I don't know how else to title this post. Another pinsider asked me to post the following and maybe some of the rest of your have some repair tricks up your sleeve that can help everybody out.

Before I get started, I have to qualify that different pin makers had different ways of attaching aprons to play fields. My Williams Laser Cue does not need any correction like my Classic Sterns need.

The issue is that the skirts of my aprons cut into my play fields and damage the paint. I just finished installation of a restored, cleared play field and I did not want my new paint job to look like and old paint job in a matter of a few weeks.

With these old Sterns, there are two slots on the skirt that lock onto two washers that are mounted on some stand-off spacers. And the aprons cut into the play field. I call this an engineering design oversight.

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What I have done to my restored pin and will be doing to the others is trimming off 3/16" to 1/4" of the bottom of the apron so that it will not drag on the play field and remove paint. I have trimmed away the metal this is below the tape line. It does not hurt anything to do this. The trim is low enough that ball travel is not affected. Since the apron is facing away from you you do not see the trimmed area. The only thing that will happen if you make this cut is that it will be easier for dirt and crap to drift off of the play field and into the area under the apron that you never see until you remove the apron.

With this trim that I did, the apron no longer rides the play field and my new paint job is not going to get scratched away. The pin plays fine. I am very happy with the result.

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What mods, or tricks, have you all made to your pins to protect them from themselves? What engineering design oversights have to corrected on your pins to bring them closer to blueprint, or closer to perfection?

That might help, but if the apron is already cutting into the play field how long before it would cut thru the mylar? I was looking at some windlass ("U" shaped rubber material with metal lining) but it was so much per foot and you would need to but a roll of the stuff.

You could also get longer bolts that hold the washers and add some more small washers as spacers to jack the apron up. Very doable and not expensive but then your apron will not set correctly.

For me, it worked out that I could trim some apron away. But I have the tools to do the work, also.