(Topic ID: 270396)

Clear coating imperfect play field

By DCRand

3 years ago


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Topic Stats

  • 20 posts
  • 15 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 3 years ago by DCRand
  • Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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#1 3 years ago

Have a Royal Flush. With a very good play field that I just finished touching up. But it’s not perfect. Would you clearcoat it now? Or just wax and play it with the idea the next owner might make it perfect and then clearcoat it?

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#2 3 years ago

Clean it up and clear it now. A new owner can always take it to the next level.

-1
#3 3 years ago

Send it to Stern and have it Imperfectly Cleared... to match.

#4 3 years ago

Looking at the playfield, I would clear it.

#6 3 years ago

I actually don't mind a cleared playfield that has some touch up or shows the original character. It's like preserving the history in a time capsule. The art will be protected, you can enjoy playing the crap out of the pin, and it's original integrity is still there. Win/win.

#7 3 years ago
Quoted from drypaint:

I actually don't mind a cleared playfield that has some touch up or shows the original character. It's like preserving the history in a time capsule. The art will be protected, you can enjoy playing the crap out of the pin, and it's original integrity is still there. Win/win.

What I did on this Hearts and Spades, rare title. When my skill set builds up it will be my first or second playfield repaint. In the meantime it is leveled and protected from further damage and plays like the wind.

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#8 3 years ago
Quoted from DCRand:

Have a Royal Flush. With a very good play field that I just finished touching up. But it’s not perfect. Would you clearcoat it now? Or just wax and play it with the idea the next owner might make it perfect and then clearcoat it?
[quoted image]

If you believe your touch ups are not good enough and believe the next owner may want to improve then cover with Mylar. Clearing is permanent what ever product you use.

#9 3 years ago

lots of times people clearcoat playfields before they touch them up so clearcoating it doesn't really mean anyone in the future couldn't do the touchups again and re-clear. It just prevents them from being able to clean off your touch ups but if your touch ups are only really in ruined areas(not on top of good original artwork, it really doesn't matter anyway.

#10 3 years ago
Quoted from tjc02002:

lots of times people clearcoat playfields before they touch them up so clearcoating it doesn't really mean anyone in the future couldn't do the touchups again and re-clear. It just prevents them from being able to clean off your touch ups but if your touch ups are only really in ruined areas(not on top of good original artwork, it really doesn't matter anyway.

Have to challenge this from my experience of restoring and auto cleared playfields. If you are locking in paint with an auto light clear coat that’s one thing but full coat is too much as it will cause a 3D effect as it sits above the lower paint. A light coat cannot be levelled safely, what about the inserts are they level?

Possibly a different clear such as polycrylic that is thinner (still permanent) would be possible to rework later. Possibly ‘Stoomer’ that uses this clear or similar could add his opinion if he is looking at this thread.

1 month later
#11 3 years ago

So how about this playfield, also a RF. Pics are worst of the wear down. I decided I needed to stop playing on it because I was seeing more and more wood everyday, even right after waxing. Ordered new balls but that didn’t slow it down either. Touch ups b/f clear coat?

Also what about a “playfield protector” instead of the clear coat, especially if you decide not to do the touch ups.

Also there is a lot of cupping and lifting on the inserts, so I need level those out and not sure if playfield protector will work for that.

Thanks !

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#12 3 years ago

I'd touch it up for sure...and it looks like it may have already been.
The thing that worries me aboot a PF protector isbare they really secured down enough? We were just purting one on a Paragon last week, and there was wiggle room moving back and forth, and I wonder if that could scratch the touch ups? Those German protectors are weird...three. nothing sticking them to the PF.

#13 3 years ago

What type of clear do you guys recommend?

#14 3 years ago

I've used KBS diamondclear for the 3 playfields I've done, very happy with it.

Dave Brennan recently did a series on the turbografx7 facebook page where he touched up and then cleared an alien star using the KBS stuff, well worth a watch even if you don't follow what he does exactly. here is the group page, restore stuff was back in early May. https://www.facebook.com/groups/227942975051203/

#16 3 years ago

Well, I clear coated the PF in the original post. And it was a disaster. Was using Polycrylic, which I had used before, but half way through applying the second coat the can started spraying essentially foam like one of those bathroom foam cleaners. Ended up with an area from about 6" below the drops, about 4 to 5 inches wide which had hundreds of small bubbles. Ended up sanding entire pf, multiple times, with three day wait in between each coat, and 5 coats which are probably the thickness of 2.5 to 3 coats with all the sanding, and the bubbles are gone. But the process turned the clear amber, so I now have a pf that is bubble free, but looks terrible due to the amber discoloration. A couple of bubbled pics, and a few of the final result.

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#17 3 years ago

I realize it’s too late now, but I’ve had great results from Spraymax 2k. It comes in a can and works great.

2 weeks later
#18 3 years ago

Clear is like frosting. Or dry wall mud. You slather it’s on and sand it smooth. The sanding is the art. And the wait.

#19 3 years ago
Quoted from desiArnez:

Clear is like frosting. Or dry wall mud. You slather it’s on and sand it smooth. The sanding is the art. And the wait.

True, and I don't mind the sanding, or the wait. The hundreds of bubbles from a bad can of clear, and the amber color. Not so much. Will try either Varathane, or Spraymax if I am brave enough to try it on another play field.

#20 3 years ago

Funny, it's been a few weeks now. But looking at the bubble pics is what I imagine a bad acid flash back must be like. LOL

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