The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => News & Announcements => Topic started by: Retropin on October 16, 2008, 09:53:29 PM
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I was going to offer this service in the new year, but circumstances have meant that it is offered a little early.
Ill be offering playfield restoration work to anyone that requires it. As far as i know, im the only person on the Eastern side of Australia offering this. This has been something i have been working towards for some time.
Quotes will be given based on pictures of damage to the PF's.
All work is CC'd afterwards.
I have a courier service that can pick the PF's up so long as they are boxed. Ill pay at my end or send coupons out to the customer, this keeps transport costs to a minimum.
The problem with this type of work is that it can be VERY labour intensive, but, in saying that, prices will be kept to a minimum. It has to be financially worthwhile to you the customer but also worth it to me.
So far this has been a labour of love for me and ive gradually refined my techniques down to what i consider to be extremely accurate for colour matching etc.
Anyone wishing to know more about this service, please contact me through this forum.
Ill soon be offering BG restoration and reproduction also.
A little background about me ; I studied art at college some 25 years ago, have been collecting pinballs for 20 years and have restored many. I am a glass blower by trade( 22 years) but have also worked as a tattoo artist.
I did start a thread on PF restore but have been so busy i havent finished it.
Ill post some before and after pics later.
I hope this service will be of use to PA members - hoipe to hear from some of you soon.
Gavin
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I wish you the best of luck with this venture Gavin. Thank you for offering your services to the pinball community. This sounds like a very unique and valuable service. Maybe you can post a portfolio of before and after pics to get it kick started. People can then see for themselves how good your work is.
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This is great news to the community. One aspect of pinball restoration that is beyond my skillset is playfield touch up / restoration and clearcoating.
I'm entrusting Gavin with a Playboy Playfield that needs touch ups and clearcoating.. I'm looking forward to the results.
#*# #*#
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I can definitely say that I will be using your services at some stage in the future Gavin.
Thanks for making this available! #*#
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And therein lies the problem,
Out of all the PF's ive worked on, ive never thought of documenting the progress till the last one.
Machines have always been restored then sold on without a thought to whats gone into them.
The pics below are from wild Fyre - Area was already damaged as seen in first pic. I then lost the detail when i removed the Mylar rings around the bumpers.
Area was filled with orange, then detail added.
Ill drag some more and after pics out..
BEFORE
(http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/6329/sternpfdamage7ua6.jpg)
(http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2097/wfpopdetail2jh3.jpg)
AFTER
(http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8219/detailfinishedtf8.jpg)
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If that's anything to go by, you'll get lots of people wanting your services. Nice job. ^^^
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Some More;
(http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8586/sternpfstripped4oa5.jpg)
(http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5219/finishedclearcoat5sy4.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/8410/sternpf2ov4.jpg)
(http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8185/finishedclearcoat4om6.jpg)
(http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6108/sternpfstrippedtl4.jpg)
(http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/539/finishedclearcoatmn4.jpg)
(http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7707/sternpfstripped3ot7.jpg)
(http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5797/finishedclearcoat8uq4.jpg)
(http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/7505/finishedclearcoat1lh2.jpg)
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Nice work Gavin, good luck with your business venture. I'm sure you will be swamped with work ^^^
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I guess you either "have it" or not... Playfield restoration at this level is still a mystery to me - especially after having a look at those pictures..
#*#
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Thanks everyone, enquiries are coming in already.
I have a shop front that i run my neon business out of, people stand and watch me blow glass. I kinda like the idea of turning this into a pinball restoration shop. People can then watch me air brush etc, plus i get to play some pins through the day - LOL!
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WOW Gavin! That's awesome work! *%*
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Excellent service to offer Gav.
Good luck with the venture and i am sure you will eventually be back loggged with 'pinball' work in your neon shop ! %$%
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hey gavin,saw your wildfyre restore on another site,awesome work,great idea to do somethink like that,ill be more inclined to buy machines with some playfield damage,and your in brissy,witch aint far from lennox head..and did you metion bg repro's..im after one of them 4 sure..flying carpet,i attemted a couple of touch ups..probably did more damage than anything,but im just happy to have a bg for it #*#
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Yes, ill be doing BG restores. Not all are saveable though.
