this goes out anyone that's done a full restoration on a machine (eg. bryan kelly, jim mccune, chris hutchins, etc...)
what do you do to clean up the transformer? I've already used a paint/varnish stripper to remove all of the dried (thick layer of) vanish from the brackets and replaced that nasty hardware (screws, nuts, washers, etc...) with shiny new stuff, but as far as the transformer block itself goes, what have you guys done?
Want a red one?
-mof
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/painting-transformer-good-thing-to-do
the red is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure why you didn't bother to remove the screws and brackets before painting the block
I didn't do the work myself, but my transformer got polished up and then hit with a thin layer of clear to keep it shiny...
Have you read this topic? https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/transformer-cleanup-painting-example#post-1448745
jadziedic:
thanks for the link 
ashburton:
yes, it does look like they "blued" the metal block rather than painted it.
the paint/varnish remover completely stripped the varnish from the metal brackets. I need to brush some on the metal block and clean up all of the slopped on areas and then wire brush the block. I might try that brush-on gun bluing rather than painting the block after I get it all cleaned up.
a huge thank you to bryan kelly and everyone else that replied. I finished cleaning it up, running a wire wheel on it and painting it. I ended up using a semi-gloss black lacquer with really light coats for a nice, even finish.
I still need to clean up the wires with a bit more of the varnish remover and some westley's (and probably should have done that first), but I'm really happy with how it came out
Quoted from j_m_:I finished cleaning it up, running a wire wheel on it and painting it. I ended up using a semi-gloss black lacquer with really light coats for a nice, even finish.
You won.
That looks sexier than Sandy Duncan holding a box of wheat thins in a field of wheat.
-mof
very nice, how did you clean up the nuts/bolts? just toss them in the tumbler? or did they get some wire wheel action as well? I am just about to clean up my es transformer
Quoted from russdx:very nice, how did you clean up the nuts/bolts? just toss them in the tumbler? or did they get some wire wheel action as well? I am just about to clean up my es transformer
I purchased new ones. the originals were all rusty and coated with varnish. it was much easier to just replace them, especially since we were just talking about 4 of each. the brackets were cleaned to remove the varnish and then tumbled
I'll dig out the part number for the bolts when I get home, I think I still have a couple left in the bag from where I ordered them from originally
terry @ pinball life sells the nylon insulators if you need to replace your nasty, crusty yellowed and dried, cracked ones
https://www.pinballlife.com/ballywilliams-transformer-screw-insulator.html
makes sense, oh mine did not have the nylon insulate but the bolt is inside like a cardboard tube.
Thanks
Factory transformers (wpc) were not painted black, they were blued (just like the ramp flaps). That is the reason why the metal appears to be black, but when you see it under a white light it becomes blue-ish.
There are two methods to blue an iron-containing metal: hot and cold.
Hot is more permanent but you can’t do this to your transformer because hot blueing involves dipping the metal in liquid chemicals.
Cold method is what I use to blue the outside of the transformer. You buy the blue chemical from gun stores mostly (it’s an acid) and follow instructions on the box. It’s very important to do the method right and apply a very thin layer of machine oil once a year or so. This keeps the metal from rusting because cold blue doesn’t protect as much as hot blue. You also keep your machine away from moisture (duh... common sense)
PS: good call on the wire brushing! I do this too on rusted metals I can’t glass-beat with excellent results!
The easiest way I have found to remove the varnish/wax from the L brackets is to drop them in boiling water for a few minutes, bolts, nuts and washers too. Use an old pot though as it leaves residue in the pot. I have painted a few Bally transformers and they look nice in satin black, but then I heard painting is bad because it prevents heat dissipation. The older Bally transformers are not sealed on the top like the Bally/Wms so it's tough to get the crud from the top of the windings. An old timer pin restorer told me he steam cleans the guts in his EM games and they come out like new, so I might try it on a bad transformer first just to see if it works.
Quoted from mof:You won.
That looks sexier than Sandy Duncan holding a box of wheat thins in a field of wheat.
-mof
You are revealing your age...
Quoted from Scoot:You are revealing your age...
Haaaaaa!
I still get nightmares from that thing.
mof
Quoted from j_m_:a huge thank you to bryan kelly and everyone else that replied. I finished cleaning it up, running a wire wheel on it and painting it. I ended up using a semi-gloss black lacquer with really light coats for a nice, even finish.
I still need to clean up the wires with a bit more of the varnish remover and some westley's (and probably should have done that first), but I'm really happy with how it came out
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Looks nice man. I’m gonna do the same…8 yearsss later….
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