Mike's DK Jr project...a novice approach to a restoration

[xxstatic]

I think the next thing I'll do on the DK Jr cabinet is the coin door
and coin mechs. The coin door will need a good sanding to get off the
bulk of the rust. When that is done I'll give it a few coats of the
same semi-gloss black paint used on the rest of the cabinet.
For what it's worth the interior of the cabinet as well as all visible
black areas on the outside will be treated with the same paint.

For sanding the metal of the coin door what grit of sand paper should I use ?

The coin mechs are in good shape despite the obvious scratches from people
inserting thier hard earned quarters. I was also hoping I could easily
clean up this metal by sanding it also. By sanding it and leaving it
unfishied/untreated is it more likley to rust ? Should I leave the metal plates
as is ? Sand them, perhaps clear coat them ? What grit of sand paper would
be ideal for these ?

I'd use a fine grit for sanding if you even have to sand, I would think the wire brush will take care of the rust, if you have dent's you can Bondo them as needed/sand for a smooth finish, the coin mech fronts are aluminum so they wont rust, again I'd wire brush them and only sand with a very fine grit if needed.
I repainted mine with the hammered finish silver paint:

 

[mike boss]

Once again guys thanks for the tips. All the info is very useful. I managed to locate locally Novus polish, so I went and picked up the 2oz 1,2,and 3. Cost me $15 for the trio. So the intention is to get the buttons cleaned up tonight. I'm looking forward to bringing them back to life. Over and above the buttons the only thing I see myself doing tonight is removing the coin door, and perhaps adding another coat of black paint then some triple thick gloss to the CP. That triple thick Krylon makes is good stuff. Oh and if I feel like it I'll remove the old DK JR instruction sticker from the CPO. Anyone think Goo-Gone would be dangerous to use on the CPO ?



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*** Upto $184 on this project to date ! ***

 

[xxstatic]

Oh and if I feel like it I'll remove the old DK JR instruction sticker from the CPO. Anyone think Goo-Gone would be dangerous to use on the CPO ?

If you plan on re-using the CPO I'd be careful with any kinds of cleaners, the underside is silkscreened to the plexi and can damage rather easily.

 

[mike boss]

I thought that after I typed that. And I by no means want to risk any damage to the CPO. I'll just use some warm soapy water to remove what of the adhesive I can.

 

[mike boss]

Didn't do much last night...........lazy ! But I did manage to hit the CP with another coat of black. I'll do a few coats of clear tonight and try this button restoration.

 

[mike boss]

Read in some post on KLOV about plugging the holes in the side of my cabinet with dowels so I can bondo over them. I like that idea.
I've been trying to decide how I would mount the monitor, and what kind to use. To be honest if I can (cost wise) I'm going to go big, and go LCD. I love working with them, so light and easy to maneuver. I was thinking to keep the top hole then from the inside mount a block of wood. Attatch a brace to that for the monitor and BOOM, DONE !
Mind you I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

For now I've been working on the CP. I got the panel painted and coated with a few coats of clear. I think I rushed it as it looks kinda streaky. I'm not going to sweat it as the CPO will cover the bulk of it anyway. I peeled off the old instruction card and cleaned the plexi. I put it over top to see how it looks and I'm happy with the outcome.

For the instruction card and instruction sticker I got the hi-ress 300 DPI scans from Mike's arcade. I plan on printing them at my local printer. It's a buck a page for 12" x 18" photostock and his stuff looks good. Sticker stock (also 12" x 18") is $8. I'll get more then one sticker and instruction card, but all in all, its close, convenient, and I'm sure they will look OK.

 

[mike boss]

I'd also like to thank delroy666, fellow CGCC'er and KLOV member, he is kindly sending me some of his extra white t-molding for my control panel. Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

http://www.mymissiontomame.blogspot.com/

 

[delroy666]

I'd also like to thank delroy666, fellow CGCC'er and KLOV member, he is kindly sending me some of his extra white t-molding for my control panel. Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

No problem Mike, I'm happy to help. I dropped it in the mail today.

I seem to remember someone on CGCC or MAACA selling cheap (or giving away) 19" CRT monitors not too long ago. You might have luck putting up a 'wanted' post on those forums to see if anyone local has one for sale, if you don't want to go the LCD route. Personally, I prefer CRTs... LCD's don't scale non-native resolutions well, and just don't quite "look right" for classic games IMO.

Where did you find the Novus locally? I've always had to order mine off eBay.

 

[mike boss]

I forget what it was called to be honest, was in Scarborough.
It was something plastics. What I did was call the number on the site, they sent me to seller in Scarborough. It was on Tapscott. Let me find the name.............I'm so bad !
Was $15 for all three bottles, all 2oz.

GOT IT !

GTA East (Head Office)
938 Tapscott Road
Scarborough, ON
M1C 3X1
(416) 281-4300 1-800-268-6784

 

[mike boss]

Anyone know if/where I could find a list of 1 or 2 player games that only require one button ? I'd like to be able to easily compile a list of games that would be ideal for the DK JR project.
Vertical orientation, 1 button, 4 way.................blah blah blah
I tried good, but nadda !

