Those leg bolt plates are cheap enough - treat yourself to a full set of 4. The old ones get bent and the threads can be stripped
Pinball info
Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
In Progress Alien Poker - full restoration
- Thread starter VeeMonroe
- Start date
Yep, they're totally bent and £4 each for new ones from Pinball Mania.
It's all a bit of a balancing act. I don't want to replace literally everything on the pin. Not just because of the cost, but also because I may as well just scratch build a new one at that point. But, at the same time, I don't want to leave stuff that's worn and broken... So, it's getting a balance between 'make pin like new' and 'avoid erasing entire history of pin'.
It doesn't help that I don't know what half the stuff is supposed to look like! I thought the plates for the legs were supposed to be curved at the ends!!!
Last edited:
More questions. I've got a bunch of metal plates and bars, basically, which fit inside the pin. Plus, the coin door, shooter rod plate (note: c-clip now ripped off using the spiral screw remover), and the bar that sits at the bottom of the backglass.
I know some people seem to chrome plate literally everything, including all the mechs, and I've been recommended Douglas Plating for chroming locally (https://www.douglas-plating.co.uk). Thing is, I don't know what to chrome because there's a durability issue and, if I chrome plate stuff and it wears off, it's going to look instantly horrible. IIRC, @CHRIS B PINBALLS doesn't powder coat coin doors due to the risk of damage, but I'm not sure about plating (?).
So... all advice very welcome here on what exactly I should be plating?
In many cases, where it's obviously zinc plated, I've have been spraying with instant spray-on zinc from a spray can I got from ToolStation. But I don't know what to do about stuff that's more visible. The sort of stuff that Haggis Pinball would chrome on a Fathom/Centaur Revisited.
www.knapparcade.org
Possible chrome underneath the playfield here (6 minutes 55 seconds in).
Do I just take everything in its little bags to the plating firm and get literally EVERYTHING replated? @stumblor, if you don't mind me asking, what did you do with your CFTBL (https://stumblorpinball.com/blogs/n...-black-lagoon-refurbished-by-stumblor-pinball). It looks like all the mechs went to the plater and the screws went in the tumbler?
I know some people seem to chrome plate literally everything, including all the mechs, and I've been recommended Douglas Plating for chroming locally (https://www.douglas-plating.co.uk). Thing is, I don't know what to chrome because there's a durability issue and, if I chrome plate stuff and it wears off, it's going to look instantly horrible. IIRC, @CHRIS B PINBALLS doesn't powder coat coin doors due to the risk of damage, but I'm not sure about plating (?).
So... all advice very welcome here on what exactly I should be plating?
In many cases, where it's obviously zinc plated, I've have been spraying with instant spray-on zinc from a spray can I got from ToolStation. But I don't know what to do about stuff that's more visible. The sort of stuff that Haggis Pinball would chrome on a Fathom/Centaur Revisited.
Unboxing of the First Haggis Fathom Revisited Mermaid Edition Pinball Machine
Today is an exciting day, at least for a friend of mine in Australia. Alex Moss reached out to me a little while ago and shared pictures of the first ever unboxing of Haggis Pinball's new Fathom Revisited Mermaid Edition pinball machine. The game looks amazing. Here's a few pics from the...
www.knapparcade.org
Possible chrome underneath the playfield here (6 minutes 55 seconds in).
Do I just take everything in its little bags to the plating firm and get literally EVERYTHING replated? @stumblor, if you don't mind me asking, what did you do with your CFTBL (https://stumblorpinball.com/blogs/n...-black-lagoon-refurbished-by-stumblor-pinball). It looks like all the mechs went to the plater and the screws went in the tumbler?
