Basic Restoration Awnsers
From: Steve C
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Basic Restoration Questions
Reply-To: steve@
as Cliffy, Ray, Frenchy, Scott, and many others have pointed out on
your various questions:
1. I use a Jet buffer to clean my metal parts that are too big for a
tumbler. suppose you could use the buffer for the bolts but I wouldn’t
do it. just get a tumbler.
2. I use 80 grit sandpaper with an orbital sander until the ball marks
are gone. it will leave small circles due to the orbital sander, but
then I follow up with 220 grit wet/dry and sand it lengthwise to kind
of get a grain. I’ve also had good luck with the red scotch-brite
stuff instead of using 220 grit. I recently tried the green
scotch-brite I got at Sam’s Club that comes in a package of about 10
and it too worked pretty good. After the orbital sander and the
scotch-brite, you can always use a buffer wheel to make it shiny if
you don’t like the grained look.
3. I use Krylon semi-gloss black and it comes out looking pretty good.
just mask off the area you don’t want to get over-sprayed and you’ll
be OK. watch out around the flipper buttons that you don’t hit them
with the paint (I unscrew the contacts so it isn’t a problem and then
wrap masking tape around them). If I find grooves cut in to the side
of the game box I use bondo and a blade to fill in the area (can get
it from Home Depot too) . the only problem is that it will sometimes
come out looking smoother than the surrounding wood which makes it a
little more noticeable. of course the thing that’s cutting in to the
side of the cabinet will no doubt cut it again unless you figure out
what it is and stop it.
4. I use latex enamel gloss black that I got from Home Depot in a
quart can. Didn’t realize there were so many Blacks out there, so I
just picked the one that looked the blackest and had the guy mix me a
quart. I put it on a rag and rub it in to the areas where the paint
is gone. if this doesn’t work, I use a fine latex paint brush and
paint it on. it will flatten out before it dries so the brush marks
seem to disappear. the rag method seems to work pretty well for
blending.
5. I first get the rust off using any number of products that may be
laying around. A Must For Rust and Lightning works well but I’ve even
used Naval Jelly to get the rust off. Just don’t leave the stuff on
too long. I use Turtle Wax chrome polish on both the outside and
inside of the legs. after getting them clean, I run them on the buffer
as well and it shines them up like new. the Jet buffer I use is
somewhat low speed since it’s really for woodworking.
Just watch out using a buffer wheel since that thing can snatch the
metal right out of your hand if you aren’t careful. due to the
rotation of the wheel and the angle of attack. it usually bounces it
off the floor or slings it across the garage towards someone that is
invariably looking the other way. my Jet buffer has a stiff wire wheel
on one side and a cloth wheel on the other. I only use the white rouge
for shining stuff up. will make most things look smooth as a mirror,
especially pop bumper rings.
Some folks use Bleche-White to clean up the cabinet but I haven’t
tried that yet so don’t know if it’s legit or not.
hope this helps,
stevebo
