I've found several of these guides/threads very helpful with my recent restoration.

**----** Playfield Area **----**

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-ultimate-playfield-restoration

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cleaning-playfield-harnesses-vids-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cleaning-and-waxing-pinball-machines-vids-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-upgradingrebuilding-flippers

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-spraymax-2k-auto-clear-in-a-can-club

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinside-rubber-ring-database-by-themetitle

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-fixing-stripped-screw-holes-in-wood

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-safely-flatten-warped-playfield-plastic

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-even-out-a-warped-plastic

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-re-populating-playfields

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lexan-playfield-protector-install-and-review

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-rebuilding-pop-bumpers

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/making-new-ball-guides-from-scratch-vids-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/replacing-stand-up-target-faces-vids-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/say-goodbye-to-old-yellowed-plastics

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/removinglessening-yellowing-in-the-clear-areas-of-plastics

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/playfield-swap-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/shop-job-master-checklist

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ultrasonic-cleaners

**----** Cabinet Area **----**

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cabinet-restoration-vids-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/removing-side-rails-vids-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-pimp-premium-cabinet-stencils-available-now-1

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/homebrew-webbing-step-by-step

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/“top-10”-things-not-to-do-to-a-pinball-back-glass#post-3147133

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinballplatingcom-chrome-brass-black-nickel-powder-coating

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/powder-coating-services-offered

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/classic-bally-stern-coin-doors-step-by-step-guide-to-restoration

**----** Electronics **----**

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/replacing-line-cords-plugs-wall-sockets-vids-guide

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-quick-bally-driver-board-repair-bulletproofing

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-bulletproofing-williams-system-6

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/terrybs-soldering-guide-part-1

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/terrybs-guide-to-logic-probes

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/terrybs-guide-to-repairing-alkaline-battery-damage

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stripping-battery-corrosion-with-a-strong-acid

**----** Aftermarket Parts Sources **----**

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/online-pinball-parts-shops

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/reproduction-bally-aprons

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/oak-replacement-playfield-rails-wh2o-and-taf-ready-to-ship-or-york

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1055-nvramweeblycom

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-pinitech-led-displays-for-classic-bally-stern-plasma-contender#post-4669540

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/official-hardtops-thread

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/installing-barakandls-nvram-battery-eliminator-vids-review

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/freeplay40-ramps

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/important-announcement-from-starship-fantasy -- (reproduction ramps)

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-mantis-parts-available

Feel free to post any other helpful restoration guides (I will try to keep updating the main list). I kept jumping between topics and thought it would be nice to have all the biggies in one place.

Of course. I knew it had to be something like it somewhere.

I was looking in the wrong place. I suppose we could focus on the non-Vid threads. . .

Source for cabinet stencils:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-pimp-premium-cabinet-stencils-available-now-1

Source for chrome/foil Credit Button Decal on Classic Stern Machines:

https://www.phoenixarcade.com/products/stern/stern-credit-decal

http://pinballrescue.net/Decals_Coin_Door.html

Nothing wrong with the Marco's version -- the only thing to note is that decal does not have the chrome/mirror finish that the original decal did.

Marcos:

pasted_image (resized).png

Other Vendors:

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Pinside source for Bally/Stern Rectifier boards as well as other electronics:

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1055-nvramweeblycom

Replacement Playfield Wood Rails (Reese Rails):

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/oak-replacement-playfield-rails-wh2o-and-taf-ready-to-ship-or-york

@vid1900 's approach for wallowed out playfield holes:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-fixing-stripped-screw-holes-in-wood

@silverwings approach to spray webbing:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/homebrew-webbing-step-by-step

Working with some compromised backglasses and found @xtheblackknightx 's post helpful.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/“top-10”-things-not-to-do-to-a-pinball-back-glass#post-3147133

Several threads on flattening wavey playfield plastics:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-safely-flatten-warped-playfield-plastic

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-even-out-a-warped-plastic

Working on repopulating a playfield right now. . . of course Vid comes to the rescue.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-re-populating-playfields

If clear coating your playfield is not the best option, perhaps a playfield protector is. They seem to help with playfields that have a lot of cupped inserts -- I will be using one on a Paragon in the near future.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lexan-playfield-protector-install-and-review

Several topics on making your own:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/making-a-play-field-protector-for-my-stern-big-game

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/i-made-a-playfield-protector-self-evaulation

Sources for Pinball Parts. So many options, Robin's thread does a good job of listing suppliers and some of their specialties.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/online-pinball-parts-shops

brenna98 (Merf's Pins) has done an amazing job providing reproduction aprons -- some can still be acquired via Planetary Pinball.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/reproduction-bally-aprons

Sources for new playfields.

Microplayfields ( Highclasspinball ) is located in Germany; Pinside Biz:

https://pinside.com/pinball/biz/directory/1253-mircoplayfields

Best threads covering some of their offerings:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/mirco-playfields-for-sale
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/poll-which-new-mirco-repro-playfield-titles-wanted-for-2018/page/10#post-4720425

**----**

Classic Playfield Reproductions ( KevinCPR ) is located in Canada; Pinside Biz:

https://pinside.com/pinball/biz/directory/1499-cpr-playfields

Best threads covering offerings and CPR's future "one-of" availability:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/announce-cpr-begins-its-new-business-model
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cpr-floodgates-open-plastics-amp-glasses-releases

Chome, Plating, and Powder coating services for pinball parts: sc93cobra / www.pinballplating.com

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinballplatingcom-chrome-brass-black-nickel-powder-coating

**----**

Powder coating: Robertstone0407

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/powder-coating-services-offered

Added into the "Cabinet Area" in the first post but playfield parts are offered for sale/exchange as well.