Last edited:
I've spent a couple of hours this afternoon pressing on with Alien Poker in 29 degree C temperatures. We're currently in a heat wave, but I know I don't have much time to prep and paint the cab before winter. I'm desperate to get Alien Poker back working again - I keep wanting to buy a classic pin because I miss my existing classic so much 
Having ripped off the side rails, I'm now down to just a few staples (I've just bought a staple remover). Still have the backbox to strip, but at least I now can get the cab done (hopefully). I'm totally intimidated by this. I bought an orbital sander before I went on holiday, but haven't even unpacked it yet and I'm nervous about the gap filling process. Do I fill all the screw holes? Just some of them? Carpentry is not my strong suit...
Having ripped off the side rails, I'm now down to just a few staples (I've just bought a staple remover). Still have the backbox to strip, but at least I now can get the cab done (hopefully). I'm totally intimidated by this. I bought an orbital sander before I went on holiday, but haven't even unpacked it yet and I'm nervous about the gap filling process. Do I fill all the screw holes? Just some of them? Carpentry is not my strong suit...
Well done getting side rails off - those holes worth filling so when you tap in new screws they’re nice and tight. Wouldn’t worry about the others - the bigger wood screws fit back in the holes; if they’re spinning in there you could put the filler in later as needs be.
Looking good!
Looking good!
Yes know the feeling, it's pretty hot. Should be touching grass or jumping in the sea but gotta get it done.Okay. I’ve got a couple of days of busy-waiting for interviews and it’s a nice day, so the cab is currently sitting outside in my back garden. I’ve got a 125mm grit sandpaper attachment on the De Walt orbital sander, but it doesn’t seem to be doing a whole bunch (second picture is after sanding!).
So, is the idea of sanding to get the whole cab flat and smooth? Is it to take off all previous paint? Or is it to get the surface into a state where I can undercoat and see how many dents there are?
So, is the idea of sanding to get the whole cab flat and smooth? Is it to take off all previous paint? Or is it to get the surface into a state where I can undercoat and see how many dents there are?
Last edited:
YouTube video watching suggests I really go at the f****r. So, I’m now really going at the f****r with the P80 sanding disc that came with the orbital sander.
Not sure if I should remove the base and the wood supports stapled to the inside. The YouTube video did, but I’m not sure why…? It seems it’s okay to leave some residual paint, which is lucky because I’m not sure I can get paint from inside all the little nooks and crannies with reasonable effort.
Not sure if I should remove the base and the wood supports stapled to the inside. The YouTube video did, but I’m not sure why…? It seems it’s okay to leave some residual paint, which is lucky because I’m not sure I can get paint from inside all the little nooks and crannies with reasonable effort.
Please note, folks, that I have *no* idea what I’m doing here. I’m effectively the Monkey D. Luffy of pinball machines, driven forwards to an overly-ambitious goal by a mixture of eccentricity, optimism and blithe enthusiasm… (oh, and possessed of a silly hat)
“Oh, you know, I think I’ll just do a full restoration. Nope, never done anything like that before”…
“Oh, you know, I think I’ll just do a full restoration. Nope, never done anything like that before”…
I like to go 40 grit and then 80 grit to get everything off, then do any filling and resin-ing, then smooth that (and redo as necessary) with 120.
Then the fun part is 240 all the way up to 1000 (or 2000 if I am really getting in to the sanding vibe) for a perfect glassy finish before decalling. The added bonus is that your hands buzz for a few hours after from all the sanding.
If you are stencilling then you probably don't want to go above 600 or the paint will have nothing to key to and might dribble. Having said that I have stencilled wood that was sanded to 1000 without any problems.
Then the fun part is 240 all the way up to 1000 (or 2000 if I am really getting in to the sanding vibe) for a perfect glassy finish before decalling. The added bonus is that your hands buzz for a few hours after from all the sanding.
If you are stencilling then you probably don't want to go above 600 or the paint will have nothing to key to and might dribble. Having said that I have stencilled wood that was sanded to 1000 without any problems.
For anyone who's following along (or comes upon this) for instructional purposes - for their own restoration - here is some advice on treating/preparing parts that have lost nickel coating, etc.:
Electrophoresis? General 'bit' prep during restoration
I'm posting this here for advice from people who aren't following my Alien Poker shop log. I've got a shedload of big 'bits' that have come off Alien Poker (plus a load of bags of screws, etc.). They're rusty, but also generically 'tarnished'. I've got a tumbler and an ultrasonic bath, but...
www.pinballinfo.com
And here I am with an update (and more questions).
