Ice Cold Beer Restorations - Nasty sisters

gregbl

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Earlier this year, I picked up an Ice Cold Beer machine that needed some work. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I didn't get a chance to start in on it until recently. As it so happens, about the same time I was getting ready to start in restoring THAT Ice Cold Beer, I managed to pick up another one.

Therefore, this thread will chronicle the restoration efforts of 2 Ice Cold Beer machines...or as I call them, the Nasty Sisters. These Bavarian bombshells had certainly seen some rough times, no doubt out cruising the bars across this great land of ours. One fully works, the other needs new motors and belts. But, both of them are going to receive the deluxe treatment, getting some "plastic surgery" on their bodies, as well as going shopping for new clothes.

Before anyone asks, I'm planning on keeping one and the other is destined for a friend's collection. ;)

I would like to thank in advance, Bill from ChompingQuarters.com, whose excellent blog on his Ice Cold Beer restoration is being used as a guide throughout the process, not to mention his artwork reproductions (and therefore Rich from This Old Game since he prints them). I've bought parts from several folks, including Twisty Wrist Arcade for motors, balls, limit switches, and belts. I'm looking forward to the glass reproduction from Phoenix Arcade. New wood bases for both were purchased from Spacebaby. Apologies if I forgot anyone else who has provided parts for these.

I'm doing these fairly simultaneously, some tasks are being done in parallel, others will be done serially.

Here's contestant #1, her before shots:
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It is hard to tell in these shots, but the upper left of the cabinet has some damage, particularly on the inside just above the playfield. I will have to build that back up with bondo.

In the process of stripping all of the parts so I can work on the cabinet:
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Here she is, stripped bare, bondo'd, & sanded:

I should note that stripping all of the old wood-grain vinyl and black vinyl from the cabinet was fairly trivial once I started using Citri-Strip. I started with a heat gun, but that was pretty tough going and I was worried about overheating the particle board cabinet. When I used the Citri-Strip, I only left it on about 25-35 minutes and then scraped it all off...keeping it from potentially seeping in to the particle board. I then used a little amount of Citri-Strip's after-wash to prepare the surface for painting. Everything will get a paint coat before vinyl re-application.

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That's all for now, more soon.
 
Just finished painting the first machine...base coat of satin black before I apply the black vinyl and wood-grain vinyl to it. Have to wait for it to dry, then will hit it lightly with fine sandpaper to even out the surface before applying the vinyl. The camera flash caused some reflections.

I think I'll let it dry overnight and hit it with the sandpaper tomorrow. I used oil-based black satin and a fine foam roller.

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Icb

I'll be watching. This may sound stupid but won't oil based paint affect the vinyl's ability to stick if not right away, over time?
 
I'm going to defer to Bill @ ChompingQuarters.com on that one. He's done a lot of restorations and when you're going to put vinyl on it seems to be the general wisdom to put a coat of paint on first. But going oil-based vs water-based on that paint is a point where I'm not sure about the long-term ramifications. In my case for this one, my Ace Hardware had satin-black oil-based pre-mixed at a good price...they would have had to custom-mix the satin-black in water-based paint.

I'll be watching. This may sound stupid but won't oil based paint affect the vinyl's ability to stick if not right away, over time?
 
Given the cold temperatures and using oil-based paint, it has taken longer than anticipated for the paint to fully dry before sanding it. I could have done it last night, but I was otherwise occupied. Hoping to get to that tonight or tomorrow night and then get the vinyl installed.
 
Where did you get the woodgrain vinyl? When I owned my ICB, I searched all over for something that seemed adequate in terms of color and durability, but never found a good match.
 
I got enough for one machine from Bill @ Chompingquarters.com, he had a small amount left over from when he restored his. For the other one, I bought a roll of 3M vinyl on eBay.

I'm going to be putting the wood-grain on this weekend, so I'll take pictures and upload them. One of the machines hasn't gotten the old wood-grain vinyl stripped off yet, so after I get the new stuff on, I'll sit them side-by-side so you can see. It is pretty close, not exact, but if you don't have a new one sitting side-by-side with an old one, you'd likely never know. Once I post the pics this weekend, I'll post a link to what I got from eBay for those that are interested.

Given how nice the weather is supposed to be here this weekend, I'm hoping to get several things done, including getting the outside Christmas lights up. And I'm going on a game pick-up run on Sunday...will post pics of that one as well. :)
 
Oil based paint

I was discussing this with a friend that is having trouble getting side art to stick on a refurbed cabinet that he used oil base on and he cannot get the sideart to stay. He said it was peeling after a couple days. Just a thought before you paint the second one. the custom blend might be worth the money. I don't know this to fact just passing on a precaution to you. Good luck and watching.
 
