Quoted from Otaku:This game was partially working 4 days ago. Unfortunately, in that time, it was deemed that it would bring in more money if parted out... the cabinet was painted black with obscene words painted on it for whatever reason (I'm guessing attention), then smashed to bits while being recorded as it was thrown out... he is parting out/smashing many machines.
I'm not sure I fully understand after watching the videos of him and TNT Amusement when they trashed so many machines... I get they cost money and many are in that "Lost Cause" realm. But they should at least offer to sell them because there a tons of guys like you or I, who'd love to grab one of these roasted bad boys and work on them. This month I jumped into the pinball hobby by picking up a very rough Drop-A-Card. But nothing a coat of paint and thorough cleaning can't fix! If it works then that's good enough in my book! A beater is perfect man-cave quality.
I really just don't understand... sure some parts are worth good money, but it's nominal at best considering the added effort involved in gutting and parting when you could just find someone else who wants to deal with the whole project all together!
It seems more-so that they don't want these cheapo machines passing around and would rather keep the cost of entry high to pad those profit margins.
Quoted from Otaku:EM spaghetti... Tossed it in the wash on delicate, then to avoid corrosion I threw it in the dryer for a few minutes on the coldest setting (to not melt the very few rubber insulated high voltage wires) while checking on it and took it out while it was mostly dry but still lightly damp to the touch. Now drying fully in front of an air heater.
Don't worry, I'm not in the "spray EVERYTHING with a hose and simple green" club like some but as crazy as this probably sounds to the layman, it is perfectly fine if you are careful.
Now THIS is my kind of resto! "If it gets the job done!" that's awesome and almost a shame mine is all together... not sure how to clean the thick armor of dust off the wires when they're already set up. (Any tips?) And what's the simple green refer to? I'm quite a newbie unfortunately!
Quoted from Otaku:Today I cleaned off the rest (did some a few days earlier) of the back panel with a magic eraser. I didn't really want to paint it although I am going for that kind of restoration, but I wanted to keep the original pencil and pen markings while also keeping the original paint on it. It is not in bad shape. This thing was DIRTY. Worked nicely! All of the original labels of the units & settings remained/remain intact on this piece of wood in pretty nice condition. There is even still the original piece of construction paper on a part of it which looks like it blocked a line of sockets from making a connection against something else once fully assembled. Cool!
Same question applies if this is a good route to clean a filthy machine? Basically the one I acquired was only on location for a few years and has spend several decades rusting out in some warehouse. Hardly any wear but in a cocoon of dust.
Quoted from Otaku:The title of this post should be "BARBARIC 1963". :O
...remove the thin mercury-filled vial that acts as one of the tilt switches. WTF? Yes, you read that right. (on the contrary, I do realize a lot of you probably won't be surprised)... quickly got it out of my house and into a safe storage location elsewhere off-site in a padded carrying case.
I know some people are going to say "oh, that's completely fine" (lol) but having this thing bumped around and moved constantly as I work on it, in my own home, is not a good mix. Crazy! This would never pass today.
I am one of those people! I previously dabbled with chemistry and almost became a science major. I enjoy messing with chemicals and elements. Mercury is one of the most fascinating and captures most peoples attention with how unique and otherworldly it's properties! The dangerous form is Organic Mercury or methylmercury. It can be absorbed through skin, and will combine with other substances very readily. It can be inhaled as vapors and can poison you pretty quickly... However contrary to all the buzz, Elemental mercury is very stable and doesn't react with 99% of our environment. That's the one found in most of those older devices and also what used to be used as medicine as it can be ingested and will likely pass completely through you without any harm (most likely, but strong advised against) That's also the reason all of the folks from back in the day, up till whenever mercury became so widely scrutinized, aren't dying in droves from poisoning, because elemental mercury is relatively harmless! (It vaporizes much slower than other forms but it's still best to avoid inhaling the vapors)
I like to keep the stuff because it's so interesting and wondrous to look at, as well as it's many uses in old equipment. If you really don't want the tilt mech. I'd be interested in it!
Quoted from Otaku:My cousin's new husband (we're all pretty close) works at a carpentry shop and said he would be able to build a pinball cabinet to specific dimensions. Great!
That's quite the break! I was musing about taking this route because the idea of preserving and salvaging games with wrecked cabinets is very alluring except for figuring out how to fabricate a new cabinet! If I come across any games in such a state I'll be sure to keep you in mind!
Gotta fine space and money first! 
