Quoted from xfassa:Now for the backside.
You are a glutton for punishment! I thought you were going to only strip the top side!
Quoted from xfassa:Now for the backside.
You are a glutton for punishment! I thought you were going to only strip the top side!
Quoted from QuietEarp:You are a glutton for punishment! I thought you were going to only strip the top side!
Seriously?
Are you going to sand off the original clear? I would think you would still be at risk of insert ghosting unless you did.
Quoted from vid1900:There's no warranty on the playfield anyway, so the sooner he clears it, the sooner he will have the best GB in the world.
From a company that touts "True American Craftsmanship" it's a bit embarrassing. None of the parts made in America are even covered.
JJP covers everything for a month, and electronics for a full year.
Quoted from Ed209:Are you going to sand off the original clear? I would think you would still be at risk of insert ghosting unless you did.
I was wondering the same thing.
Quoted from Ed209:Are you going to sand off the original clear? I would think you would still be at risk of insert ghosting unless you did.
assume you'd do a light sand to allow the the two different clears to bond. But you couldn't go all the way down without damaging art, inserts, etc. Looks like he's sending off for clear without that step himself though. OP, what's the strategy here?
Hope your sending that PF to HEP. Sand all that shit clear off and start completely over. Expect to pay around 1k I'd imagine for this with Chris. Maybe more?
If you send that out for a typical sand and reclear, you are wasting your time.
Quoted from PanzerFreak:This is a lot of work...but you sure make it look easy! That was quick.
Agreed! You are making this job look a little to easy. How many play field swaps have you done? What would you guess at the hours in tear down so far?
Great thread!
The OP seems to be avoiding the question of HOW he is going to go about getting the PF recleared. Obviously he is going to send it out. Im curious as to whom he is going to send it to and how they are going to guarantee that it isn't going to ghost.
While I don't think this is a good idea, I do commend you on the effort and courage to go through with this. I certainly wouldn't have the balls to strip a playfield like that. Like others have asked, what is the course of action detailed by whoever is doing the work?
The playfield will be cleared by a well respected individual. Once the playfield is evaluated, i will provide more details.
Quoted from xfassa:Time for bed....
That harness looks so clean, I would not even bother to put it in the dishwasher.
Quoted from snakesnsparklers:Kruzman?
I think Kruzman charges more that $350.
Quoted from xfassa:Just pretending its a $350 mod.
Remember when GB was going to have voice work by Dan Akroyd, an LCD display & 10x the innovation?
Instead it's got air balls, a mistake for a flipper gap, a DMD & shit PF's.
Damn Stern makes me sad
Quoted from J85M:Really!? Sending out some sandpaper and some clear is stepping up? We are talking about an 8k product, not to mention xfassa is a BM66 buyer so he is a valuable customer imo & this is how they step up for him to solve their QC issues and faulty products?
I'm sorry but I couldn't respectfully disagree with you anymore if I tried, that is not stepping up at all, it's downright pathetic and Stern should be ashamed of themselves if they consider this a resolution for a loyal and valid customer.
Well to me it's a huge step for Stern. I had a friend of mine buy a IMVE. And they pretty much told him screw you, you're on your own, go fly kite. I wasn't expecting them to do anything on this particular run. So, yes I was shocked to see them actually step up and do anything. I will say one thing I've learned about buying games threw vendors. I have noticed that certain vendors can get things done. While other vendors, don't really seem to want to try. That might've been his problem. I kind of wish my GBLE play field was screwed up more, so that my vendor would replace it with a new one. I would do the swap in clear coat the play field like a piece of glass. It doesn't do me any good strip down what I have and clear it, if it's just got a dimple again. I feel like this is a step up for Stern. I can guarantee you even if they didn't do this. People would continue to buy their pins, so why fix the problems? This isn't the first game ever out with play field issues and it sure won't be the last. People used to tell me all the time WOF would've have been a great game if they finish the code. Now look at the code.... You can say that about a lot of games. I wish they had a service that you could pay and on to get the code finished. Some on here will disagree and say that I paid over 8K for the game and I should get the completed code. I couldn't agree more! But they have our money, do you think it's their top priority? I'm not disagreeing with you at all.... Stern should take every play field back and re- populate it. But I'm sure people in hell want ice water and that is just not going to happen. So anything that Stern actually does to fix a problem, I guess I see as a step. Maybe not a great one but a step. There have been so many problems from AC/DC to GBLE have things changed? NO! Not sure I would want Stern to clear my play field anyway. They might be pinball makers but pride in their work does not over rules cash in the pocket. So, before someone bashes me I have more Sterns than Williams. So it's not I hate Stern, heck I am in line to buy a Aerosmith LE. So, I am worried!
