Warning about storing new playfields

metahugh

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So I had my Mirco AFM and my IPB TAF playfields on the wall. They have been perfectly fine and flat against the wall. Not sure what drew my eye to them but I looked at my playfields tonight and something didn't seem right. Both my AFM and TAF playfields have bowed! The TAF is extremely minor but the AFM has some major bowing going on. If I put the AFM on my concrete floor (which is the flattest place I know) and put some weight on top of the AFM playfield it flattens out.

I had post rubber inserted into two of the holes at the top of each playfield with a screw going through that into the wall, so the playfields were not anchored to the wall, you could pick up the bottom of the playfield at they would move around.

I think I am going to have to make some wood stiffeners for these playfields. The last thing I want is for them to get destroyed. I have read that the bowing isn't too big of a deal but its still scary regardless.

Here is a picture:

http://gallery.metahugh.com/main.php?g2_itemId=22358

BTW I did not leave the playfield on the concrete floor, its on my carpet right now.
 
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A lot of the playfields you buy show up like this because they store them standing up or on edge instead of flat like they should. I had to pick through the playfields carefully when buying a Medieval Madness playfield from Illinois Pinball at a show.
 
Hugh,

I noted the same thing for my CPR 8 Ball playfield. I was told by Kevin at CPR that they all do that to some degree. Adding stiffeners will definitely help. I did that for mine and it worked well. I had a another trashed 8 Ball playfield so I took the stiffeners off that one. I stripped them, repainted and then installed them. You're on the right track.

Phil
 
Honestly guys I don't think that hanging them would have much or any impact on this. Putting them flat on concrete would be a worse idea because of the moisture in concrete. Best thing would be to just mount them sooner rather than later, so the metal slides and wooden side rails can help keep them flat. I take that back, having them against a basement wall could(?) contribute to the bowing, you might want to hang them away from the wall a little so the air and moisture can be more even around the wood.

Wade
 
Honestly guys I don't think that hanging them would have much or any impact on this. Putting them flat on concrete would be a worse idea because of the moisture in concrete. Best thing would be to just mount them sooner rather than later, so the metal slides and wooden side rails can help keep them flat. I take that back, having them against a basement wall could(?) contribute to the bowing, you might want to hang them away from the wall a little so the air and moisture can be more even around the wood.

Wade

Yes, you are totally correct about the concrete. I didn't leave them on the concrete (should have clarified) but that floor was the easiest to see the actual bowing.

I buy playfields for future games I hope to find. I will probably make playfield stiffeners out of wood to keep them straight, otherwise they will be layed down flat until then.
 
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