Secret is to use translucent paint and to do all work over a lightbox so you can see your imperfections immediately and rectify. Colour matching needs to be done on a seperate sheet of glass.
But badly flaking Bg's really are too far gone. Those with weak colours or particular colours that have disappeared ( thinking RED on Flash here) can be brought back to new condition as can scratches etc.
This service WILL be available soon - from new year onwards.
I need to post results i have here first
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Have you priced anything in the way of shipping? I have a couple of playfields I'd be interested in looking at having done. I'm in Victoria BTW.
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Ive looked into shipping.
My regular courier wont carry them as the size is a little too large.
I found another courier to do this.
Each way to Sydney is $40
melbourne $56
Adelaide $64
This gives you a weight up to 40Kgs. So its possible to send 2 PF's for the price of one.
My way of thinking is to have ALL furniture removed and any drop target assemblies before shipping. This keeps the bulk size and quite a bit of weight down.
1 PF can be heavily wrapped in bubble wrap and then cardboard wrapped around it - TOP LOAD ONLY.
2 PF's would need custom box made. If you put them face to face with a towel or another protector in between. Wrap in bubble wrap and a lightweight box made from 3mm MDF and pine struts should see you OK.
BTW - this shipment goes on my card as i have to open an account. The return journey is actually slightly cheaper. I ring from my end, give address to pick up from and it arrives here. I then send back down when done.
Ill be ringing round to see if i can get a cheaper option this week, but at the moment, this is the only price ive been given.
Another option is to have it delivered to a depot, but id rather door to door
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That's cheap, Gavin..
I was thinking of using "Pack and Send", as they make custom cardboard boxes with foam as packing that fits the exact playfield.. But they are expensive - but very reliable..
Great news...
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Its not bad,
I still wouldnt mind trying to get a cheaper price - it still adds approx $100 to the price of any restore. In saying that though, cos you get a weight up to 40Kg's, its certainly a bloody good deal for 2 PF's.
You can get foam/ polystyrene dirt cheap - a lot of sign shops use it to make letters out of, enquire with them and theyll steer you in the right direction. In fact many would have large off cuts that are of no use to them.
Heres an idea that just came to me - wrap the PF in plastic, place in box and fill with spray foam - perfect moulding
Any wooden box that gets made doesnt have to be heavy duty. Id honestly be looking at a light frame with 3mm board around it. Nylon straps then around that would be more than enough protection
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Heres an idea that just came to me - wrap the PF in plastic, place in box and fill with spray foam - perfect moulding
Exactly what "Pack'n'Send" do. It is like a custom fitting box.
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I know BG are next year but how would we send those fragile buggers?? My problem is I work for an air-freight company and I see 1st hand how freight is handled ^.^ not good..
Any ideas Gavin..
Peter ^^^
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I've ordered and received 5 Backglasses from Canada without a scratch... The box was custom made, and very sturdy..
I can send one of mine up to Gavin to "reverse engineer" if that helps.. Unless he has other options..
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I know too well how stuff is handled also - not pretty!
When they are on their way up a good and liberal wrapping of bubble wrap and then card should be OK with particular attention to the corners, its via courier company so its handled a bit better.
On the return journey, i will be custom making boxes, unless people want to send via custom box - thats fine by me - saves me having to make one.
Youve got to slim the PF;s down as much as poss - so all drop target banks to be removed and face of PF to be furniture free. Single kick out coils can remain etc, but the larger items have to be removed
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I know too well how stuff is handled also - not pretty!
When they are on their way up a good and liberal wrapping of bubble wrap and then card should be OK with particular attention to the corners, its via courier company so its handled a bit better.
On the return journey, i will be custom making boxes, unless people want to send via custom box - thats fine by me - saves me having to make one.
Youve got to slim the PF;s down as much as poss - so all drop target banks to be removed and face of PF to be furniture free. Single kick out coils can remain etc, but the larger items have to be removed
Will look with much interest next year when you comence the Back Glass touch up's.. ^^^
Peter