Quoted from docquest:I thought the modern clears were the two part stuff.
Is this just polyurethane or polycrylic or something similar?
I am interested in finding this out too. What exactly is in the jar ? I would like to do a couple of tiny touch ups on some small spots on games and don't really have the set up to be using two part clear.
Does this stuff in the jar work ?
See what I worry about. Is you go through all this trouble. but the reality of it is. Say if i'm clearcoating a field like this. The primary base coat is still main factor. I can give you the best clearing job on the planet, but it's still on the base clear. So if the base is letting go, the super duper awesome clear on top of it, is going to let go from the wood as well. just going to have a really good grip on the stern clear.
I did this NOS Frontier field for a guy years ago. Clear turned out great. Well, he dropped a tool on it while putting it together. the clear had a air pocket and popped up. So he hit it in other spots and did the same thing. Sooo. I told him send it back and lets see what going on. I get it back and wondering what the hell. Because I do all my fields the same way, and have over the past 11 years or so. So I dig into one of the air bubbles and slide my mixing spatula under it. Clear starts popping off the field. I could run it under the clear and pull it off in sheets. turns out. it wasn't my clear at all. It was the old ass cracked lacquer the NOS field had was letting go from the field. So when my clear came up, it had all the lacquer attached to it. needless to say, now the lacquer was taking some art here and there with it. turned a nice NOS field into a project that needed work. Which was not the fault of my clearcoat in any shape or form. from that day forward, I warn anyone now, when they send me questionable base coats from the factory....i let them know what could happen if that base layer decides to do crazy shit.
CaptianNeo - I totally agree that the base clear is a huge concern. I realize that there is no guarantee that a re-clear will fix the issue. My choices were simple:
1) Continue to put games on the machine until the chipping/ghosting reaches a level that meets Stern's arbitrary playfield replacement policy.
2) Use the Stern repair kit to address problematic areas.
3) Send playfield out for professional clear coating.
4) Ignore the chipping, throw on a protector, etc and go enjoy the game.
Option #1 is the least intrusive of all the options. I won't go into details but this option was aggressively pursued. Also, some on Pinside have reported that the replacement playfield have exhibited the same issues. So, even if I went that route, there still is no guarantee my problems would have been resolved. Honestly, if they don't understand root cause, how can the issue be fixed with a playfield swap?
Option #2 is the most absurd and I won't even comment.
Option #3 is the best option (my opinion only). I believe having it professionally cleared will give me the best opportunity to have a quality playfield. I am sure many of you will give me expert opinion on why this option won't work. However, I have decide to stick with this decision.
Option #4 is not an option at all given my personality.
Thanks to everyone for their input. I really do appreciate the feedback!
technically you have option 5.
Play the hell out of it, let whatever happens happen, and down the road you could get it restored. but you are already this far now, it wouldn't be an option anymore. Just saying. I guess I don't get too concerned with things like shooter lanes and what not, because if I don't like it down the road, i'll restore it, but shooter lanes don't concern me, and never have. They are ment to get beat to shit. Every game i've ever had has wear in the shooter lane that I didn't buy NIB. It's how pinball works. Now chipping in other places early on. either spot cleared or mylar to minimize it. Mostly because I don't have a lot of time to work on my own games. I'm too busy restoring everyone elses. And restoring mine, doesn't pay the bills.
Quoted from CaptainNeo:technically you have option 5.
Play the hell out of it, let whatever happens happen, and down the road you could get it restored. but you are already this far now, it wouldn't be an option anymore. Just saying. I guess I don't get too concerned with things like shooter lanes and what not, because if I don't like it down the road, i'll restore it, but shooter lanes don't concern me, and never have. They are ment to get beat to shit. Every game i've ever had has wear in the shooter lane that I didn't buy NIB. It's how pinball works. Now chipping in other places early on. either spot cleared or mylar to minimize it. Mostly because I don't have a lot of time to work on my own games. I'm too busy restoring everyone elses. And restoring mine, doesn't pay the bills.
Sounds like his option 1.
well I ment, years down the road where it would definitely be out of warranty. Not dealing with stern at all. Like 10 years from now if he feels like restoring then, just play the shit out of it till then.