I’ve done both sides and am working on sanding the back of the pin (which appears to be chipboard). I’ve also been using a mouse sander (pictured) to sand the plinth where the backbox sits on the cab, but I’m not making a great job.
Socks, what socks?
I’ve done both sides and am working on sanding the back of the pin (which appears to be chipboard). I’ve also been using a mouse sander (pictured) to sand the plinth where the backbox sits on the cab, but I’m not making a great job.
- Is the back of the cab supposed to be chipboard?
- Do I need to get the plinth clear of paint? If so, do I have to remove the entire plinth? If not, how do I get into the nooks and crannies?
Socks, what socks?
The back is often chipboard. fill it and sand it. don’t oversand. the neck plinths usually have lots of dinks in them. fill and sand.
Now got to here. I’ve not got the box completely sanded as I’m worried about damaging it with the orbital sander. I’m probably going to give the mouse sander another go this afternoon, but there’s a limit to the extent I can get into the corners.
If I was any good at carpentry, I’d probably detach the plinth, but I’m not. Also, I’d still have to take the plinth apart to get into the corners
After a bit more sanding, it looks like this. Advice given to people on Pinside suggests that I don’t need to get all the paint off, so the next step is going to be filling with resin. There’s still some paint on the plinth, but it was *not* coming off with reasonable use of a mouse sander with P60 paper - at least, not without risking damaging the cab.
If I was any good at carpentry, I’d probably detach the plinth, but I’m not. Also, I’d still have to take the plinth apart to get into the corners
After a bit more sanding, it looks like this. Advice given to people on Pinside suggests that I don’t need to get all the paint off, so the next step is going to be filling with resin. There’s still some paint on the plinth, but it was *not* coming off with reasonable use of a mouse sander with P60 paper - at least, not without risking damaging the cab.
the plinth won’t come off easily. you don’t need to get all the paint off these anyway. just get it as smooth as you can. fill the dinks and holes
The weather changed in late September, meaning I couldn’t get the cab outside for spraying. After several months of not making much progress, partly due to kiddie illnesses, I’ve now got a UPS shipment booked for sending the Alien Poker legs, lockdown bar, backglass lift channel, and (new) side rails to Maldon Shot Blasting and Powder Coating.
It’s not just Alien Poker parts in the picture. I’m also sending some spare Stern backbox hinges, legs, lockdown bar and Godzilla side armour off, as well.
I’m powder coating the Alien Poker legs, lockdown bar, lift channel and side rails in Prismatic Powders Thunderkiss, which is probably going to cost about £230, so not something you do casually. I’m keeping the coin door as plain metal. Everything I’ve read suggests powder-coated coin doors can get chipped quite quickly due to ordinary wear opening the door.
I went for a silver chrome with rainbow metallic, as didn’t want it to look naff, but I also wanted to give it the intergalactic sparkly cheesy 80s retro disco feel I feel it deserves.
It’s not just Alien Poker parts in the picture. I’m also sending some spare Stern backbox hinges, legs, lockdown bar and Godzilla side armour off, as well.
I’m powder coating the Alien Poker legs, lockdown bar, lift channel and side rails in Prismatic Powders Thunderkiss, which is probably going to cost about £230, so not something you do casually. I’m keeping the coin door as plain metal. Everything I’ve read suggests powder-coated coin doors can get chipped quite quickly due to ordinary wear opening the door.
I went for a silver chrome with rainbow metallic, as didn’t want it to look naff, but I also wanted to give it the intergalactic sparkly cheesy 80s retro disco feel I feel it deserves.
Well, here we are again - a year later - with the Alien Poker restoration. I now have some lovely powder-coated parts (they look better in person) that are silver, to satisfy the purists, but with just a hint of starlight flickering in the depths.
