Experience with hardtop playfield overlays

[VeeMonroe]

I’m currently looking at a pin that has had a restoration with a playfield overlay auto-clearcoated. It looks like it’s a hardtop.

Does anyone have experience of those? From what I can tell, they can apparently play differently from a playfield replacement. Not sure how I should value one either.

 

[Ashbo]

I’m currently looking at a pin that has had a restoration with a playfield overlay auto-clearcoated. It looks like it’s a hardtop.

Does anyone have experience of those? From what I can tell, they can apparently play differently from a playfield replacement. Not sure how I should value one either.

For what it's worth, (I have no experience, but watch plenty of YouTube vids in my lunch breaks) take the time to go see it and play it. Is it fun, do you like the way it plays (that's all that matters) Look closely at all areas and make sure there is nothing that will bug you.

If it's had an overlay applied right, it will look good, no wood visible around the inserts and a flat clear mirror shine on the playfield should protect it for longer than you will own it.

Bobbles, dips and cloudy areas on the clear coat are an avoid.

 

[Pick Holder]

They dont look as good as the real thing unless it is put on right and KK'ed properly.

@AlanJ used one recently on one of his refurbs and it looked great when he finished but then again, he knows what he is doing.

 

[AlanJ]

They dont look as good as the real thing unless it is put on right and KK'ed properly.

@AlanJ used one recently on one of his refurbs and it looked great when he finished but then again, he knows what he is doing.

Cheers. I wouldn't use one again, unless it's the only option - a new CPR playfield is my preferred option. Then an outside edge proper hardtop, then lat place to a vinyl overlay. They do look okay but more work than a p/f swap, and less forgiving than a full hardtop. Also the classic arcades overlays are well known for being, how shall we say, "a bit inaccurate".

 

[new forest pinball]

First you should never clearcoat a hardtop. What you are describing sounds to me like an adhesive overlay which has been cleared.
Commenting on this without seeing it would be worthless. In your opinion what does it look like?….has the clearcoat had several weeks to cure? Roughly how much has it been played since. Questions worth asking if the owner is honest.
Second. Hardtops are an excellent product. We have used them regularly for our customers restorations on mainly Bally ss games. Overlays on the other hand vary in quality and are only worth doing when other options are not readily available. (New playfields, hardtop etc.)
Third point. Hardtops play very similar to the original in our experience, perticularly once waxed. Keef.

 

[VeeMonroe]

Thanks, everyone. It would be an import so probably a bad idea as I can’t inspect at the detail I’d like.