Well, I *finally* got a chance to work on the vinyl application on #1 (this week has been very busy with regular work, including bleeding into the evenings). I started with the black vinyl. And I found that I should remember my old adage: "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good." I ended up with a couple of small seams where I had to put sections of black vinyl together. When Ice Cold Beer was originally assembled BITD they put the black vinyl on the inside of the cabinet sides before the machine was assembled because that is one solid piece originally. The only way I could replicate that look would be to rip the cabinet apart and then put it back together. Simply not worth the effort, so there are a couple of very minor seams where sections of black vinyl meet. I couldn't get one contiguous piece to go from the bottom all the way up and then to the top back. Will be doing the front section tomorrow, then working on the wood-grain vinyl application on the sides. Learning from #1 and will be applying those lessons to #2 shortly.
 
After traveling for work most of this past week, I got a chance to get some work done on ICB.

Here is the wood-grain vinyl applied to candidate #1:

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I've also re-painted the coin-door, will hopefully have time to re-install that tomorrow and work on the control panel. Also need to put the new base on the bottom of the cabinet. I always put t-molding on last.

This one is in the home stretch... :)
 
Does anybody know of a source for a long red translucent leaf button? I have one control panel that has one and the other control panel has a solid red button instead (so that one doesn't light up). Would like both of them to have the translucent variety, but the short ones won't work. I suppose I could glue something on to the back of a short one to make it longer, but I'd rather just find a long one. Did a bunch of searching and came up empty...Bob Roberts has an orange one though.
 
Machine #1 is DONE! :fest06:

Work has begun on machine #2.

Pics of machine #1, downstairs in its completed state:

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The only thing this little lady needs is a nice fresh glass front...so I'm looking forward to that project. The cabinet is the original survivor, simply fixed up where necessary with new vinyl throughout and new artwork. The insides are so clean you could almost eat off them.

I need to figure out a free-play option for it though...I try to keep all my machines on free-play if possible.

Here's an excellent wood-grain vinyl choice for these machines. Simply go to eBay and search for "3M Di-Noc Marine Teak Wood Grain Vinyl Sticker Decal Roll Adhesive Sheet". You'll find that the Marine Teak color is excellent, a little lighter than the original, but looks amazing.

I'd still like to find a nice translucent red long leaf button...the only ones I've seen are the short ones, so if anyone has a spare long one, please PM me.

I'm now shifting my priority to Tapper, Berzerk, Gravitar, & Black Widow, but work will continue on Ice Cold Beer #2 at the same time. It just isn't as high priority as it once was...I'd like to get as many of those 4 in place by the end of year as possible, since I'm out through then on vacation.

Happy Holidays!
 
Machine #1 is DONE! :fest06:

Work has begun on machine #2.

Pics of machine #1, downstairs in its completed state:

IMG_2665_zps3b0bd62a.jpg

IMG_2666_zps4fccb110.jpg

IMG_2668_zps42c3e13d.jpg

IMG_2669_zps4ef67e94.jpg

IMG_2670_zpsce2acaa2.jpg

IMG_2674_zpsb31bb473.jpg

IMG_2675_zps46065611.jpg


The only thing this little lady needs is a nice fresh glass front...so I'm looking forward to that project. The cabinet is the original survivor, simply fixed up where necessary with new vinyl throughout and new artwork. The insides are so clean you could almost eat off them.

I need to figure out a free-play option for it though...I try to keep all my machines on free-play if possible.

Here's an excellent wood-grain vinyl choice for these machines. Simply go to eBay and search for "3M Di-Noc Marine Teak Wood Grain Vinyl Sticker Decal Roll Adhesive Sheet". You'll find that the Marine Teak color is excellent, a little lighter than the original, but looks amazing.

I'd still like to find a nice translucent red long leaf button...the only ones I've seen are the short ones, so if anyone has a spare long one, please PM me.

I'm now shifting my priority to Tapper, Berzerk, Gravitar, & Black Widow, but work will continue on Ice Cold Beer #2 at the same time. It just isn't as high priority as it once was...I'd like to get as many of those 4 in place by the end of year as possible, since I'm out through then on vacation.

Happy Holidays!

Wonderful work!

There is a freeplay rom mod. I have it in mine. I can burn it for you.
 
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