PS - doing the button restoration Thurs.

 

[mike boss]

Did a little work on the buttons. WOW, do they take time !
I'll give them a little more TLC tonight. They don't quite have
that shine I'm looking for yet. I also managed to send off my
artwork to the printers on Tuesday. I was able to get it after work.
$5 he charged me which is awesome ! I got my 12"x18" photo stock with the Control Panel underlay card (I don't know the real name) and the monitor sticker. Both of which I got multiples as quite simply I filled the page. I'm very happy with the outcome. I can't find my cheap ass paper cutter tool so I'm yet to cut them.

 

[mike boss]

Started to polish the buttons, man it does a number on your hands.
They look good, they have some shine to them.
I guess with the area so small I don't know that I notice much difference with the Nuvos. Not more than say a good cleaning would have done ? None the less, the $15 I spent on the polish I would have spent on buttons and switches so it's all good.

With the long weekend coming up I hope to get the cabinet sanded and ready for primer. I think I'll prime it first to see if I notice any damage. I'll touch up what I need to with bondo, then perhaps prime again.
I don't know if it matters, but I was going to paint the black areas first. Perhaps I'll even get that done this weekend.

 

[mike boss]

A few more button pics

Just a few more pics.
You can see the difference between the non polished and polished.
It did get some of the set in stains out of the orange button.

 

[mike boss]

Hoping to get out today and do some sanding and cleaning up of the cabinet. If all goes well perhaps some priming and additional bondo if needed. I'll post some pics as always.

I'm happy with the control panel I think it's coming along quite well.
I trimmed up the art and inserted the buttons to get a look.
I wish I had an orange insert (proper name?) for my button, or even a yellow button for the cabinet. However for now it will just have to do.
All in all it looks good, buttons look good, the art looks good, well worth the $0.25 I paid.

My paint job good have been better, but really the CPO covers the bulk anyway. I'll need to get a 1 1/16" drill bit and get everything drilled out and the security latch set installed.

I was turned onto a program called ROMlister the other day. I'm not much for the technical stuff but it uses some data that already exists in MAME to build you a list customized to any criteria you select. I was able to make a list of games that were either 4/8 way and require no more than one button. In all it had about 500 + games and it scanned my actual ROM set when making the list. I was able to save it as a
MALA file, and I believe I can simply open the list in MALA and have only these games display. PRETTY AWESOME !

http://www.waste.org/~winkles/ROMLister/



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[mike boss]

Sadly I pi$$ed away a bulk of the long weekend doing nothing. However "doing nothing" is a good way to spend a long weekend.
This weekend I fully intend on doing the sanding and priming, as well as any other bondo work required. I ended up taking a small chip out of one of the speaker slots. I know where it is so I see it EVERY TIME! Perhaps once painted it would be less noticeable, however a lil bondo is no biggie. I put everything together on the control panel to get an idea for how that is going to look. Looks buttons, buttons shine, CPO in good shape, the shotty paint job mostly hidden, and the art work is crisp.
I'll post a pic later.

 

[mike boss]

Not much to report.
I taped on the instruction card, cleaned the buttons, tested out the Sanwa joystick. I think it's looking good.
My t-molding I would think will be in the this week. Coming together nicely I feel. Not really sweating the PC part yet, I'll worry once the outside and inside is done.

 

[thefader]

Your CP looks great.. Makes me not want to spend the 100$ to have a new one built for me. Keep it up. Love all the pictures.

 

[mike boss]

Your CP looks great.. Makes me not want to spend the 100$ to have a new one built for me. Keep it up. Love all the pictures.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm trying to do the best job I can.
I quite happy with the results to date.
I think once I get the base cut (as that I'll get help with) the rest will fly.

I'll keep posting the progress pics, regardless how little work gets done...lol

 

[mike boss]

Coin Door

Got the coin door off today and gave it a decent sanding.
Felt smooth to the touch, however it did have some high spots that are visible due to the semi-gloss paint I used. I want to hit it again with another coat of paint to build the paint up. I'll see how it looks in place. If it doesn't pass the "I like it" test, I'll sand and repaint it.
Looks OK so far!

 

[mike boss]

Back Of Cabinet Painting

As of right now I have no backdoor for the cabinet. In all honesty it might be one of the last things I do. As I mentioned prior the back of the cabinet is in REALLY bad shape. I really think it would take a lot to build it back up. And in all honesty with the cabinet backed up against a wall does it really matter ? One of the things that bugs me most with the cabinet is the left side. Of the two it has the most damage, and based on where I want to put the cabinet that would be the viable side. The right side is in pretty decent shape. So I might need to rethink the cabinet orientation. For now I push forward doing what I can do. With that said I sanded the back of the cabinet down, as well as the very top of the cabinet. I gave it it's first coat of black paint. It's by no means the best restoration, or the best work I could have done, but it does "spiff" it up a lil!