Supertechnoboy's Joust Cocktail De-conversion/Restoration

Rather than painting the coin door bolt heads, I decided to re-do the black oxide coating. This creates a "light black" matte finish, if there is such a thing. Here's what I started with. (The one with the tape is not original, and had to be cut to length.)

View attachment 749543

After cutting the one replacement bolt, I needed to remove the letters on the head. I added a nut and ran it against abrasive with a drill. First 120 grit, then a sanding block to smooth it out.

View attachment 749544

Then I removed the head finish from the rest of the bolts with a wire wheel.

View attachment 749545

Now I mixed up the black oxide concentrate with water and dropped the bolts in for 6 minutes.

View attachment 749546

I used the cotton swab to stir and get bubbles off.

View attachment 749547

Afterward, rinse with water.

View attachment 749549

Then coat with penetrating oil and rub clean.

View attachment 749550

And... PRESTO! Black bolts.

View attachment 749551
Interesting! I hadn't known about a product that can blacken old bolts. I need to try it out.
I'm assuming this is a similar one on Amazon:

Thanks for the tip!

Del
 
It looks good!

To me, the one that seems closer is the Wilsonart Montana Walnut. I was just looking at it today with their online sample in Illustrator today. I'm not sure if I should pull the trigger or not. I won't be replacing the inside panels and the outside panels aren't really needing it; with the exception of some gouges. The top laminate is damaged though, especially the top pieces. It has almost fallen off.

I'll insert it here to show what I was looking at.

1719457735917.jpeg
 
It looks good!

To me, the one that seems closer is the Wilsonart Montana Walnut. I was just looking at it today with their online sample in Illustrator today. I'm not sure if I should pull the trigger or not. I won't be replacing the inside panels and the outside panels aren't really needing it; with the exception of some gouges. The top laminate is damaged though, especially the top pieces. It has almost fallen off.

I'll insert it here to show what I was looking at.

View attachment 751702
Wilsonart will send you free samples. I ordered several different walnuts, but Montana wasn't one I tried. They look a little different in real life than online.

I'm not doing the inside panels either, since it would require breaking down the whole cabinet. In my photo from the last post, you can see a little of the inside panel with the original laminate vs. the new on the outside. If you decide to only do the top and want some Walnut Heights, I have more than enough that you can have for free.
 
Happy Independence Day! (If you're in the USA.)

I put my big-ass, old, color laser to work on some labels. These are PDFs from Pinball Rebel, printed on Avery vinyl film labels (except A707 inside the back door, which is cardstock).

20240703_175453.jpg

20240704_133559.jpg

20240704_134019.jpg

20240704_133435.jpg

And I shot some black on the underside of the control panels. I'll lay it on its back when I finish the front to prevent runs.

20240704_155945.jpg
 
Time for the coin battery mod I see.
I actually had an old NVRAM for Joust in my parts pile. I think I bought it new from Arcadeshop many years ago. I socketed the chip location and popped it in, and it works!

1000008595.jpg

After reinstalling the lower coin door, it wouldn't close completely. I had to perform the "lilypad maneuver" for clearance, and now it works great. Thanks @lilypad19 for showing us the way.

1000008593.jpg
 
Took a little time off and went fishing in Alaska. I've got lots of salmon now.

I borrowed a lathe at work and turned down the sticks, using an old Defender cocktail stick for a prototype. This wasn't my most beautiful machine work, but the sticks fit and they'll work great.

20240728_123638.jpg

20240810_142632.jpg
 
With the sticks finished, I could FINALLY complete the control panels. I'm pleased with these.

20240815_132914.jpg

20240815_132908.jpg

I also glued and routed new laminate on the top.

20240811_161358.jpg

On every cocktail I've seen, the laminate is chipped on the sharp pointy corners near the control panels. I applied wood hardener to the pressed wood below the points, and built up the corner a little with bondo. Maybe it will help.

20240812_191252.jpg

20240813_194833.jpg

20240813_194844.jpg

Done! I'm getting a new glass cut at a local shop, which I'll hopefully have this week.
 
Got my glass back today, and it looks great and fits, too. You can see why I needed a new one. What appear to be scratches in the top glass are actually just showing through from the old one on the bottom. This is 3/16" grey glass, cut and tempered, using my old glass as the pattern. Cost was roughly $150.

20240826_161721.jpg
 
Back
Top Bottom