the left and right, must be cut at a 45 degree angle to allow the shuffler to slide all the way up flush to the mounting plate. Not happy about this, but it is not that difficult either. I have a way in my head that if ShuffleTech made the mounting plate for the shuffler to slide up into a competed housing my job would be much easier.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4942.sized.jpg

Mounting Plate test fit

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4943.sized.jpg

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4944.sized.jpg

Added some foam to make sure that the shuffler would slide all the way to the top and be even with the mounting plate. It was not, and I had to do some sanding underneath.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4946.sized.jpg

Now here is my biggest complaint about the hardware that came with the shuffler. The instructions for mounting the flush mount kit and the hardware are for mounting the kit to a single sheet of plywood. All the tables I build are 2 sheets of plywood thick, thus the turnbuckles that come with the unit were too long. It was easy enough to run to Ace pick up two new turnbuckles and corresponding screws for the lower bracket. The turnbuckle on the left is the one that came with the shuffler and the other two are the ones I bought. About 1/2” shorter.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4959.sized.jpg

Completed support bar and turnbuckles to hold the shuffler in place.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4960.sized.jpg

Here is what the mounting plate looks like mounted to a completed table.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4962.sized.jpg

Underside of the table with the two hooks screwed in place that the turnbuckles will hook to. Yes I cleaned up the cuts before I finished up with the table

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4964.sized.jpg

Shuffler in place

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4968.sized.jpg

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4965.sized.jpg

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4966.sized.jpg


I don’t mean to sound so negative, but IMO the flush mount kit needs some work or some options for different applications. The unit looks great when it is installed in the table, and caught a few eyes of people that saw the table.

As far as the shuffler itself, it works great! Again I had the BETA version so it was a little loud for my taste, but I would think it would become negligible when involved in a hand, TV or stereo in the background, etc. The customer I installed the unit for had used the unit for a week before approving it to go into his table. All of his friends loved it and he ordered 3 more shufflers.

I will have one installed in one of my personal tables for use in my games!

[IgotDANUTZ]

Drop the cards in the top and they come back out shuffled?
Whats the cost gonna be?

[Wedge Rock]

Great review and pics... thanks!

[Guma]

Drop the cards in the top and they come back out shuffled?
Whats the cost gonna be?

$479.95 for the shuffler and $99.95 for the flush mount kit.

[Wedge Rock]

All we need now is pics of someone retrofitting one to an existing table...

[Guma]

All we need now is pics of someone retrofitting one to an existing table...

Soon as I get my first one, I will get this done and posted as well.

[Wedge Rock]

Oh, no... I didn't mean you! ;)

[Guma]

Oh, no... I didn't mean you! ;)

Oh so you don't want me to do it. Fine, I will take my ball and go play somewhere else! Oh wait, we already did that...:D

[Irish]

Nice review Guma! I have to admit I've been pretty skeptical, but it actually looks pretty cool. How long does the unit take to shuffle a deck?

[Guma]

Nice review Guma! I have to admit I've been pretty skeptical, but it actually looks pretty cool. How long does the unit take to shuffle a deck?

You have two options when you shuffle the cards. 3 or 7 riffle. The 3 riffle took about 45 secs, and the 7 riffle was 90 secs, I think. I didn't really time it to be honest.

[Guma]

Let me see if I can put this into words... I have a great idea for mounting the flush mount kit.

Lets start with the small bolts and brass strips holding it down to the table. Make these bolts large and longer. 5/16" in diamter, and 3/4" long. On the template used to make the hole for the shuffler have it marked where you will drill through the plywood for the bolts to drop into the plywood. Drill the 5/16" holes from the top, now flip over the plywood and drill the hole to a larger diameter, but only about 5/16" deep. Think countersunk here. With the bolts coming through the ply take a washer and nut and tighten down the flush mount plate. Easy peesy!

Now for mounting the shuffler to the table. See this picture...

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/ShuffleTech/IMG_4936.sized.jpg

Instead of making the cuts in the plywood for all these angles, on the underside of the mounting plate recreate all these angles with metal so the shuffler just slides up into a little housing. I drew up a cutaway of what I am trying to explain. Picture the mounting plate cut in half from left to right and you are looking at it at eye level.

http://gumataotao.albumpost.com//albums/Hosting/mount_cutaway.jpg

Now you just cut a rectanlge, with no angles, in the wood drop in the mounting plate, bolt it down from underneath the table. Slide the shuffler up into the housing and it locks in place with the small tabs and boom you are done.

What do you think?

[Nickawompus]

Looks like you could just make the cut out wider, the plate would still cover the cut out,, no?

[Guma]

Looks like you could just make the cut out wider, the plate would still cover the cut out,, no?

You could make it a bit wider but it would not get rid of the requirement for the 45 degree cut. The mounting plate would not cover the cut in the cloth if you made the cut at 90 degrees and large enough for the shuffler to fit.

[Guma]

Finally got my distributor model early last week. Used it last night in a friend's tournament.

Time used: 7+ hours

Cards used: Copags supplied with unit (Poker Size)

Set to take cards from the top of the unit and not the drawer on the side.

Jams: 1 bad one, 1 not so bad
The first jam I had to unplug the unit and plug it back in for the cards to return to the top so they could be removed. 2nd jam I just had to jostle the cards around and it started shuffling again.

Application: Table top, well on top of a drink stand sitting next to my seat. I ran the shuffler all night.

Noise level: 1st location was not bad at all. Players sitting across from me at the table could barely hear it. This was due to 2 tables running and a couple of loud mouths at the other table. When the chatter was low the shuffler could be heard.

2nd Location was in the corner of the room and at table height. The noise distraction increased because the echo from the corner. Could be heard by players at the opposite end of the table.

Overall personal opinion: Absolutely love it! We EASILY doubled our hands per round while using the shuffler. Yes, that is a testament to how many slow dealers/players play in these tournaments. The noise level, even sitting right beside it was not that bad. It soon became part of the background noise.

Other player's opinions: Coming from most people who do not understand the importance of hands per round... Didn't much care for the price tag, but did seem to like not having to shuffle cards. One guy even mentioned he had one that he got from Wally World for $15. I almost tried to explain the difference but quickly realized it would be a waste of breathe.
From those that understand the hands per round... loved it, but again the price tag was a deal breaker. They would rather rotate the deal and shuffle before spending $500.

Oh yeah.. I bubbled in 5th place when my AQ ran into AK with an A on the flop. Money went all in on the turn, and my night was done.

[mikeyinsd]

Any changes to the flush mount kit from the beta you tested?

[Screw]

Great review Guma. The flush mount kit looks a little "high" on the table, I'd be concerned with cards getting caught in it. Any issues since you installed it?

-Screw

[NuRelic]

Just found this review by following a link provided by Pie Taster on this thread (http://perfectmancave.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11346). Very nice write up and well done. I think I might look into one of these in the future. <golf clap>

Nu