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(Topic ID: 232636)

Tips on removing a stubborn playfield glass

By Alan_L

5 years ago


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#1 5 years ago
OP
 
AGL

Alan_L

Pinside+ Frequent

US Jarrettsville, MD

12y 73,800 1,390 6

Just picked a 1971 Williams Solids N' Stripes, a barn find but in the worst way: it's been sitting in an unheated barn since about 1981 and it's trashed.

The lockdown bar came right off, but all the pulling and shoving cannot budge the playfield glass. Needless to say the glass was covered with dirt, sawdust and straw. I hate to have to flip it over and shatter the glass, it appears to have a nice beveled edge and no cracks or chips.

Any thoughts on how to get this thing out? The coin door, lockdown bar, back door (with key), tan plastic shooter housing and playfield are decent.

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#2 5 years ago
 
CLD

Cdemuro

Pinside member

US Houston, TX

6y 41,900 120 1 8

Try to squirt soapy water along the sides to lube it but not to much that it drips down in on the playfield area. Do you have a suction cup you can use?

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#3 5 years ago
OP
 
AGL

Alan_L

Pinside+ Frequent

US Jarrettsville, MD

12y 73,800 1,390 6

I'll take a look at the hardware store and see what they have, soapy water also sounds like a good idea.
On a 1971 machine, would the glass itself be more likely be plate or tempered?

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#4 5 years ago
 
CLD

Cdemuro

Pinside member

US Houston, TX

6y 41,900 120 1 8

Tempered for sure.

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#5 5 years ago
 
???

dave2236

Pinside member

Unknown

10y 20,150 35 14

Soapy water and then I had a pair of suction cups I bought from Harbor Freight that I used to get the glass off of one of my barn find machines.

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#6 5 years ago
 
JAY

Phat_Jay

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 111K 2,309

D23C847F-9283-4530-B851-E8884EAF4F90 (resized).jpegD23C847F-9283-4530-B851-E8884EAF4F90 (resized).jpeg
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#7 5 years ago
 
WFC

Billc479

Pinside+ Frequent

US Pleasant Plains, IL

9y 79,800 3,137 15

What I have found with my barn finds is that it also helps to easily slap the glass at the top (Opposite end from the coin door) while maintaining pressure trying to slide the glass down. Patience is key. Just use the palm of your hand - no tools!

It seems like the glass likes to get stuck in the upper channel.

Let us know.

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#8 5 years ago
 
KJH

pinhead52

Pinside+ Frequent

US Colleyville, TX

10y 91,050 5,222 13 2

And... get duct tape, clean the glass near the bottom, put a 6 inch piece on the cleaned area with 4-5 inches hanging off the end, use the tape to pull the glass out. make two duct tape pull handles if needed. Masking tape works as well but duct tape more better

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#9 5 years ago
 
DAV

henrydwh

Pinside member

US Topeka, KS

8y 94,400 1,660 2 7

I would use one of these. But I have an advantage, I work for a glass company. Seriously tempered glass is very strong, it's weakest point is corners, we use glass cleaner in place of soapy water, but I would think either would be fine. Don't be scared to put a little muscle into it.

suction cup (resized).jpgsuction cup (resized).jpg
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#10 5 years ago
 
CLD

Cdemuro

Pinside member

US Houston, TX

6y 41,900 120 1 8

Quoted from pinhead52:

And... get duct tape, clean the glass near the bottom, put a 6 inch piece on the cleaned area with 4-5 inches hanging off the end, use the tape to pull the glass out. make two duct tape pull handles if needed. Masking tape works as well but duct tape more better

That’s a great idea! Pure genius!

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#11 5 years ago
 
???

ccbiggsoo7

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 91,050 6,063 37 10 2

hammer, screw it!

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#12 5 years ago
 
CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

US Wichita, KS

10y 148K 16,582 10 23

Go to auto parts store and get some Power Blaster penetrating oil. Lightly spray along both sides of glass and let it soak between the glass and the channel.

The stuff works miracles.

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#13 5 years ago
OP
 
AGL

Alan_L

Pinside+ Frequent

US Jarrettsville, MD

12y 73,800 1,390 6

It worked! The soapy water trick worked. I sprayed a little down between the glass and siderails, waited a few seconds, and it came loose and slid right off.

Thanks to all who replied.

Alan

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#14 5 years ago
 
WOT

Atari_Daze

Spd

US Houston, TX

7y 141K 10,053 7

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#15 5 years ago
 
MAT

snyper2099

Cincinnati Pinball

16y 103K 7,645

Hell yeah. I just dug out a Strikes and Spares from my garage to get up and running again and I had to spray soapy water along the edges to get it out. Once I cleaned the glass edges and the cabinet edges, it slid in and out just fine.

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