Powder coating

[Steve Arnold]

What are peoples views on getting pinball parts powder coated like side rails and legs in different colours? This king of doing a few pins up. Also any idea what the costs are for legs, side rails, backbit hinges and lockdown bar?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Ant-H]

Powder coating a games armour really depends on the colours of the artwork on the game as ideally you want it to blend in or contrast the overall look of the game.

What’s games are you thinking of doing?

Theres a dedicated thread on Pinside where people put photos up of their newly powder coated armour.

It’s pretty good for ideas. I usually use the search option on this thread to view the game I’m thinking about doing.

 

[Bulla]

What are peoples views on getting pinball parts powder coated like side rails and legs in different colours? This king of doing a few pins up. Also any idea what the costs are for legs, side rails, backbit hinges and lockdown bar?

Thanks
Steve

I’ve just paid £120 for legs, rails, lockdown bar and hinges.

 

[Asiapinball]

Price depends highly on what powdercoat is used. Satin black is cheaper. Glitter or one off colours can be much more expensive if special order.

 

[Monkeyboypaul]

Personally I like doing it & it suits some games really well. You're maybe looking at about £10-15 an item, more for fancier paint. Maybe cheaper for simplicity.

I've steadily accumulated a spare set of Stern metal so I can get games coated and then swap bits in situ - saves the games being stripped, tombstoned and then sat unplayable. Swapping uncoated/original for coated/upgrade on Sterns is really really easy. Bally/Williams side rails can take some prising to get off, so I don't bother doing those - only the legs in that scenario.

Stern:
4x legs
1x lockdown bar
2x backbox hinges
2x side rails.

B/W:
4x legs

I don't both with coin door or plunger housings.

Useful thread: https://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/powder-coating-safe.41450/page-4#post-314653

Let the powder coating company know which bits of your meal is hidden so they can ensure the outward facing surfaces are nice.

 

[Steve Arnold]

Thanks all for the replies.
I’m thinking at the moment to maybe do it to my
Fish tales,
Scared stiff
De Star Wars.

I have a transformers with lovely blue glitter and really like the effect on the machine. I know it’s people’s own preference but can’t do any harm I guess and can always get original bits to put back to normal.

 

[Ant-H]

Thanks all for the replies.
I’m thinking at the moment to maybe do it to my
Fish tales,
Scared stiff
De Star Wars.

I have a transformers with lovely blue glitter and really like the effect on the machine. I know it’s people’s own preference but can’t do any harm I guess and can always get original bits to put back to normal.

Fish Tales can be a tough one due to the bright and colourful artwork on the cabinet so if you chose the wrong colour, is can look a bit OTT. But as you said it’s down to your own preference.

On one of the FT that I just restored, I went with a gloss black which I think helps frame and bright artwork.

 

[DaveA]

Resurrecting this (rather than setting up new thread) as been wanting to do this for a while, one on a Stern premium as factory, and one on a Stern SAM Era with imperfect coating already.

Is it as simple as....
Take armor, legs, hinges off.
Find a powder coater and select a colour.
Pay the powder coater.
Put armor, legs, hinges back on.

Any hints/tips/secrets?
Any do's/dont's?
Anything to vet with the powder coaters you choose?
Is the approach the same for standard Stern armor and legs (plasticcy feel) vs armor and legs that have previously been coated that have picked up signs of wear?
Anything that can be done to coat the edges of the backglass? (Assume not)

Thanks.

 

[Jagspete]

It’s as you say. Do make sure you don’t bend the side rails as you take them off, if you do then get them back in shape before powder coating, if there are any dents, tap them out first as the powder coaters won’t do this, they will do your bolt/screw heads as well.

 

[kev a]

I had the lockdown bar and side rails on my SAM era game powder coated was around 60 quid for a basic navy blue colour, one thing to note, they will likely sand blast the items first (as they need to be down to bare metal) so you will need new foam seals for the lockdown bars.

 

[jonathan]

Just been charged £90 to have the metalwork on my TSPP sandblasted and powder coated yellow. Good price but haven't got it back yet so it might be ****e

 

[BrianSoton]

I get mine done (sand blasted / powder coated) for £4 an item so damn cheap and a fantastic finish, only ever had black satin done

 

[kevlar]

I get mine done (sand blasted / powder coated) for £4 an item so damn cheap and a fantastic finish, only ever had black satin done

, where did you get it done so cheaply?

 

[BrianSoton]

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Local to me, been doing my Blackwork for about 15 years