I use a padded bar stool and it works like a champ

I made two sawhorses with long enough legs to hold it up off floor. Few screws and 2x4's with felt strips glued to the tops.

I use a sturdy chair and add encyclopedia books for height.

Those books have no other purpose other than that.

Post # 317 here shows a neat looking tool I want to try making some day.

Definitely worth looking at the other links in that post to check out the tool, I think.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/show-and-tell-your-diy-homemade-tools/page/7

I do the same. Works great.

Or maybe just a wicker basket?

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Pinball lifter and pinball tilter are the ideal option. Bruce Nightingale of the Slam Tilt Podcast sells them. I need to get one someday. Besides helping put legs on and off yourself, it makes moving games in and out of a lineup really easy.

http://www.pinballlifter.com/index.php/pinball-tilter

EDIT: I just noticed he sells something called Pinball Helper for $80 that looks like it’s exacly what you’re looking for. It wouldn’t help moving games around but if all you want is something to help putting legs on and off, it looks perfect

I use a 2' folding aluminum ladder. I sometimes need to use a short (10"-12" 2"x4") board on top (or a book, as others mentioned), for added height, if needed.

can put the game on saw horses or better yet a flat top coffin lifter type thing.

years ago i got one from harbor freight that my dad put an old swing hinge on the arm so you can get it under games all the way. I have seen the same ones where people just bend the bar near the base so it fits.

https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands/500-lbs-capacity-hydraulic-table-cart-60730.html

like that but mine is orange.

I made one out of left of scraps I had lying around.

I used a fence post (4x4) cut to length, then I cut a cube from the excess - and then cut that in half diagonally to make two triangular prisms which are attached to the base and act as stabilisers. The base (now 12x4) had a strip of rubber glued to it, to prevent scratches on the floor and help even out the base.
Then on the top I put some old foam, then nailed another strip of rubber over the top to hold it in place. This makes for a nice cushioned surface for the pin to sit on, again providing stability and preventing scratches.
Finally I drilled 8 holes down the middle to seat the leg bolts in so that they are always to hand.

It has the added bonus of being the perfect width to shrink wrap the 4 legs around for easy transport, and keeping everything together.
It also fits inside the coin door, so it is easy to store.

There's really no need to buy anything special, just knock something up from bits lying around - even if you don't have anything lying around should only cost a few quid/dollars for the wood.

The Harbor Freight lift table is awesome. There is an extensive thread here somewhere. Sometimes I still use this because it's so easy.

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I've built the same for myself, it's a lifesaver when setting up or breaking down a pin......

Awesome to hear you made one too. I really liked the idea of hardly having to do anything manually and that it isn't a huge cart or anything.

I used to do pins by myself when I was younger. Put front legs on, lean to ground, dead lift rear. Set on knee and push foot up high enough to get back legs on (I'm big and tall so my legs where just long enough).

Years later of doing stupid stuff like that, I've got bad knee, bad back, bad neck; and, I am ALWAYS loving anything that minimizes physical strain (even if it takes longer). Wish I had done stuff slow and careful back then....it catches up to you....

Holy cow- that is genius!!!!!



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A lil nugget of knowledge:

If you click on "#317" at the top of that post, you'll get the direct hyperlink to that exact post:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/show-and-tell-your-diy-homemade-tools/page/7#post-4118318

For future help : ) !

Thanks for that! I was wondering how people did that.

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The Pinball Helper is well made and adjustable height. It is also padded with heavy rubber to prevent damage to the cabinet. They're great.

Just buy a pinball dolly.

This is what I do. It doesn't seem so bad (unless it's WOZ or TZ). What do you do now? Talk me out of my bad habits!

Well..err...uhmm...
Lol.

This is an area of why I still need to build that device.

I don't have an alternate solution, yet. But I rarely try doing a machine by myself these days because of it.

I'm usually the "bolt the legs on while other guy holds it" person right now.

Still...don't let it get to that point.

I'm looking for a cart solution to slide pins in and out to be able to work on them more easily. To work on EM heads, you can only access them from the back, and my pins only have about 4-5" of clearance between the heads since my collection is growing, so I almost have no choice now. For just removing legs, I used a non-padded wooden stool that's about 2" taller than the back legs. Prop up the back. Back legs off first. Slowly ease the back down (using your legs, not your back), and rock back on the back of the cabinet (that's what those little feet pads are for--even though they're missing half the time). Installing legs is reverse. With the pin upright, install the front legs, slowly lean the machine onto the front legs, and then lift the back up and onto the stool. A second set of hands helps, but I've done it many times solo with no problem.

I saw this dolly:

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200696307_200696307

Already has the bent handle, and is cheaper than the Harbor Freight version, although it's 3" shorter. Longer is better, as it makes the pin less likely to tip.

I'm at work, so I can't measure it. Anyone know what the average width between the legs is? If this would fit, it'd probably be better as it is longer still, and the handle folds down for storage.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200696308_200696308

i so want this helper deal. another local pinsider had one of these, and I was in awe of him!! already emailed him!!

my knees/legs thank him already!! im too old for that kind of weight on my poor legs. man I love pinside!!!

Good info in here. Following.