Stencils for playfield restoration

Gday guys

One thing that occurred to me is that a lot of people put considerable effort into restoring their cabinets however few seems to apply the same attention to their playfiled when doing a restoration. I’ve only completed one restoration myself of a 1978 EM, however I went through the machine too to bottom: stenciled and repainted the cabinet, same with the playfield and created plastics from scratch.

In terms of the playfield, I learned how to create a stencil from scratch using Photoshop, Illustrator and a stencil machine/cutter. I’m wondering if there’s a potential need in the market for playfield stencils, similar to what Pinball Pimp has for cabinets?

Regards
Josh

#2 1 year ago

KSN

2manypins

Pinside+ Addict

Hanover, VA

12y 80,800 2,005 7

Do you have any pictures of your restored game? Thanks

#3 1 year ago

???

flipit

Pinside member

Green Lane, PA

10y 45,050 242 35

Playfield restoration can be and is very time consuming regardles of your prefered method. If stencil's were available in kit form that would be a great improvement to this hobby. At that rate, you could apply the stencil and airbrush only the colors needed prior to the clear coat saving tons of time free handing, masking, taping or creating small stencils using frisket paper, or what ever prefered methods people use. Good idea, keep us posted.

#4 1 year ago

WAR

wayner

Pinside member

10y 95,300 2,584 25

OP
Quoted from joshmc:
Gday guys
One thing that occurred to me is that a lot of people put considerable effort into restoring their cabinets however few seems to apply the same attention to their playfiled when doing a restoration. I’ve only completed one restoration myself of a 1978 EM, however I went through the machine too to bottom: stenciled and repainted the cabinet, same with the playfield and created plastics from scratch.
In terms of the playfield, I learned how to create a stencil from scratch using Photoshop, Illustrator and a stencil machine/cutter. I’m wondering if there’s a potential need in the market for playfield stencils, similar to what Pinball Pimp has for cabinets?
Regards
Josh

What 78 EM are you referring to? A pf stencil/s is/are a tricky beast. Would appreciate if you would amplify your concept and post some pics of the process.

#5 1 year ago

SMM

dr_nybble

Pinside+ Frequent

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/silhouette-cameo-pinball-restorers-club/page/13#post-6997156

The difficulty level of playfield vs cabinet is much higher. Personally — having now created complete stencils for two playfields — I don’t think there would be enough interest. Maybe on higher volume titles where the artwork remains simple enough?

I make my files available for free to anyone dedicated enough to use them!

For cabinet stencils I recreate the artwork and laser cut them on 1/8th” hardboard. Gives a more authentic look than a vinyl stencil.

But yes you can achieve a lot with stencils:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bare-wood-em-playfield-repaint#post-5935113

#6 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member

Quoted from dr_nybble:
The difficulty level of playfield vs cabinet is much higher. Personally — having now created complete stencils for two playfields — I don’t think there would be enough interest. Maybe on higher volume titles where the artwork remains simple enough?
I make my files available for free to anyone dedicated enough to use them!
For cabinet stencils I recreate the artwork and laser cut them on 1/8th” hardboard. Gives a more authentic look than a vinyl stencil.
But yes you can achieve a lot with stencils: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/silhouette-cameo-pinball-restorers-club/page/13#post-6997156

Love the idea of doing it on hardwood. It’s closer to how they did them on original machines

#7 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member

Quoted from 2manypins:
Do you have any pictures of your restored game? Thanks

1978 Big Deal

Playfield stencils we’re done using a combination of Photoshop/Silhouette and manual. I also used waterslide decals where suitable

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#8 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member

Quoted from dr_nybble:
The difficulty level of playfield vs cabinet is much higher. Personally — having now created complete stencils for two playfields — I don’t think there would be enough interest. Maybe on higher volume titles where the artwork remains simple enough?
I make my files available for free to anyone dedicated enough to use them!
For cabinet stencils I recreate the artwork and laser cut them on 1/8th” hardboard. Gives a more authentic look than a vinyl stencil.
But yes you can achieve a lot with stencils:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/silhouette-cameo-pinball-restorers-club/page/13#post-6997156
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bare-wood-em-playfield-repaint#post-5935113

What I absolutely love about your playfield restoration was that you stripped the playfield back to bare wood and started from scratch. In the end, you got a better result than I did than simply going over existing artwork/colour. If only I could find someone (screen printer) to print the base artwork for $30 like you did. Everyone I called wanted $200+

F2683AF9-556A-4259-8C62-9E69DF520CF0 (resized).png

#9 1 year ago

KSN

2manypins

Pinside+ Addict

Hanover, VA

12y 80,800 2,005 7

Great job on your play field.

#10 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member

Quoted from 2manypins:
Great job on your play field.

Thank you. Not perfect. It was my first one

#11 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member

Quoted from dr_nybble:
The difficulty level of playfield vs cabinet is much higher. Personally — having now created complete stencils for two playfields — I don’t think there would be enough interest. Maybe on higher volume titles where the artwork remains simple enough?
I make my files available for free to anyone dedicated enough to use them!
For cabinet stencils I recreate the artwork and laser cut them on 1/8th” hardboard. Gives a more authentic look than a vinyl stencil.
But yes you can achieve a lot with stencils:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/silhouette-cameo-pinball-restorers-club/page/13#post-6997156
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bare-wood-em-playfield-repaint#post-5935113

With your Iwata LPH80, are you using the 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 or 1.2 nozzle? Also can you use this gun to spray/deliver the 2 pac clear coat ?

#12 1 year ago

SMM

dr_nybble

Pinside+ Frequent

I have a FujiSpray that I use for painting cabinets now, much more efficient: https://fujispray.com/

The LPH80 is more like a big airbrush, it was hard to do a cabinet without getting tiger-striping.

#13 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member

Quoted from dr_nybble:
I have a FujiSpray that I use for painting cabinets now, much more efficient: https://fujispray.com/
The LPH80 is more like a big airbrush, it was hard to do a cabinet without getting tiger-striping.

Got it. Thanks Doc. I'll look into the Fuji. However, didnt you use the LPH80 to put down the first (and largest) coat of white onto that playfield?

#14 1 year ago

SMM

dr_nybble

Pinside+ Frequent

https://www.fujispray.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Insert-Quick-Reference-Sheet-092018.pdf

I did, it’s fine for a playfield sized area. It is the 102G with a 1.0 needle which is fine for airbrush paint viscosity and you can use a pancake compressor with it. Bought on eBay.

For 2PAC you need the FujiSpray level of system. They have a chart of material vs needle size.

#15 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member

Quoted from dr_nybble:
I did, it’s fine for a playfield sized area. It is the 102G with a 1.0 needle which is fine for airbrush paint viscosity and you can use a pancake compressor with it. Bought on eBay.
For 2PAC you need the FujiSpray level of system. They have a chart of material vs needle size.
https://www.fujispray.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Insert-Quick-Reference-Sheet-092018.pdf

Awesome. Thanks again. When you say "pancake compressor" is this what you're referring to? In terms of printing the base image (black print) on vinyl, I have no idea how you managed to find someone to do that for $30 USD. In Australia, I've had quotes ranging from $86.90 AUD to $180 AUD.

Capture (resized).JPG

#16 1 year ago

SMM

dr_nybble

Pinside+ Frequent

https://anestiwata.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LPH-80-Sell-Sheet_R1.pdf

You can get away with a small compressor with the LPH80. Check the airflow consumption.

I got the E2 air cap but maybe E4 might be better.

#17 1 year ago

???

joshmc

Pinside member