Saying "done" is difficult. But there is a strange spot where you need to say it. And it's when the game is fun to play. You are playing a "test" game, and you start playing it like the game is fun. That is the point where you stop.

You can always do more. Heck, even shopping games that are a couple years old you can want to go crazy. But just call it once the game has it's spirit.

Nothing wrong with that. You have the highest standards as far as your own games go so it's not a surprise you'd go the extra mile to sell a thoroughly shopped machine. I'm sure it's contributed toward having a smooth transaction and a happy buyer. Being a standup guy with an impeccable reputation is priceless.

Even when a game is back together and flipping, there are still a handful of things I want to do to a game. But at some point, enough is enough or no other projects will get done.

I want any game I take apart to play as good as possible when I'm done no matter if I plan to sell it or not. Because I still plan to play it, and I like my games to play real good.

I could throw more wood in the fire and offer you the scans I did for the cabinet LOL

Don't stop. To many people find a good deal clean the glass and add a grand to the price for resale. Your games probably bring long lasting problem free enjoyment. Your way should be the norm. Keep up the great work.

You, me, and a lot of people here truly want the next owner to enjoy the machine. I do not want to sell anyone a headache. We try to make a pin as nice as our individual talents allow.....
I wish I had more talent.....

-Everything cleaned, metal de-rusted & polished, playfield waxed.
-Electronics repaired, any known game/system issues bulletproofed, any hacks undone and fixed properly.
-Coil sleeves replaced, bad plungers & coil stops replaced, flippers rebuilt, broken/ugly parts replaced, bulbs replaced, displays repaired/replaced, new balls installed
-Cosmetics addressed, minor touch-ups, flaking backglass sealed
-Plays without problems

Anything else I'm missing from that quick list?

I would buy a game from you anytime if you would ever sell me one

I wash the boards in ever shop job I complete...helps make rebuilding them easier and cleaner!
Also gut the the cabinet and clean/ultrasonic/tumble all cabinet parts.
Topside and underside basically stripped and same clean/ultrasonic/tumble.
Only step that I stop at is removing the underside wire harness...just hand clean it, inserts and all coils.

Great example of how everyone's "shopjob" varies. Great work sky

Flatten, clean plastics.

Depends on what the end goal is.

Radical #1 I got because in trade because it was valued low.
Radical #2 I was told was a proto and was nice so I traded for it.

Once I template the ramp from 1 to create a replacement for 2 it gets a normal shop and its out the door after cherry picking parts. Number 2 will get titans, leds, and converted to a true proto, but its only to play for the time being. The dp pf has inserts chipped that I want restored, but cannot fork out kruzman level money for the time being so it will stay like that for a year or so.

If I were able to afford the pf, 2 would get new coil sleeves, all coils would be run through an ultrasonic, everything rebuilt. No sense in doing all that right now though.

I see a lot of people remove the entire wire harness so it can be 100% cleaned.
That is one spot I draw the line at.
I just put a towel behind the harness, spray with some degreaser and wipe them clean.
They look great afterwards and I could care less if a little dirt is in the areas that are zip tied.

I also repaint black coin doors without sanding or stripping off the old paint.
I don't even remove the orange coin inserts. Just mask them off with painters tape and spray.
The doors look great and you would need a flashlight and magnifying glass to tell other wise.

I'm sure I just made a lot of restorers gasp. lol.

Skypilot, I really like what you've done with the orange on that playfield. Looks beautiful!

I admit, I gasped.

My question is, why even do it if you are not going to do it right? I dnot mean that as a dig. Just that I see no reason to even paint the coin door at all if you are not going to prep it correctly to start. It is one of those things where the job is made harder for the next person so better off to just not do it at all IMO.

Because I do it for me. Not the other person.
When I'm working on my games the wiring harnes will always get your hands filthy if not cleaned.
That bothers me so I clean them. Fast and easy.
You would be amazed how clean the wires will get by simply getting a towel wet with cleaner and wiping them.
I would put the inside of my pins up against the ones that have been totally removed and the difference is just nothing my head would worry over.
I get compliments all the time when people get to see under the hood.
But everyone is different. If taking all that time is worth it to you then by all means go for it.

And I don't see how not cleaning the wires at all or painting a bad looking door at all helps in any way.

Currently Between Stage 2 and 3.

Stage 2

- Now, its "Hey, this is even better than I remember....."

- Buying spree begins, dependent on monetary funds

- The new collector starts buying machines that do not work, are missing parts, etc.
to save money, or to finance buying more machines

- Collector has to start justifying his actions to his family and wife

- Machines start taking up places in the house that they should not be

- Collector begins thinking about building a "game room" (seriously)

Stage 3

- The new collector realizes he might be over his head technically, as he looks around
and sees how many broken machines he owns, and frantically is looking for parts,
his technical skills continue to improve as a result

- He starts to begin the enjoy the aspect of restoring machines more than play or collecting

- Begins to sell several machines, to purchase other games that have more overall collector appeal

- He / she begins to final his / her "Most Wanted List"

This is why I pretty much stopped doing anything other than full blown restoration work.
It is really hard to do lesser versions even when that would be perfectly acceptable .

To me, "not right" is doing anything that would make it tougher/impossible for someone else to fix in the future.

For example, we have a guy in town that constantly flips games and he likes to "clean" them up, flame polish (i.e. melt) ramps and plastics, and clearcoat (rattle can clear over junk and dust and often mylar).

Things that make the next persons job harder are not right.

Aside from that, do what ever you feel comfortable with.

I have gotten into refurbishing games for some locals on occasion and in general that means fully rebuilding and cleaning everything, but stopping short of touchups and art stuff.

For my games I go the distance, but for others mechanically functioning, clan, and solid playing is the goal.

For a game you're not keeping and plan to sell, clean the top completely, clean inserts, make it work 100%. Everything else is secondary.

The only exception is to get experience doing something you haven't done before, or if doing that extra bit will double your sale price.

Don't forget to clean all of those specs you can see on the playfield glass!

I think you do everything that makes the game more reliable and all the simple cosmetic stuff. Especially if it's going to a non-pinhead. No re-graining, clean but don't pull the harness, clean and touch up the cabinet instead of decals, only replace broken PF parts as opposed to replacing just cuz new is shiny, etc. Reliability improves when boards are cleaned and serviced, normal wear parts are replaced, connectors,etc, etc. Above all, every bit of dirt needs to be removed from the PF top and bottom as well as the cab. This alone requires a full tear down.
This is what I just did with my LAH and I'm happy with it. I usually restore everything I get but I didn't feel this pin needed it. Plus I had never played it. Didn't know if I was going to like it. I do.