The Grit Gitter.

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Has anybody made the "Leaf Switch Adjustment Tool Whose Arms Don't Snap Off Simply From Being Looked At?"

I've reverted to the good ol' needle nose for switch adjustments, but wouldn't mind going back to something that provides better access.

Terry as this one that is case hardened.

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1518

I made one out of an Allen wrench when my cheapie broke.

Not sure, but what leaps to mind would be on of those lint brushes for the dryer with the brush part cut off and some regular air tubing for a fish tank slipped over the long wire part.
I'm sure somebody will come up with an even better idea though.

I tried different types of tubing but it doesn't collapse so you can't pull it down to uncover the hook.
You can get the hose at any medical supply and each end is molded onto the hose so you can make two out of each one.

Not my idea but I saw my pinball tech guy using tube plumbing insulation to prevent the top of the backbox from being dinged by a raised playfield.

Basically you take one of those foam tubes that wraps copper tubing and split it open. Snap it onto the top of the backbox.

Think it would be especially useful when shipping and the apron is off. Trough edges can gouge the head pretty good.

I can't offer up a pic "they're at my office". When we get small machinery in, there is a piece of cardboard in each corner of the box that looks like a cardboard angle iron. I use the hell out of these for pin transport, keeps the rails completely from the head as well as keeping the bottom of the cab safe from the ratchet strap I use to keep the head down. Also keeps the corners of the head safe from straps. Found a generic pic online, wish I had one handy toshow how I bulletproof the corners on my pins when moved.

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_{Post edited by pinball_erie : have some product if anyone wants some.}

Hmmmm, I could go on and on, but all of my custom made tools and parts have to do with motorcycles rather than pinball.

Made this rivet "press" about 9 yrs ago to install a rivet on my first pin, an Addams Family.

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My home made lock picks for single bit locks. Made out of plain old steel banding from packing crates. I just cut it to the length I wanted with tin snips and went over to the bench grinder and ground in a few grooves.

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you can do to any appliance store and pick some up. Lowes and home depot will have them too. they come in dishwasher, ovens, stoves and just about any other small appliance.

What does something like that cost?

About $4,000 to build.

If you already have a computer, subtract $400.

If you want to use a wood router, rather than a spindle subtract $300.

If you have a bunch of steel you can take from the scrap bins at work, subtract $1100.

Any others ??

Funny, I was thinking of this thread earlier tonight.

I needed to do some quick touch ups on a playfield. I grabbed my acrylic paints and brushes, then looked for a Dixie cup or whatever to put a drop in from the container. Always a nuisance to find something small and clean to put acrylics in. I never seem to have a suitable container. Just then I look on my workbench and poof, the solution revealed itself: the leftover plastic insert to a box of 555 bulbs. Perfect. 10 little, clean troughs I can put paint in and mix up samples. Simple and stupid, but oh so effective. And there's always one laying around.

OMG, the soldering platform! Genius!!!!

I'm gonna build one of those ASAP. And add a power strip for my iron, and light. And a place to mount my magnetic parts bowl thing.

I have used a shooter rod rubber at the end of my globe remover
works a treat.

Thanks for sharing that. A friend and I each built our own following your lead. I had no idea you were local.

Here's a photo of 2 things I use a lot. I bend the toothbrushes slowly & carefully with the Butane soldering iron. They work great for applying/removing Novus, etc in tight spots. And to help level games... a good 'ol Superbar!

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I built my lifter based on your design too, but I omitted the tilting top. Works awesome!

I do the same with my holy socks. I am an engineer and engineers invented lazy. This tool also doubles for catching solder as well.

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Ghetto Chic is timeless and never goes out of style.

Yes!

What purpose does the Durock serve?

I need one that has outer attachments that work like shown (clamp to the rails of a pin with a raised playfield), and also inner rubber feet that can sit on top of playfield glass to act as a mini work bench on a neighboring machine.

Currently I work on a neighboring machine's glass and everything keeps sliding down. But, happily, solder doesn't stick to glass.

The tilt is a real back saver. I highly recommend adding it.
Thanks for posting the how to info way back JeffZee. I copied it a couple years ago. My back thanks you as well.

The other thing that I have done that so far has worked well is use velcro tape on a leaf switch I have been have problems with. I broke the original switch trying to adjust the leaf. It was picking up most of the time but since the game I have has combos, it really pissed me off when it would not register 10% of the time. I decided to try to use velcro since then I wouldn't have to bend the leaf and it allowed me to easily adjust the position and angle of the switch. So far, it has been working 100% of the time with the velcro.

Erm, plastic?

I think it was one of those things you get at a trade show, a "hand helicopter". If you haven't seen one, then I'm not sure how to describe it. I suppose you could use a wooden dowel, too.

Allan

I need to make one of those, at the very least just to have a spot to set down the dang soldering station