Sinistar Control Panel build

SynaMax

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Donor 2013, 2024
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After collecting parts for two years, I'm finally getting around to working on my Sinistar control panel. I have an original beaten up CP that I'll be using as reference to assemble this new minty one and will try make it as close as possible to the original.

I already have the 49-way, new wooden panel, plus some buttons, switches and #44 lamps. Not too long ago, I bought a CPO from @Glitch and a metal plate from @DaveE (thanks again guys!) and now will be tackling the metal plate first. There is some major rust going on unfortunately so I got some Evapo-rust and poured it into a container with the metal plate inside. I hope I didn't mess anything up by leaving the old damaged CPO on there.

I also bought some Crown 6007 Rust-inhibitor to prevent any flash rust once this thing comes out of the bath.

I guess the next step is to get rid of this damaged CPO. Any suggestions on how to do that? And does anyone have tips with using rust-inhibitor?

Looking forward to playing with this panel soon. One day I hope to make some sort of bartop cabinet that I can install this CP into, that way I can have a small form-factor Sinistar that I can put away when not in use.
 

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I used to grind off the old CPOs with a drill and wire wheel attachment. While this does work, it leaves gouge marks on the metal which I wasn't proud of and makes one hell of a mess. Getting the glue off was another story. CitriStrip works like the direction says, but needed a couple of applications and dries up if you forget about it.

Since then, I've been coating the metal CPOs in CitriStrip and leaving inside a tied up garbage bag for a few hours (or overnight), the CPO will just wipe right off.
 
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Will follow up with pics tonight. The rust on the rear side came off nicely, but as I started peeling off the CPO, I saw that 40-year old cola gunk had rusted the front side as well and the CPO had prevented the Evapo-rust from doing its work. So once I clean off all that gunk and glue and remaining CPO bits, then it will go in one more Evapo-rust bath and then we should finally have a good enough metal panel.
 
Did you ever get any further with the panel build? Interested Ito see how it goes.
 
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