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TAF playfield damaged insert

Nilos

Nilos

Registered
Joined
Sep 4, 2022
Messages
82
Location
Sutton, London
Hi guys,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I could find replacement inserts for a TAF playfield.
I bought a CPR replacement playfield and upon arrival I noticed that one of the inserts was slightly damaged.
I got a refund for it, so actually I'm not out of pockets.
But given the situation, I was thinking to see if somehow I could get hold of a new orange lightning insert and see if I could carefully replace it.
I know it's a delicate job and possibly it would be difficult to re-coat again, but given that this playfield is damaged already, I thought I would try and save it.
I have attached some pictures.
Does anyone know where I can find spare inserts?

Thank you,
Nilos
 

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Looks like air under the clearcoat to me. If you really are concerned enough you should get the playfield replaced - manufacturing defect after all.
If you want to repair yourself grind it out and recoat, preferably with the same paint. You may get away with filling the resulting divot with clear a few times and polishing.
If the insert is split and needs to be replaced, you‘re in for some fun - need to score the coating/paint around the insert, heat it up to soften the glue and press it out. Glue a new one in, repaint the black border line and coat. In short: don’t do it.
 
Yes it’s just a bit of separating of the clear , suggest not touching it it will only look worse, you could get a syringe and inject a two pack clear under but it would be expensive for a tea spoon of clear and then you may need to sand and buff any excess which leaks on the surface , this is just a normal part of ageing of a playfield . It will all become chipped and scratched the older it gets play it and enjoy it
 
Or drill into it and take it to a automobile window chip repair - that could work.
DISCLAIMER: I never tried that :-) ...
 
I'd be scared that pulling a vacuum might have undesired side effects - if it works result should be great though.
 
Agree with others on here - the chances of making it far worse must be an order of magnitude greater than making it a tiny bit better. I wouldn't even consider attempting it,
 
Ok, thank you guys for the advices.
I can’t get a replacement for this playfield as I bought it from a third party private seller.
But due to the damage which was already there, before it was sent out, I got a refund.
The person who sold it said he didn’t notice it but after I received it, I checked the pictures of the item and I could somehow see evidence of the damage being already there.
Anyway, I don’t think I want to take a chance at moving all my parts from the old playfield across to this, the lightning is cracked and will probably fail at some point unless like some of you suggested I’d fill the underside of the lighting with resin and make it solid.
Or perhaps like @s000m suggested I could stick Mylar on top.
Hmm, I agree replacing the insert is invasive, also having never done it, it could turn ugly.
Ok. I will take some time to consider the options.
 
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Nilos said:
Ok, thank you guys for the advices.
I can’t return this playfield as I bought it from a third party private seller.
But due to the damage which actually was already there before it sent out, I got a refund.
The person who sold it said he didn’t notice it but actually after receiving it, I checked the pictures of the item and damage was already there before it was sent.
Anyway, I don’t think I want to take a chance at moving all my parts from the old playfield across to this as the lightning is cracked and will probably fail at some point unless like some of you suggested I’d fill the underside of the lighting with resin and make it solid.
Or perhaps like @s000m suggested I could stick Mylar on top.
Hmm, I agree replacing the insert is invasive, also having never done it it could turn ugly.
Ok. I will take some time to consider the options.
Click to expand...
A full refund and you keep the playfield ?
 
Happypin said:
A full refund and you keep the playfield ?
Click to expand...
I know I got lucky.
He recognised the fault was already present before sending looking through the pictures because he didn’t notice it when he had it.
It was too expensive for him to arrange a pickup from US. So he decided it wasn’t worth it.
 
Nilos said:
I know I got lucky.
He recognised the fault was already present before sending looking through the pictures because he didn’t notice it when he had it.
It was too expensive for him to arrange a pickup from US. So he decided it wasn’t worth it.
Click to expand...
A few months ago they sent me a FT playfield with bad print, they had it collected and the next one came with a damaged corner. Gave me $100 back.
Last time I use them if I can help it, inserts have sunk a bit as time has gone by too. See what it‘s like next year before I fit😬
 
M4carp said:
A few months ago they sent me a FT playfield with bad print, they had it collected and the next one came with a damaged corner. Gave me $100 back.
Last time I use them if I can help it, inserts have sunk a bit as time has gone by too. See what it‘s like next year before I fit😬
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I think this is the reason Kruzman won’t work on a PF for at least 6 months after he receives it as he mentioned that the inserts will move in that time.
 
I would leave it and use the PF imo. Especially, it was basically free, if you got a refund and got to keep it.
 
Ant-H said:
I think this is the reason Kruzman won’t work on a PF for at least 6 months after he receives it as he mentioned that the inserts will move in that time.
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Yeah he told me to leave it 4 plus months and see what it’s like, said they would sink. Only a really small amount though and fitting as is, it’s not good enough to spend more on with Kruzman.
 
russdx1 said:
What causes the inserts to sink? Is it the glue or wood settling
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From what I can see, it looks like something hit the insert from behind the playfield.
The insert cracked in two and the coating lifted off slightly on the tip of the lightning.
The insert isn't sunk, it's still flushed with the playfield, but I suspect the damage was done with something and that caused the crack and lift off of the coating slightly.
I mean, when I say that the coating has lifted off, it’s only visually, as when I pass my finger over it, I don’t feel a bump, but you can see that the coating is detached (air in the between).
The concern is the insert which is cracked in the middle (I can see that when I shine the light through it) and the coating which has lifted in the corner.
I tried to push it gently to see if there is any giving or movement, but doesn't seem to be loose.
Difficult to say though, with a heavy ball moving around, it could just split further and sink or come loose.
 
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Should that happen you can still fix it with more invasive methods. If you Mylar it (which isn’t the worst idea on top of the magnets anyway), it will surely not stop your play even if the insert comes loose - you can also add glue at the seams from below, will never come out after. Wouldn’t personally fill it as it will look different from the others.
 
I bought a pin recently and it had a mashed up insert with a hole through it, I repaired it with clear epoxy resin and put an insert decal over it.
I bet you could do that from below, lay it flat and pour in. That should hold it together solid.
 

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