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(Topic ID: 38949)

My Pinball Rotisserie is Finished

By Strohz

11 years ago

Topic Heartbeat

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44 posts
31 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 10 years ago by cheesewhisperer
Topic is favorited by 23 Pinsiders

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#1 11 years ago

First of all, special thanks to Skypilot for the inspiration; donation made. I was tired of having playfields sitting around the floor while I shopped out games, so decided to follow his lead. If you missed his original thread, check it out here: http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/sky-pilots-rotisserie-plans

I'm fortunate in that my dad is a custom cabinet maker with all the tools you could need to make something out of wood. Following are some pics and details behind the rotisserie that he and I made over a few weekends. Here is the final product:

Slide2.JPG

#2 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

Unlike the original, I wanted to be able to put it away and store it under my pinball machines when not in use much like a metal pipe rotisserie. To do this, we designed it to separate into three parts: a wheeled base, removable supports with attached lazy-Susan bearings, and a rigid top to securely hold the playfield. The base is only 10” high and easily slides under the machines. All of the parts store in the base, and can go from storage to having a playfield installed in about a minute. Simply set the 4x4 posts on each end of the wheeled base, place the rigid top on the lazy-Susan bearings, then secure each end with a long bolt and star knob through them.

Slide3.JPG Slide4.JPG Slide5.JPG

#3 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

I also wanted the top to be one-size-fits-all yet so I wasn’t making a new one every time I switched from a Stern to a widebody WPC machine. Our solution was to size the top to fit the smallest playfield, then add a sliding t-track system to the ends. This allows the frame to quickly to adjust from 20-32” wide, and only requires a standard 1/2" nut driver to operate. Just loosen four bolts on each end, slide to the desired width, and lock back in place.

Slide6.JPG rotisserie_width_adjustment_2.jpg

#4 11 years ago

MJM

mmuglia

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 91,550 1,319 7

AWESOME!! Well done!

#5 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

Finally, I wanted to make sure the playfield was firmly attached to the rotisserie without needing clumsy c-clamps that could come loose, and wasn’t a hassle to put in place. We routed an oversized channel in the top crossbars so the front playfield brackets would lay into place just like a lockdown bar. Then it’s just a matter of setting the front of the playfield in the channel and securing it in place with a wooden rail. We used three thumbscrews as they go on easy, and keep it from sliding around as the playfield turns. To elevate the rear end of the playfield, we mounted a pair of bolts on sliding brackets that replicate pivot nut functionality but can change sizes just by moving them back and forth. On Bally/Williams games with the rear playfield hinge system, you simply slide the brackets to the rear until they “click” locking them in place. This results in a very secure connection, with no possibility of accidentally falling off as once locked in it requires lifting up the spring to release them. A pair of T-handles locks them in place and prevents them from falling off when upside down. For Stern machines, the bracket needs to be modified but should function similarly.

Slide7.JPG Slide8.JPG Slide9.JPG

#6 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

So here is the final rotisserie assembled and the next project locked in place. It turns effortlessly from side to side, and a second set of thumbscrews ensures the playfield locks horizontally so it won't move until you want it to. I have a few modifications in mind such as adding a wire harness clip, soldering station mount and tool holder by attaching them to the top rails like the sliding brackets, but that’s for another post…

Good luck and thanks Dad!

Slide10.JPG

#7 11 years ago

ZPY

zippydapinhead

Inactive member

Albany, OR

12y 78,450 3,484 12 32

Nice!

#8 11 years ago

ADL

Pinchroma

Pinside member

12y 62,050 8,035 1

Absolutely the nicest rotisserie i have ever seen. I'm a huge fan of custom woodworking and that is really nice. Using the extruded aluminum channels as sliders was smart.

#9 11 years ago

DOG

Whysnow

Pinside member

12y 187K 35,339 30 1

WOW!!!!

Amazing job!

#10 11 years ago

RPT

Prmailers

Inactive member

High Bridge, NJ

11y 24,150 1,558 19

Very nice!

#11 11 years ago

DJW

MrWizzo

Pinside member

Emerald Isle, NC

12y 60,800 3,184 6

That's no Polish joke! Nice job Ed.

Dan

#12 11 years ago

JDH

Pinballer22

Pinside member

Omaha, NE

12y 103K 3,356

Damn, that is awesome. I want one! You want to sell on? You could cut the wood and have instructions on assembly.

#13 11 years ago

TRG

TomGWI

Pinside member

12y 143K 10,945 156

Looks cool. Awesome job.

#14 11 years ago

RJP

Patofnaud

Pinside member

Tilton, NH

11y 67,150 3,621 7

You set a very high bar lad..... Very high bar...

Well done.

#15 11 years ago

JAY

jrobinso99

Pinside member

11y 63,950 494

Quoted from Pinballer22:
Damn, that is awesome. I want one! You want to sell on? You could cut the wood and have instructions on assembly.

#16 11 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

Sana'a

12y 169K 40,239 18

It's too nice to air brush or clearcoat on - outstanding workmanship!

#17 11 years ago

EMM

nutshell79

Inactive member

Geneva, IL

14y 60,400 1,038 7 10

Great design!

#18 11 years ago

BOB

beatmaster

Mods for your pinballs

Beauharnois

12y 102K 7,387 7 17

wow that looks great!

#19 11 years ago

SKY

Skypilot

Pirates Life Pinball Co

11y 155K 6,676 32 1

First of all thanks for the kind words and the charitable donation .

Now on to the rotisserie ....WOW ...that is a beautiful job. And a work of art. You should be proud !
To enjoy that project with your dad to. Great memories built.

#20 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

Thanks for the compliments guys! We lost count on how many revisions it actually took to finally get to this "simple" solution, but definitely had fun in the process. He still doesn't get why anyone would need more than one pinball machine though, lol.

