Tearing down and restoring a playfield - Best practices/advice???

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Tearing down and restoring a playfield - Best practices/advice???

I'm considering this... I have a Dr. Dude, it works perfectly but has considerable wear on the playfield... I got an estimate that came in around 600 because of the level of work needed. The cost is a little high for me, at least for this particular pin.

I'm pretty sure I can handle the artwork restoration... I'm pretty decent with a paint brush and color blending. Plus I'd like to try this once.

My main concern is how to manage the tear down and rebuild. If I had another playfield I could just move from one to the other but unfortunately I don't... everything will have to come off and be put someplace then put back on (hopefully correctly).

How do you folks manage this sort of thing???
 
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See http://www.flippers.be/nbshop.html and the next pages, I've tried to document as much as possible (if someone has comments, things to add, please lmk..)

take a lot of pictures, before, during and after you've disassembled something
put all parts of one assembly together
watch out for different sizes in screws/starposts/.. it's easy to think they're all the same size, throw them together in a box, and later find out there are different sizes and it matters where you assemble them again..
 
Not worth it. You're looking at 50+hrs of work on a game thats worth $800 - $1000. Also, to do it right you would need to airbrush the artwork and clear coat the entire field to protect it.
 
Not worth it. You're looking at 50+hrs of work on a game thats worth $800 - $1000. Also, to do it right you would need to airbrush the artwork and clear coat the entire field to protect it.

I agree! Too much involved for that machine.
 
I would defiantly agree with the pictures. Every time I shop a pin I get to reassembly and wish I had more pictures.
 
I totally agree with you all on the "worth it factor" for Dr. Dude... but I didn't pay out any cash for the machine and it would be something for me to try just for the experience.
 
Dr. Dudes aren't exactly plentiful and/or easily obtained. If this game is a keeper for you then I would gladly recommend you restore it. Ensure you use Acrylic paint and you REALLY should consider getting it clear coated. The paint will eventually get damaged and look crappy. This is why you wanted to touch it up in the first place right? Right.

I've sunk silly amounts of money into games I knew were keepers. You'll never get your money back out of it but if it makes you happy then that dollar figure shouldn't be a factor.
 
Oh, in that case, go for it, it would be a great learning experience. Along with tons of pix, write down detailed notes (step by step) so reassembly won't be too bad.. And when you take the parts off - arrange them in the same position as they sat in the game.
 
Dr. Dudes aren't exactly plentiful and/or easily obtained. If this game is a keeper for you then I would gladly recommend you restore it. Ensure you use Acrylic paint and you REALLY should consider getting it clear coated. The paint will eventually get damaged and look crappy. This is why you wanted to touch it up in the first place right? Right.

I've sunk silly amounts of money into games I knew were keepers. You'll never get your money back out of it but if it makes you happy then that dollar figure shouldn't be a factor.

Honestly, I really like my Dr. Dude. I'm not a seasoned pinball guy by any means... but I think its a fine pin for me... for now. There are certainly better titles out there but this one I have is 100% completely working. It has no broken plastics and is in really good shape overall. There is some wear on the playfield, but I'm confident I can fix it. And yes, I'm doing it for me. Every game I have in my game room I like to restore to "like new" regardless of its value or popularity. I like my games nice and clean and working perfectly if possible, that's just me its part of my personality... can't help it. And if I end up selling it one day... then someone will get a nice machine.

If I was into flipping games... nah I wouldn't bother.

Either way, just looking for some good advice... pictures are definitely a must to begin with!

Never mind the top of playfield, what about underneath... the wiring, hardware etc... seems like it would be a real unwieldy process of getting that off and back on?
 
Never mind the top of playfield, what about underneath... the wiring, hardware etc... seems like it would be a real unwieldy process of getting that off and back on?

Go to Home Depot or similar and get a sheet of foam and slide your play field off onto that. Then you can sink your posts and screws into that and set it up just like the play field so you don't confuse parts "which goes where".
 
Go to Home Depot or similar and get a sheet of foam and slide your play field off onto that. Then you can sink your posts and screws into that and set it up just like the play field so you don't confuse parts "which goes where".

Excellent!!! Thats the stuff I'm looking for, great example of "best practices"
 
If you like the game, you should really consider just selling the one you have and buying a nicer one. Dr. Dude isn't too hard to find in nice condition. Why go through all that trouble for a game that isn't worth much. You could go through the exact same effort on another game and make some real cash if you decided to sell it.

Can you show some pics of the wear?

Wade
 
If you like it restore it and forget about the money/time you will loose on it. I have a hook that I am going to restore right after I finish this Whirlwind. Hook isn't worth crap to most, but I love it and it keeps me coming back every time for another round.
 
Not worth it. You're looking at 50+hrs of work on a game thats worth $800 - $1000. Also, to do it right you would need to airbrush the artwork and clear coat the entire field to protect it.

Can see your point of view, but sometimes just like restoring an old car it is usually not worth it. Going all out on chrome, and putting $20k in the engine you will rarely get it out of it. Usually restorations do not pencil out.

But that said, if you have a pinball you love, and plan to keep, it sure is fun to tumble every single part, restore a playfield, and replate every chrome wire form. It does not pencil out. But the fun and experience that comes with it is worth every penny. So as a person that has not yet gone this far, I say go for it. In fact, better to try on this machine for your first go around than on a $4000 machine for example. So when you decide to tackle a plafield swap in an expensive machine you will be comfortable. The experience is worth it! Good luck!

Greg
 
If you like the game, you should really consider just selling the one you have and buying a nicer one. Dr. Dude isn't too hard to find in nice condition. Why go through all that trouble for a game that isn't worth much. You could go through the exact same effort on another game and make some real cash if you decided to sell it.

Can you show some pics of the wear?

Wade

This is pretty much the worst of it... like I said the game itself is not in bad shape... everything else is perfect. I know this wouldn't be a practical exercise more of a practice exercise.

CIMG2196.JPG
 
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This is pretty much the worst of it... like I said the game itself is not in bad shape... everything else is perfect. I know this wouldn't be a practical exercise more of a practice exercise.

CIMG2196.JPG

that's going to be really hard to touchup properly and have it look any good for someone that has never touched up a playfield before to be honest. Personally if you love the game look for a nicer playfield and swap that in. You will never recoup your labor but you may recoup your costs depending on what you have to pay for the new playfield.

I just finished a restore on a game that doesn't usually bring much money, Dr Who. I know I will never get back all of the labor that I spent on getting that game working but I was patient and found a nicer playfield for mine and I am ahead of the game $$ wise. I did it for the love of the hobby and the excitement of restoring a game.
 
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