Blackbeard,

I think we all have felt what you are saying in the past. The above is the disposition you should adopt and the one I have. You will only get better at fixing them as things break and the years go by. Remember, all things can be fixed and most are minor. This hobby is one of the few you can truley share with others...young and old...don't let the fear of somthing breaking interfere with that.

My dad moved in with us last year. Sometimes I feel like his personal tech, but he has played the crap out of all my machines. They get used and he is enjoying himself.

Just kick back and enjoy!

No, just rest it against the backbox. If it is a later model DMD and you need to solder the EOS flipper switches, for example, then pull the playfield out over where the lock down bar connects and rest it on the supports...sit on the floor in front of the coin door and solder away. Many options when working on them, and resting the PF on the bar or against the BB should not make you worry about damage.

A solid investment for under playfield, PF still in the machine, type of work is to purchase a soldering iron that runs on butane. I picked one up for around $40...can't rememeber the name right now, but this frees you from the chord and can aid in getting to the tight spots.