Tips for Fixing Raised/Sunken Inserts

[Slash]

Next order of business with my resto is to fix any raised or sunken inserts.  I've been doing a fair bit of research and I just wanted to check if my approach was right and ask for some advice too.

Getting the current inserts out is no drama, but after that I was intending to give the tops of them a very light sand with some wet/dry to make sure they are flat.  I was also going to rough up the sides of them with sandpaper also to help give the glue a surface to stick two.  I have got two part epoxy wood glue for this which I hope is correct.  I was going to reinsert them from the back of the playfield also to minimise any glue coming thru to the front. 

My issue then is getting them back in flush with the playfield surface.  I have read people saying get a really flat piece of wood and clamp it to the front of the playfield so the inserts then get pushed in from the back until they sit flush with the wood.  If using this method I was going to put a sheet of paper or something between the wood and the playfield to avoid glueing the wood to the top should any stray glue come through.  Is there another better method than this that I could use to make sure they are flat?

One other question I had was regarding the wear just around one or two of the inserts.  One spot in particular seems like it may need very slight filling to bring it back to level (just putting a couple of coats of touchup paint on it may not bring it level).  I'm guessing I do this after I have fixed the insert?

[rustalan]

This will show you what to do.

[Crashramp]

This will show you what to do.

That's a great video, it gives me a bit of confidence to give it a go.

[flippnaussie]

I did some a while ago and the same inserts are popping up again...
Not sure if it was a bad job i did the first time getting them back down. Or where I keep the machine/weather conditions.

Ideas to prevent it?

Simon.

[big dog]

yep,That's a great video. the gels the go.

[Marty Machine]

Since most inserts have slightly tapered walls, they will naturally want to self-eject over a period of time.

Many glues don't penetrate (hehehe i said penetrate) the plastic enough to hold it in place...in fact the insert breaks free from the glue and slips out again.

A good practice is to roughen the outer edges with coarse sandpaper, essentially creating fine scratches on the outer wall that the glue will then get trapped into, and create a far more secure grip into the playfield hole.
In extreme cases, you can poke around the edges of the insert with a soldering iron, creating small craters as such, which also creates a glue trap and greater friction against the playfield wood surface.
Yes, they'll be harder to get back in, but they'll NEVER come out  ;-)

The scratching & soldering iron methods don't show in the insert bulb-area, so you afford to be brutal with those edges.

MM

[pinball god]

 

Since most inserts have slightly tapered walls, they will naturally want to self-eject over a period of time.

Many glues don't penetrate (hehehe i said penetrate) the plastic enough to hold it in place...in fact the insert breaks free from the glue and slips out again.

A good practice is to roughen the outer edges with coarse sandpaper, essentially creating fine scratches on the outer wall that the glue will then get trapped into, and create a far more secure grip into the playfield hole.
In extreme cases, you can poke around the edges of the insert with a soldering iron, creating small craters as such, which also creates a glue trap and greater friction against the playfield wood surface.
Yes, they'll be harder to get back in, but they'll NEVER come out  ;-)

The scratching & soldering iron methods don't show in the insert bulb-area, so you afford to be brutal with those edges.

MM

well explained...... now can we further explore the penetration aspect of things 

[flippnaussie]

Thanks for the tip.
I'll give it a go next time the playfield is up. So many to do....

Simon.