I don't have any of my games powder coated. I have done all mine with automotive paint and clear. I have had them all to several shows and they hold up just fine.

Phoebe

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Yes, I actually did all the trim...Shooter housing, hinges, apron, even the speaker panels. The auto paint shop I get my paint from gave me a color book, with every car color in there. So I can pick from any of them, or if I have something specific, I take him a sample color, and he makes it for me ie. the purple on MET is a mixed color, he named it Metallica pinball purple. So if I need more, I just take the code back to him and he will mix me more. The detail stuff is a bit more difficult with the auto paint, cause it is harder to deal with when painting with a brush but I dealt with it and made it work and in the end I am happy with my results.

Phoebe

LOL!! I have never bought powder coat supplies, so not really sure about cost for it. With the Auto paint it kinda depends on what is in it...Like on Metallica for example the color hubby originally chose had gold flake, silver flake, and mother of pearl, and it was over $100. a quart...so I chose (his 2nd choice) a color that only had the gold and MOP flake in it and it was $80. a quart...so it can be expensive depending on your color choices. The CSI, wasn't as much because it really didn't have any metallic flecks in it except the black but it was a standard color. On SM the blue is actually the same color blue that is on my truck...and it was around $45. a quart...not bad, and I already had the clear, it is Dupont chroma clear...I was able to do all the pieces out of a quart of each color, and have some left for touch ups if the need arises. Like I said not sure on price difference with powder, I just know I am more familiar with the auto stuff and have the equipment to spray it etc.

Phoebe

Yes it is a 2 part clear, same thing I use on PFs.
I have taken my games to alot of shows, and yes they get a few nicks. I'm sure alot of it is from loading and unloading and people with rings and such...but this is automotive paint and clear, so it is made to withstand some wear and tear (otherwise we would be getting our cars repainted every year). I'm sure if I had never taken them to shows they wouldn't have any nicks...but then I also have an AC/DC that has factory powder coat on it that has never been to any shows, and it also has nicks. So to say that powder coating is better is not necessarily true. The main factor for me was 1. I already have the equipment and am familiar with how to do it. 2. I liked the larger selection of colors I could get with automotive paint, and the ability to combine colors and do details. 3. I already use the Dupont auto clear and had it available. I looked into having things powder coated, and it was expensive, and I prefer to do things to my games myself so it wasn't really practical for me. I think some of these games look great, but for me it just really isn't a viable option.

Phoebe

I posted pics of my SM...but it was post #160...I didn't use powder coat I custom painted them with auto paint and clear...but I did blue, with red details...I painted the rails, hinges, lockbar, apron, legs, shooter housing, coin door and speaker panel. All the details I hand painted, or made stencils to paint them.

Phoebe

#160
https://images.pinside.com/b/42/b427d22c77e3c855708b1e598b74986f3751ee24/resized/large/b427d22c77e3c855708b1e598b74986f3751ee24.jpg

https://images.pinside.com/a/98/a98a68547480a736925e998aa9b8fc0822861d74/resized/large/a98a68547480a736925e998aa9b8fc0822861d74.jpg

https://images.pinside.com/d/1c/d1cd391bcea29c8358d693f298bef9fd85bd946b/resized/large/d1cd391bcea29c8358d693f298bef9fd85bd946b.jpg

Found it...It's in post 659....Not sure how to post it in this post...but it's in the images.

Phoebe