I got the cab outside (finally) to spray with a can of Rust-Oleum surface primer. I've also bought a resin filler, but I know from Warhammer (!)/board game models that the ideal is to do an initial surface prime and THEN look for all the imperfections that stand out against the paint.
I've drawn around all the chips that are visible with a big pencil. I'm not currently happy, however. It looks like I'm graffiting a wall rather than priming a 80s pinball machine for painting. I'm worried I won't get the lovely smooth finish I've seen on other restorations.
It's some combination of too drippy (lethal on Warhammer/game models) and barely there. Not sure whether I need to do multiple rounds of spraying, sanding, filling and spraying again (?), or whether I shouldn't be using a rattle can on this thing (?).
Normally, on models, I spend ages meticulously hand painting after a priming job (that bad). This beetle also had a priming job this bad, but he looks okay now (I think).
I got the cab outside (finally) to spray with a can of Rust-Oleum surface primer. I've also bought a resin filler, but I know from Warhammer (!)/board game models that the ideal is to do an initial surface prime and THEN look for all the imperfections that stand out against the paint.
I've drawn around all the chips that are visible with a big pencil. I'm not currently happy, however. It looks like I'm graffiting a wall rather than priming a 80s pinball machine for painting. I'm worried I won't get the lovely smooth finish I've seen on other restorations.
It's some combination of too drippy (lethal on Warhammer/game models) and barely there. Not sure whether I need to do multiple rounds of spraying, sanding, filling and spraying again (?), or whether I shouldn't be using a rattle can on this thing (?).
Normally, on models, I spend ages meticulously hand painting after a priming job (that bad). This beetle also had a priming job this bad, but he looks okay now (I think).
For painting from a spray can you want to do several light layers and let the primer build up a bit so its even, the first few coats will look crap with the original wood showing through but doing it lightly stops things like the drips caused by too much paint at once.
What you might need to do now is sand down the cab to get rid of the runs and level it off and then continue with light coats to build up.
What you might need to do now is sand down the cab to get rid of the runs and level it off and then continue with light coats to build up.
According to a video I watched last year, you can repair big chips on the edge of pinball cabs by pouring resin into a little 'dam' made of cardboard.
This is a rubbish dam and the cab will need lots of sanding afterwards. Also, the video did not tell me how to remove sticky resin from my fingers and the supplied brush. Neither did the packet of resin. After some Googling, the solution is to use ordinary hand soap.
This is a rubbish dam and the cab will need lots of sanding afterwards. Also, the video did not tell me how to remove sticky resin from my fingers and the supplied brush. Neither did the packet of resin. After some Googling, the solution is to use ordinary hand soap.
You need to change the nozzles on those cans for a fan spray pattern, spray in roughly 50% overlaps from left to right- right to left and so on working your way down at a speed that covers with no runs and not too dry with the can about 10” to 12” from the surface. Practice on a rough piece first to get your speed and distance etc
If you don’t change the nozzle it’s a right pain and I can spray, I tried and was very frustrated as it was a horrible spray pattern and coverage. You will find it so much easier and get a much better finish, also much quicker.
Something like this: https://www.buzzweld.co.uk/hvlp-sty...VBmQQb6Z7kcbEFMyePcDTy8VROfyI7_zln6ut3Ns9yJJA
If you don’t change the nozzle it’s a right pain and I can spray, I tried and was very frustrated as it was a horrible spray pattern and coverage. You will find it so much easier and get a much better finish, also much quicker.
Something like this: https://www.buzzweld.co.uk/hvlp-sty...VBmQQb6Z7kcbEFMyePcDTy8VROfyI7_zln6ut3Ns9yJJA
Ant-H
Site Supporter
If you have anymore corners to repair, I wouldn’t bother with the fibre glass sheets. Just pour the resin in.
Then sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill……………………….until your happy with the finish.
Then sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill……………………….until your happy with the finish.
