Quoted from PinMonk:
There's lots of talk about plastic playfields with all the clear and ink adhesion problems, but I think that fixing the wood playfield problems and moving forward is much better than trading one set of temporary problems for an unknown set of new problems. Plastic playfields and overlays are not liked by the majority of pinheads I know.
I appreciate and (as a fellow pinhead) can understand your sentiment. To a degree, I completely get it.
However, keep in mind that some of these differences are. “Feeling” I suspect.
I say that because when you are playing on a well clear coated traditional surface.... you are in fact playing on a polymer surface. The problems begin when this .5 to 1 mil thick “barrier” brakes down. Additionally, dimples (dents)... now folks are making comments about a traditionally “screened” playfield, which is actually also... incorrect. These are being produced via digital ink jet today. Traditional screen print process would NEVER produce the near photographic stocastic screening process used. These new fields are digitally ink jetted for all new games. Similar to the old traditionally screen printed playfields, the ink MUST be protected from the sever frictional wear the ball creates.... soooo the fields are then clear coated with a clear coat (careful, not too much harder!! Hint, hint) and cured.
In the end, the only people playing on “wood” are those playing machines worn down to wood. Not so great.
A more careful comparison we have used in our development is compare our plastic surface to the .... plastic clear coat used to protect the ink surface. Ours just happens to be 30X thicker and agreed... different in construction.
As stated in my earlier thread.. we will be conducting more testing over the next year to demonstrate differences.. and as needed dial in to match durometer, COF, pounce... comparing the traditional feel using a real life modern “traditional” playfield.
We will make public these results to debunk erroneous claims, while possibly confirming others.
Yea, you found yourselves a nerd.
Love this discussion!