I guess my question here pertains to what metal is used. I am restoring a Bally Power Play and the left lane to the upper playfield is in not so wonderful condition. It has a significant ball groove (which is not really a big deal) and is bent/deformed (bigger deal) from when someone removed it and mylared the playfield. They pounded the nails back in and missed a few whacks, plus it was a little deformed from re-bending the bends unintentionally adding new bends to the proper bend.

Without seeking advice I went ahead and removed the lane and the rivets holding it to the brackets and tried to straighten it as much as possible. I've used a forming hammer to get the ugly creases out and am now at the sanding/polishing stage. I don't see any signs of rust but am curious... is this strip of metal (1" x 16 3/4") stainless steel or mild steel? I don't want to put a bunch of effort into getting it to a mirror finish only to see it rust in a matter of weeks. I know where I can pick up a 1" strip of stainless steel locally, (which would entail rigging up a jig for the bend and drilling holes) but if this piece is already stainless I feel I can save it.

Has anyone run into this before? I'd like some feedback on which direction to go.

Thanks in advance,
Don

I would but haven't found any available sadly

VID!! That is an amazing guide! Thanks you confirmed my suspicions that it was plated steel. I bought a copper/nickel brush plating kit for the coin chute and briefly thought of using it on the lane guide but really ... the Bally Line of Death would be back in short order. By the way, top work on those SBM guides, a baby slip roller is on my wish list now.

It's no secret they cut some corners back in the day but for the life of me I don't understand why they wouldn't have just used stainless in the first place. A little off-topic but to illustrate that point are the grounding straps, just made of flat steel with slip on vinyl sleeves. Several of mine were rusted due to having beverage/cleaner finding their way in the sleeve. I contacted a company called VEM (http://www.vemstraps.com/custom-solutions.html) and they produced some very nice braided, completely sheathed 1/4" braids with lugs. New Grounding Straps.jpg