Punch out restored!! Arborite laminate over paint ANY DAY!!

[MaximRecoil]

So, which finish and sheen did you use?
http://www.arborite.com/collection/us/sampleinfo.asp?ID=12&idProduct=155

At first I was going to laminate my PO, but after getting samples it seems that only gloss is offered in perfectly flat textures. The samples were just too glossy. So, which did you get?

Yeah, that's been my experience too. I know that you can find smooth glossy laminate in black; the problem is finding 100% smooth black laminate in a satin finish, similar to the original Nintendo finish.

 

[gamefixer]

CUEBALL:

like I said, it was a brain fart I had NEVER used laminate before. Guess my point is, you do NOT get a second chance with the stuff. I wished I had known about the stick - trick BEFORE I layed the sheets down. I had a good friend tell my the stick procedure AFTER the damage had already been done. As far as the 4x8 sheet. YES I used an entire piece for each side. Once trimmed, there is NOT very much left of use. Just enough to cover the quarter door front and speaker grill area.

Theres another trick I've used in the past a few times that seems to work pretty good. String! I will see if I can explain it.

First, if you can trim down the laminate then great, if not no biggie. Apply the contact cement to the cab and to the back side of the laminate. Put the laminate aside... Start at one end of the cab with the string at lets say a back corner. Apply the string to the side of the game so that it sticks to the contact cement. Make a straight line with the string from the back of the cab to the front, then move downward with the string about two inches and work towards the back of the cab. Continue until you have the entire side covered. Now you can lay the laminate down on the string, adjust it as needed to fit the cab and pull the string out from the top or bottom while putting pressure on the laminate so that it sticks to the cab. Trim when done! I used a router to trim the cabs I did BTW. Makes a huge mess but works great.

Dont know if that can be visualized but its worked for me in the past and I'm going to do it again to some cabs I have in the garage when it cools off in a few months.

Matt

 

[DLP]

How thick is this stuff? Does the T-molding still cover over the edge?

 

[DLP]

Looks pretty damn good. The laminate will surely hold up a lot better then paint.

I am however interested in what others think about not painting the control panel before applying the overlay. I would be to worried about it rusting underneath the overlay.

I've never painted any of my CP's before applying an overlay. Why would you think that your CP will rust underneath the overlay?

 

[2600]

I always prime and will paint the edges including joystick and button edges. In my experience, Nintendo panels are one of the worst for rusting. Obviousily, depending on the enviroment and location where you live rusting may not be a concern.

Plus, overlays don't necessarily cover the entire panel so you may leave an exposed edge.

 

[WadeLanham]

I have used laminate (formica and wilsonart, regular thickness and vertical grade thickness) and I really like it for most of the same reasons you mention. I have it on my MsPac cocktail, Mario Brothers upright, Missile Command, Virtua Racing, and have used it on a Galaga and probably something else I'm forgetting.

Wade

 

[bryan95502]

Anyone found matches to the cabaret woodgrains? I know the original are obsolete and varied ..


But something close on the Midways and Ataris would be nice

 

[Spyridon]

I've never painted any of my CP's before applying an overlay. Why would you think that your CP will rust underneath the overlay?

I always paint my control panels with a rustoleum paint. Why, because almost all of the bare metal ones and even some of the painted ones I've done were already rusted under the overlay. If it rusted once, I want to make sure it doesn't do it again.

 

[TheSilby]

I've never painted any of my CP's before applying an overlay. Why would you think that your CP will rust underneath the overlay?

I have just felt that it was always a little extra bit of protection. I also thought that it was kind of the norm. Maybe not. I do know that the two NOS panels that I got from a former Atari employee are painted/powdercoated. Also, the Phoenix control panel I have is rusting bad right under the overlay (granted, I don't know where it has been for the last 20 years). Bare metal just scares me. I don't believe that any overlay seals airtight against the control panel, therefore eventually I would assume rust could start. It all depends on the environment and how humid your home is.