Advice Needed for Dynamo HS-1 Refinish (Paint Question)

Samelak

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I need to freshen up an original POW in Dynamo cabinet that I had for about 20 years. I know this is not a desirable game, but I had too long to not want to redo it. Anyway, it looks like the original finish on these cabinets was paint from what I can tell. I tried sanding the lower half and it came off rather quickly unlike melamine or vinyl. Unfortunately there isn't any repro side art available so I will need to mask off mine…it's in fair shape anyway. So what is the best method and paint choice to get a decent (not perfect) finish? I was thinking of a final wood sand with 220 grit and going with Rustoleum enamel semi-gloss black (apply with a foam roller).
 
I need to freshen up an original POW in Dynamo cabinet that I had for about 20 years. I know this is not a desirable game, but I had too long to not want to redo it. Anyway, it looks like the original finish on these cabinets was paint from what I can tell. I tried sanding the lower half and it came off rather quickly unlike melamine or vinyl. Unfortunately there isn't any repro side art available so I will need to mask off mine…it's in fair shape anyway. So what is the best method and paint choice to get a decent (not perfect) finish? I was thinking of a final wood sand with 220 grit and going with Rustoleum enamel semi-gloss black (apply with a foam roller).

As far as i remember, Early Dynamo cabinets had vinyl on the outside.
 
Perhaps…but its sanding off like very thin paint. Either way the finish is bumpy and discolored. Going to try shellac, then several coats of paint.
 
I'd think you'd need to go a lot finer than 220. Might want to start with a sandable primer and fine sand between multiple coats. Then once it's real smooth, try the rustoleum with foam roller. Foam rollers take some skill also but I've had some excellent outcomes using them.

Paint never turns out as nice as I want it to, so I'd aim for perfect and then settle for decent. If you aim for decent then you're aiming too low.

Also consider laminate, it takes less skill to install and usually comes out looking way better than paint.
 
I fixed up a couple Data East cabinets, which I always thought were made by Dynamo and it's almost like they used heat-infused vinyl. Getting it off the cabinet was nearly impossible. Sanding, filling, priming and revynling would be my advice. If you're not gonna go through that trouble, in order to use laminate, which would be easier and stronger, you'd have to somehow get all of that vinyl off the cabinet surface before you install laminate or it just won't stick very well. Paint would be my last choice in this case.
 
I fixed up a couple Data East cabinets, which I always thought were made by Dynamo and it's almost like they used heat-infused vinyl. Getting it off the cabinet was nearly impossible. Sanding, filling, priming and revynling would be my advice. If you're not gonna go through that trouble, in order to use laminate, which would be easier and stronger, you'd have to somehow get all of that vinyl off the cabinet surface before you install laminate or it just won't stick very well. Paint would be my last choice in this case.
I would personally go with vertical grade laminate. You don't have to be perfect with total removal but Phetishboy is right that you need to remove most/all of the vinyl for it to adhere properly.
 
Typically I would do laminate but no one reproduces the side art. I was hoping to save it by repainting around the original art.

I tried painting the front to see what kind of results I would get but looks like pitting in the particle board is going to be present. I might just go ahead and laminate everything in hopes of NOS side art magically appears. No one ever going reproduce it.
 
I have a few dynamo hs-1s and 2s, all of them where vinyl on the outside. I am in the process of doing a Ghouls and Ghosts and I am using the vertical grade laminate for the restoration.
 
Typically I would do laminate but no one reproduces the side art. I was hoping to save it by repainting around the original art.

I tried painting the front to see what kind of results I would get but looks like pitting in the particle board is going to be present. I might just go ahead and laminate everything in hopes of NOS side art magically appears. No one ever going reproduce it.
LOL, yeah POW is pretty far down on the list of repro art. But you could laminate it and throw on an SNK logo until you find NOS art? :dontknow:
 
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