Restore long speaker grill (System 1)

Altan

Active member
Joined
Jun 15, 2009
Messages
1,105
Reaction score
10
Location
Georgia
Atari System 1 games have a long speaker grill that goes all the way across the control panel.

As with all speaker grills, there are lots of little holes in it. Sadly, many (25%?) of the holes in mine are blocked. It makes it look ugly. I've tried various cleaning but it does clear them out. It looks like someone might have painted it in the past and filled in some holes.

So... looking for expert advise...

1) What's the best way to clean out these holes? I started using a tac and sticking the pointed side in each hole. That works but is very slow and painful.

2) Once I get it cleaned up, what's the best method to spray paint it again and not have the holes get filled in? I assume the answer is "less is better" and spray from a distance.

Thanks in advance!

... Altan
 
Atari System 1 games have a long speaker grill that goes all the way across the control panel.

As with all speaker grills, there are lots of little holes in it. Sadly, many (25%?) of the holes in mine are blocked. It makes it look ugly. I've tried various cleaning but it does clear them out. It looks like someone might have painted it in the past and filled in some holes.

So... looking for expert advise...

1) What's the best way to clean out these holes? I started using a tac and sticking the pointed side in each hole. That works but is very slow and painful.

2) Once I get it cleaned up, what's the best method to spray paint it again and not have the holes get filled in? I assume the answer is "less is better" and spray from a distance.

Thanks in advance!

... Altan

I would strip it down with Paint Stripper, then repaint.

If the holes were filled in with paint, it probably means they painted while it was left flat on something like cardboard. The excess paint had no where to go.

I would hang it and paint it. Ideally, you could have it powder coated.
 
Will grab some paint stripper today... maybe get this done over the weekend.

Thanks.

... Altan
 
Altan, if it's metal I'd use a wire wheel on a variable speed drill to strip it. Works way better than chemicals IMHO.

John
 
Stripper on this I think would be a nightmare. Im gonna bead blast mine (Gauntlet 2 player cab) and paint it next week.
I will post photos. ;)
 
Back
Top Bottom