Repaint cabinet or not?

LongJohns

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Hi,

I am working on a Chicago Coin Hollywood unit and am undecided what to do with the cabinet. Over all the paint is in decent condition, although some of the yellowing is not coming out and a few 'battle scars' and the paint is worn through near the flipper buttons.

On one hand I have been thinking of a complete repaint, but on the other hand just thinking to keep it original.

The playfield also has some wear, but nothing major (I would say at least 95% of the paint is intact on the playfield) - and once again undecided to leave it untouched (in terms of paint fixes) or leave it as is.

So basically, make it new, or leave it with all it's character is what I am asking and looking for some other opinions, thanks.
 
I would definitely leave it. Unless it's really thrashed and you love the game it's going to be a whole bunch of time you'll see no compensation for.
 
I would definitely leave it. Unless it's really thrashed and you love the game it's going to be a whole bunch of time you'll see no compensation for.

+1. Repaint is warranted only where the game is very collectable and has better resale value when repainted, or it is a personal favorite that "needs to be perfect". Otherwise it's an exercise in cost and labor with little return.

Three of my personal colletion pins have been repainted, one using stencils, and two by the laborious "tape off every color individually and use an airbrush to repaint it". These aren't going anywhere....

Chris
 
Thank you for the replies. ;)

Just to add, that I currently have no plans to sell this unit, I know there are 'better' ones out there, but it's my first, and you know what they say about the first's ;) - just one that we will end up putting down in the rec room.

So basically the bottom line is that if I go the repainting route it will do nothing to the value of the unit?
 
Well, it may add a bit more value, but overall, value is both in the eye of the beholder and how popular the game is. Good luck on your choice.

Chris
 
Given the title I agree that the cabinet paint won't affect the value much. It seems to be a pretty simple cabinet. Consider only touching up the bare spots.

I had my cousin that is an artist spend an afternoon on a cabinet touching it up with paint I had mixed and some masking tape. From a few feet away it almost looked better than new (some of the lines were almost too sharp).

I was real happy with the results and liked looking at the cabinet every time I walked by.
 
Leave it, unless you are sure you can do a *perfect* job, - or you want to learn by trying and don't care if you mess up and make it lower in value..
As others said, repaints are only worth it for more valuable games and if all the rest if perfect, ie bad faded cabinet but with perfect playfield.
 
i'd touch it up

i find it very satisfying and fun to do
plus it looks a whole lot better if you are good at matching colors

walmart has a great paint kit for 6 bucks if you have one near you
black sharpie pens do wonders

even if you screw it up, it will look better than it does now

if it comes out decent you can then fix the playfield problems with confidence

some equate time with compensation, for everything. kinda takes the fun out of it for me. if you really wanted money you would've been a lawyer

if you think you might enjoy it, go for it. who cares if you mess it up. it's already messed up and someday someone might reproduce the playfield anyway
 
Im anal, but I might repaint it for fun really, and to practice. Better to have an f up on a lesser cabinet. But if the majority of the damage is around the flip buttons, there are button protector cover thingermaboobles that you can get that would cover that area, and eliminate further wear, just a thought
 
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