Taito Restoration Questions

FrizzleFried

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With the help of a friend I will be re-painting/stenciling my Taito Elevator Action (multigame) cabinet soon. I have a couple things I'd like to get opinions on before I start.

Here is the cab as it sits now... I will be going with a BROWN/TAN scheme for the restoration...

EA_JUSTHOME1.jpg


(A) I am considering going with the brown/tan theme for the front panel rather than the "stock" black with brown stencil. I've seen one or two photos of others who've done it and I think it looks nice. Opinions?

(B) My friend suggested I consider painting over the bolts. He did so with a Stern project of his and it actually looks quite nice... but it's certainly not stock. I won't be removing the bolts anytime so that wouldn't be a problem and it would actually be EASIER to paint right over them rather than having to break the cab down. Opinions?
 
For the bolts...use FROG tape and a razor blade.

10 mins to cover your bolts.

BTW Taito Blue is my fav
 
A) sounds cool

B) tape off the bolts as was suggested by eh97ac

C) build a replacement base that your cabinet seems to be missing...
 
When I did mine, I laid the cabinet on it's side and removed the bolts. On it's side, there's no chance of it falling apart with the bolts out. In my opinion, seeing the bolts painted over looks not just unoriginal, but kind of lazy.
 
If you're spending the time and money on painting, why not just buy new zinc plated carriage bolts at Lowes and swap them out one at a time.

I realize you can spin them in a drill and it's great to save money, but clear finish over sanded bare metal won't look the same as newly plated bolts.
 
I'm leaning toward bolt removal... still on the fence regarding the front. I like the look of it colored, but the black looks cool too... plus that's original.
 
If you're spending the time and money on painting, why not just buy new zinc plated carriage bolts at Lowes and swap them out one at a time.

I realize you can spin them in a drill and it's great to save money, but clear finish over sanded bare metal won't look the same as newly plated bolts.

The problem with new is that most have foundry stamps on them and look like crap.

I'd go with the factory color scheme on the front and pull all the bolts and spin them. If you use progressively finer sandpaper they look great. - Barry
 
My personal preference is to paint the bolts to the proper color of their location in the stencil... I dislike the appearance of bolts on the outside of the cab. A nice new stenciling looks so darn good so diminishing the appearance of external hardware makes it look even better.

Berzerk-Bolts1.JPG
 
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The best advice I can give is to do it right.

painting over bolts = not right
changing the front color = not right

I like the bolts to be as they originally were. IMO there's something beautiful about being able to see the structural elements in some cases. Look at New York lofts and similar spaces, people actually try to uncover and expose the structural elements for aesthetic purposes. I never understand the 'if I don't like it, I'll hide it' mentality. If it's supposed to be there, let it be. Same with Nintendo cabinets, the bolts thru the side art is part of the charm. I wouldn't go covering them up or trying to paint them to match the side art.

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The best advice I can give is to do it right.

painting over bolts = not right

I never understand the 'if I don't like it, I'll hide it' mentality. If it's supposed to be there, let it be. Same with Nintendo cabinets, the bolts thru the side art is part of the charm. I wouldn't go covering them up or trying to paint them to match the side art.

If your going to let your bolt heads show... make sure they are as clean as Phets here!!! ;)

I'll have to admit, I didn't know there was that much exposed hardware on the Taito cab... but Phets look great being that they are perfectly clean!

Rusted old bolts look bad with a nice new stenciling... either way I wouldn't stencil with the bolts in there.
 
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The problem with new is that most have foundry stamps on them and look like crap.

I'd go with the factory color scheme on the front and pull all the bolts and spin them. If you use progressively finer sandpaper they look great. - Barry

Bob Roberts sells a bunch of bolts with no foundry stamps. I bought a bunch when I did my Pac-man cocktail restore and they look great.
 
Here she is... bare naked... waiting for the weekend makeover...

EA_STRIPPED.jpg


...and all the crap that came out...

EA_STRIPPED2.jpg
 
Looking forward to seeing the transformation. I love these Taito cabs. Is there much to fix on it or is it just a sand primer and paint..... - Barry
 
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