Gorf Restoration

[Phetishboy]

So I picked up a Gorf waaaay back in the Spring/ Early summer. It seemed in decent shape, so I figured 2 or 3 weeks and she'd be ready for the gameroom. Well, as usual, I realized the cab needed a lot more attention than I had originally thought. I had to bondo some corners on the lower laminate side, strip the artwork and paint from the upper side and most of the metal in this cab was rusty as hell so it all needed sanding and painting. I assume it spent it's life in a damp environment. There was no moisture damage to the wood, just the metal. I had stripped the artwork and paint several months back, but stalled on this resto for whatever reason. I finally got back into it about 3 weeks ago. I got the control panel restored and was nearly finished with the coindoor. Then I realized, shit, I better get back to restoring the cabinet before I forget. So, after one failed attempt to roll the blue on the upper cab (I let it dry in the path of my garage furnace fan which dried the thick all-surface enamel way too quickly and left the dreaded orange peel), I sanded it flat and got out the sprayer. I did 2 coats today, will lightly sand and do one more coat tomorrow. Then I'll let it cure 3 days and install the artwork I picked up from Arcade Overlays. Here it is as of tonight:

 

[stingray2309]

looks good now how bad was the cab before?

 

[phineas foo]

amazing work so far! PM me if you are in need of a Monitor bubble, brand new repro in high quality ABS. I would be willing to send it for postage only so people can see how awesome it will look totally restored with the new part I am making! PM me!

 

[jj mann]

looks good now how bad was the cab before?

Yeah, any before pics?

BTW you do great work. Thanks for sharing.

 

[K3V]

What color did you use for the blue? I may have to repaint my new Gorf soon too.

 

[Phetishboy]

amazing work so far! PM me if you are in need of a Monitor bubble, brand new repro in high quality ABS. I would be willing to send it for postage only so people can see how awesome it will look totally restored with the new part I am making! PM me!

Mine's in OK shape, but I'd never turn down the opportunity to have a brand new one to install. Sweet, thanks. PM sent.

 

[Phetishboy]

What color did you use for the blue? I may have to repaint my new Gorf soon too.

I had the side art color-matched at Sherwin Williams to get this Blue. I still have the side art swatch I used stuck to my notebook. This blue they could only get in a gloss for me though. Works well with a sprayer, but good luck with a foam roller.

 

[Spyridon]

Looking good Sir Phet! Nice to see you using the sprayer. Is this the first cab you used it on?

Don't forget the white splatter before you put the side art on. Probably best to do before you take off the masking you currently have in place.

 

[Spyridon]

What color did you use for the blue? I may have to repaint my new Gorf soon too.

If you click on the link in my signature, I have the codes I used in there somewhere.

 

[Spyridon]

I'll let it cure 3 days and install the artwork I picked up from Arcade Overlays.

I heard that Arcade Overlays was going to adjust the blue on the side art. I wonder if they did? The color was off from what the original was, so hopefully that is now corrected.

 

[Phetishboy]

I heard that Arcade Overlays was going to adjust the blue on the side art. I wonder if they did? The color was off from what the original was, so hopefully that is now corrected.

I doubt it. I held the original swatch up to the repro and it seemed a lot lighter. I used the original side art for a colormatch, so I'm sure you'll see a shade change between the 2. As to the splatter, I am going to experiment with that later. I think I am going to mask off the area where the side art goes, so there aren't a bunch of little paint drops under the art work. I want the surface as flat as possible where the sideart adheres. If you want some before pics, you'll have to contact nuterpacman. I only seem to have taken before pics in the inside of the cab for wiring purposes.

 

[K3V]

If you click on the link in my signature, I have the codes I used in there somewhere.

Great - thanks! Nice work on the restoration too, looks amazing.

 

[Phetishboy]

Looking good Sir Phet! Nice to see you using the sprayer. Is this the first cab you used it on?

No, the second. My first spray job was Joust.

 

[Phetishboy]

2 more pics:

 

[gregatron]

I foresee this Gorf being another awesome total restore. Cant wait for the money shot. Gotta love them HVLP guns!!!

 

[Phetishboy]

I foresee this Gorf being another awesome total restore. Cant wait for the money shot. Gotta love them HVLP guns!!!

I hope so. Shot the last coats of blue last night, tonight I'll be doing the white star splatters with a toothbrush. Then install the sideart and wax the whole thing with Turtle wax.

 

[Phetishboy]

Ok, gave the final coat of blue a nice burnishing/polishing with #0000 steel wool. Then I proceeded to put masking tape on the front of the sideart. I then stuck the side art, backing side out, onto the cabinet to mask the area where it would eventually be stuck down. I then took out my toothbrush, dipped it in some semi gloss white and began flicking to simulate the 'starfield' that the original cab had. Turned out pretty well:

Next I pulled off the masking to reveal the lower half of the cab and took some quick pics. Before masking and painting the blue, I had bondoed the corners and edges, sanded the entire surface and shot 3 light coats of Grey Automotive primer onto the scuffed and repaired laminate. Looks like it's starting to come together:

 

[BeagleBoy]

Looks very nice.

So is your garage heated? Or does the paint not really need to be very warm to cure? Avon's near St. Cloud, right?

For those of you who haven't been following weather in the Midwest, it's been a tad bit cold this December. By which I mean sub-zero F.

 

[Spyridon]

It's good to see another Gorf getting some love

The white splatter looks good.

 

[Phetishboy]

Looks very nice.

So is your garage heated? Or does the paint not really need to be very warm to cure? Avon's near St. Cloud, right?

For those of you who haven't been following weather in the Midwest, it's been a tad bit cold this December. By which I mean sub-zero F.

Yep, heated garage. I usually keep it 58-60, but when I paint, I crank it up to 68-70 while it cures. I lived through 2 unheated garage Winters. Never again.