Several folks asked if I had any sketches so here you go. It should be pretty straightforward with the pics, but good luck as it took us a couple weekends and I had an experienced woodworker helping me

rotisserie_cad.jpg

#21 11 years ago

KSP

kpull

BK Pinball

Sterling Heights, MI

11y 53,050 479 8

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

#22 11 years ago

daley

Pinside member

12y 67,300 786 26

Nice rotisserie, however I really love the art on your walls. They appear to be curtains or cloth? Where did you get them?

#23 11 years ago

JER

pincredible

Pinside member

11y 44,150 251

Nice job. Can u upload a dxf?

#24 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

Nice rotisserie, however I really love the art on your walls. They appear to be curtains or cloth? Where did you get them?

They are really cool hand-painted murals on canvas by artist Melissa Jones, adorned with classic 3-D arcade figures she used to carve. I had a pocket sewn into them to hang them around the gameroom with curtain rods. You can check out her gallery at Nicecarvings.com. Here is my favorite:

donkey_kong.jpg

#25 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

Quoted from pincredible:
Nice job. Can u upload a dxf?

All I kept were the prints as I'm not a CAD guy. If there is something you can't read let me know and I can email you a higher-res scan.

#26 11 years ago

DAD

Pinballdad

Frozen

Unknown

12y 0k 1,137

Amazing! Since I lack the skill set to make my own...can i have a key to your home to use yours I will bring beer and pizza! Serious though. Your attention to detail is great!

#27 11 years ago

NimblePin

Pinside member

13y 121K 5,415

Man,
Even Jesus is jealous.
His looks like crap compared to yours!

carpenter.jpg

Jesus:

"Damn that Strohz!"

#28 11 years ago

DAD

Pinballdad

Frozen

Unknown

12y 0k 1,137

Quoted from NimblePin:
Man,
Even Jesus is jealous.
His looks like crap compared to yours!

Jesus:
"Damn that Strohz!"

Priceless! Also, very, very tastefully done (your post content)

#29 11 years ago

MAD

mdelorenzo

Pinside member

12y 40,300 556

That is really amazing. Great job!

#30 11 years ago

SSL

lasermel

Pinside member

11y 68,800 294 1

Super cool.. I look forward to seeing it in person soon!

#31 11 years ago

TSR

TaylorVA

Reese Rails

13y 116K 8,893 11 7

Excellent job Ed.

#32 11 years ago

RJP

Patofnaud

Pinside member

Tilton, NH

11y 67,150 3,621 7

Quoted from NimblePin:
Jesus:

"Damn that Strohz!"

HAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAH!!!!!! Now THAT is a good thing to display on one's DMD.

#33 11 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

Lol, the post by NimblePin really cracked me up!!! At my house, it's always "Damn that TSR" as TaylorVA stopped by to play once and his initials are still on every game he touched

Thanks again for the compliments guys, the wheels are already turning on some other ideas...

#34 11 years ago

KJM

kmoore88

Pinside+ Frequent

Grand Rapids, MN

13y 63,050 1,326 3 11

Pretty cool. Nice job.

8 months later

#35 10 years ago

PMD

PinballMikeD

Pinside member

Jacksonville, FL

12y 78,800 3,204 2

Very very nice. Just found my next pinball project. I gotta have one

That is awsome.

#36 10 years ago

JRL

harbngr

Pinside member

Oakland, ME

11y 59,900 379 10 8

that is awesome, I love it. I think I'll put it at the top of my project list.

Very well made, and thank you for sharing

#37 10 years ago

MVJ

shimoda

Pinside member

11y 75,150 3,651 8 24

Thanks PMD for bringing this thread to the front page, going to build one of these.

#38 10 years ago

RAD

rad

Pinside member

Boulder, CO

14y 81,550 1,401 21

Now that is a very nice rotisserie. Thanks for sharing the pics and info.

#39 10 years ago

Strohz

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 67,300 621

Lol, I always enjoy reading rotisserie threads and realized it was mine! Thanks for the nice comments, that thing has been solid as a rock and very useful. Another bonus of the design has been it easy to accessorize by adding modules. I bought some metal brackets from Rockler, and they just slide on and off the sides when I want them. Since my last post, I've made holders for screwdrivers/ nut drivers, pliers, and a soldering station platform. Check them out here:

pliers_holder.jpg

screwdriver_holder.jpg

soldering_station_holder.jpg

tool_holders.jpg

#40 10 years ago

CZN

Cruzin1a

Inactive member

Derry, NH

10y 29,900 295 1

Damn!

#41 10 years ago

TSR

TaylorVA

Reese Rails

13y 116K 8,893 11 7

OP
Quoted from Strohz:
Lol, I always enjoy reading rotisserie threads and realized it was mine! Thanks for the nice comments, that thing has been solid as a rock and very useful. Another bonus of the design has been it easy to accessorize by adding modules. I bought some metal brackets from Rockler, and they just slide on and off the sides when I want them. Since my last post, I've made holders for screwdrivers/ nut drivers, pliers, and a soldering station platform. Check them out here:

pliers_holder.jpg 273 KB

screwdriver_holder.jpg 230 KB

soldering_station_holder.jpg 320 KB

tool_holders.jpg 257 KB

Well done Ed!!

4 months later

#42 10 years ago

MVJ

shimoda

Pinside member

11y 75,150 3,651 8 24

Meant to reply to this a while back, just awesome!

#43 10 years ago

DUG

trilogybeer

Pinside+ Frequent

Elkhorn, WI

11y 150K 8,892 14 2

Nice.

#44 10 years ago

BRI

cheesewhisperer

Inactive member

Sheridan, MI

10y 30,400 362 1

I'll bet that makes some darn fine chicken...

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