An alternative (to Alltek) for replacement Classic Stern and Bally MPUs:

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1055-nvramweeblycom/01281-new-universal-bally-stern-replacement-mpu-

I learn something new everyday it seems here on Pinside (one many reasons why I keep coming back).
Thanks to PACMAN and eh97ac for this thread:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/star-gazer-anyone-remake-the-inside-cabinet-paperwork-

Inkochnito 's thread with details of the website:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/inkochnitos-pinball-score-and-instruction-cards-website-update

Provides a link to apron cards, cabinet information/diagrams, etc.

Direct link to the website: http://www.pinballrebel.com/pinball/cards/

Replacement LED Displays for Classic Bally/Stern Machines from acebathound :

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-pinitech-led-displays-for-classic-bally-stern-plasma-contender#post-4669540

Several Sources for Aftermarket Apron Cards from @Aurium and @Aurich :

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinballcardscom-custom-instruction-cards

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/aurich-free-play-instruction-card-repository

Learning about replacing Batteries in Games with NVRAM:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fs-mc6821p-mc6802p-pcd5101p-tip102-genuine-parts-great-price

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/installing-barakandls-nvram-battery-eliminator-vids-review

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/nvram-experience

Looking forward to future projects. . . one of which is Taxi.
Reading up on Hardtops from Skypilot -- looks to be an interesting option if you have a Taxi, Space Shuttle, Pharoah, Wizard, Future Spa, Comet, Frontier, Black Knight, or Evel Knievel that needs playfield help.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/official-hardtops-thread

Vid even did a review of an installation on Comet:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-hardtop-restoration-comet

From Vid's playfield guide, which I am sure you already know about:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-ultimate-playfield-restoration#post-547712

This is not as detailed as you may like though. I've tried both the freeze and heat methods. Never had much luck with heat but freezing with the cans of compressed air has always done the trick. As far as which brand? All "air" may not be the same but this is the brand I used. . . I think I picked it up at Wall-Mart in the computer section. One can was more than enough for the pieces pictured. A full playfield might take a couple.

5J5A8622 (resized).JPG

Stainless Ball Guides -- getting them to shine.

On several games I have polished my own. This involves sanding as well as time spent at the buffing wheel with different compounds to produce a progressively smoother finish with a nice reflection. A couple pinside guides that touch on some of the basics:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/polishingbuffing-machine-for-metal-parts…

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/polishing-tools-for-metals

If you really want to get crafty you can follow Vid's guide on making new ones:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/making-new-ball-guides-from-scratch-vids-guide

If you have a Fathom, Star Gazer, or Seawitch you can purchase new ones from Mantis Amusements. This pinside topic (has links to their products) was also looking at making them for Centaur but I do not see those available on their website. The website also offers other stainless products for a number of games from different manufacturers.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/centaur-stainless-steel-ball-guides

https://mantispinball.com/

Reproduction Plastic Ramps. I have several games that will benefit from these Pinsiders.

Two main suppliers that I have found from Pinside. @lrosent345 / Starship Fantasy is US based, produces new ramps for a number of games, and carries a number of items offered thru Classic Playfield Reproductions. Best summary thread I found and website:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/important-announcement-from-starship-fantasy

www.starship-fantasy.com

The other provider is @freeplay40 -- from what I understand his ramps are made upon demand. List of available products is in the first post of his thread:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/freeplay40-ramps

Pinwiki

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinwiki

Kind of a cousin to Pinside I suppose but the website provides a lot of information on the technical side that I like. It has been invaluable when rebuilding some of my solenoid driver, rectifier, and sound boards on the older Bally and Stern games.

Direct link to the site: http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/

Board Repair.

I feel comfortable enough replacing caps on a SD Board or installing a new rectifier board on an old Bally or Stern, but some of the newer stuff looks a bit more challenging. A couple threads and specific individuals that may be of some help:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/board-repair-person-recommendations

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/who-to-go-to-for-board-repair

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/board-repair-europe

Specific Pinsiders that are mentioned: ChrisHibler Borygard barakandl (sells new vs. offers repair services?) johnwartjr (less active on Pinside than the others)

Yellowed Plastics -- Making them Clear again. Have yet to try this approach myself. . . I have some plastics at the ready but I am waiting for the sun to come out here in the winter!

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/say-goodbye-to-old-yellowed-plastics

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/removinglessening-yellowing-in-the-clear-areas-of-plastics

A step by step guide to disassemble/reassemble you Classic Bally or Stern Coin Door:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/classic-bally-stern-coin-doors-step-by-step-guide-to-restoration

I've mentioned Mantis Amusements before in terms of ball guides, but they have a lot more to offer. I recently acquired other stainless parts from them including leg protectors, cabinet side rails, lockdown receiver, etc. Thanks kstairmantis !

A Pinside post that covers things further:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-mantis-parts-available

Adding in a thread about Ultrasonic Cleaners. I recently acquired one and so far I have been impressed with the results for cleaning coils, hardware, and even plastic parts (not plastics with art -- just to be clear). I'll add it into the "Playfield Area" in the first post even though parts from all areas of the machine may benefit.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ultrasonic-cleaners