Quoted from stoptap:What exactly is in the jar ? ...
Does this stuff in the jar work ?
I think it's clear nail polish. vid1900 has mentioned it in the playfield restoration thread but this bottle could be different.
Quoted from CaptainNeo:well I ment, years down the road where it would definitely be out of warranty. Not dealing with stern at all. Like 10 years from now if he feels like restoring then, just play the shit out of it till then.
Once again, my personality doesn't allow me to have beat up machines.
Quoted from xfassa:Once again, my personality doesn't allow me to have beat up machines.
I totally hear you on that, but as you play these games, they will wear. There's no way to stop that completely, no matter how perfectly you take care of it.
Marc
I probably would have picked up a spare playfield from Stern (even if I had to pay for it) before tearing it down.. Or if they aren't willing to do that, there's a website that seems to sell rejects:
http://coinoppartsetc.com/product/parts-sale-pinball-machine-parts/ghostbusters-premium-pinball-machine-game-playfield-6
That way you aren't taking as big of a risk. I also wonder if you could sand it down to wood, and Stern would be willing to reprint it at churchhill with another batch? Like Neo says, I just don't think you're going to get all the clear off, and you're going to be attaching a different clear to a bad clear, and down the road it's just going to separate.
Quoted from toyotaboy:I probably would have picked up a spare playfield from Stern
Again, without "clear" evidence that Stern identified the root cause to their playfield issues, all GB playfields are suspect. So, if I invest more money into a reject or new replacement playfield, I could end right back up where I started.
Quoted from stoptap:I am interested in finding this out too. What exactly is in the jar ?
Call Poison Control and tell them your kid may have just drank it.
They'll find out what it is in a hurry.
Quoted from vid1900:Call Poison Control and tell them your kid may have just drank it.
They'll find out what it is in a hurry.
Without having to go through your excellent playfield restoration thread, what is the best method for small clear coat touch ups (like the shooter lane and drain hole) ?
Quoted from stoptap:Without having to go through your excellent playfield restoration thread, what is the best method for small clear coat touch ups (like the shooter lane and drain hole) ?
Shooter lane and outhole are easy because you don't have to worry about art.
You can inject 2PAC under the flake and glue it back down.
You can paint 2PAC over missing clear and then just sand it level.
Oil based poly **could** be used on bare wood, but it takes over a month to fully harden. Not recommended, but people do it.
Quoted from vid1900:Shooter lane and outhole are easy because you don't have to worry about art.
You can inject 2PAC under the flake and glue it back down.
You can paint 2PAC over missing clear and then just sand it level.
Oil based poly **could** be used on bare wood, but it takes over a month to fully harden. Not recommended, but people do it.
Is it available in small quantities and is it brushable ?
This seems like a fun project for someone that enjoys this type of thing. If nothing else, you'll have a better understanding of your machine and its inner workings for any future maintenance down the road. I realize that this essentially voids the warranty, but if you do end up with clear-coat problems down the road, I should hope that Stern can make an exception in this case. It wouldn't be the first time they made exceptions. If not, I'll certainly have your back in fighting them. And I agree, getting a new playfield from them at this point might just be asking for more of the existing problem.
Quoted from stoptap:Is it available in small quantities and is it brushable ?
It is brushable.
Small quantities, you might have to call your local auto parts/paint joint.
I've seen a quart size, but I always buy gallons.
Quoted from RavagedUnicorn:This seems like a fun project for someone that enjoys this type of thing. If nothing else, you'll have a better understanding of your machine and its inner workings for any future maintenance down the road. I realize that this essentially voids the warranty, but if you do end up with clear-coat problems down the road, I should hope that Stern can make an exception in this case. It wouldn't be the first time they made exceptions. If not, I'll certainly have your back in fighting them. And I agree, getting a new playfield from them at this point might just be asking for more of the existing problem.
When I was doing restores, I learned more about pinball repair and maintenance during that time than I have in all the rest of the years I've been in the hobby combined.
Could you request a GB playfield uncleared, and get a professional To do the job... my GBLE #45 is in a bad way!
If you really want to be next level....
If you reeeally want the best GB PF ever...
Have your PF guy move the flippers closer together & raise the metal inlanes
I don't know why people complain about that flipper gap. Plenty of my games have a flipper gap exactly like that. Those all play perfectly fine. Ever play alien poker. Same gap. indy 500 same. Swords of fury, same. many others that are no JT's game also have it the same. Doesn't make them any less fun.
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