I've moved on a tiny bit. The resin is now dry and roughly sanded. When I first saw it, I was pretty horrified as the cardboard had gotten glued to the resin, there was fiberglass everywhere and it was all misshapen.
Some rough sanding got it into shape (a bit), although there are still a couple of holes that need to be filled.
I did another thinnish layer of Rust-Oleum surface primer, working on my left-to-right spray speed and my distance from the cab. My main problem now is that I keep running out of primer. I've got through two cans already and only just started building up layers on the cab (I'm still working on filling and sanding)! Learning for today, you need LOTS of spray paint. I mean LOTS!
Also, those pinball restoration videos that show paint going on, evenly, in a single go, without further preparation are either very expert or doing a lot of edits on their videos. Don't expect, as a clueless novice, to get a professional finish in a couple of hours.
Anyhow, needing more rattle cans of primer, I 'popped' out to Catford, home of the famous Catford Cat.
A bit of an adventure because I'd decided to hire a Lime bike rather than taking my cargo trike. I'm switching to a Van Raam Kivo later this year to take the kids to school, but have been riding the trike so long that I'm not 100% confident with two-wheeled bicycles anymore (you know, the normal kind). Anyway, the first Lime bike I got to Catford, parked up outside Dunelm, bought paint and then couldn't unlock the Lime bike I'd been riding - or the one parked next door. Turns out I'd ridden out of area. I had to jog back into central Catford, pick up a DIFFERENT Lime bike, and ride THAT home with my rucksack. Amusingly, the second bike had next-to-no battery, and it had almost flattened by the time I got back to Greenwich. I was riding up Morden Hill in Lewisham looking out for other Lime bikes incase I needed to make a fast swap to a THIRD (count 'em) bike for the same hour-long journey!
Some rough sanding got it into shape (a bit), although there are still a couple of holes that need to be filled.
I did another thinnish layer of Rust-Oleum surface primer, working on my left-to-right spray speed and my distance from the cab. My main problem now is that I keep running out of primer. I've got through two cans already and only just started building up layers on the cab (I'm still working on filling and sanding)! Learning for today, you need LOTS of spray paint. I mean LOTS!
Also, those pinball restoration videos that show paint going on, evenly, in a single go, without further preparation are either very expert or doing a lot of edits on their videos. Don't expect, as a clueless novice, to get a professional finish in a couple of hours.
Anyhow, needing more rattle cans of primer, I 'popped' out to Catford, home of the famous Catford Cat.
A bit of an adventure because I'd decided to hire a Lime bike rather than taking my cargo trike. I'm switching to a Van Raam Kivo later this year to take the kids to school, but have been riding the trike so long that I'm not 100% confident with two-wheeled bicycles anymore (you know, the normal kind). Anyway, the first Lime bike I got to Catford, parked up outside Dunelm, bought paint and then couldn't unlock the Lime bike I'd been riding - or the one parked next door. Turns out I'd ridden out of area. I had to jog back into central Catford, pick up a DIFFERENT Lime bike, and ride THAT home with my rucksack. Amusingly, the second bike had next-to-no battery, and it had almost flattened by the time I got back to Greenwich. I was riding up Morden Hill in Lewisham looking out for other Lime bikes incase I needed to make a fast swap to a THIRD (count 'em) bike for the same hour-long journey!
I have only done one stencil job which was Future Spa so the cab was a little bit bigger, it cost me over £200 in spray cans. Shocking
Very satisfying though, take your time and rectify anything you are not happy with or you will have to live with it. Would be soul destroying for me so yeah rectify it
Primer - 12+ cans easily
Yeah… I’d bought one can
I’ve now bought out Dunelm in Catford of two more cans of white primer (don’t go to Catford Dunelm looking for white primer, folks), and - given how much faffing I’m doing - I’ve bought another 10 (!) cans from Amazon.co.uk.
Sprayster is a good mail order site for cans
I did when I bought the first cans, and it was a solid site, but IIRC it took a few days to come and I'm trying to work on the cab every chance I get before I have to take on other projects and the kids go back to school.