Boca Raton, FL
I have about 40 old pinballs, either scratched and/or rusty. What do people do with these heavy orbs?
(Topic ID: 84957)
Quoted from SealClubber:No need to hoard old worthless junk.
If it makes my son happy, nothing is worthless. He likes his cider bottle full of pinballs.
Quoted from kayakkingoz:Give them to the neighbors kids. They play marbles with them at school
BS! Nobody plays marbles anymore... 
I call BS on most of these posts. Pics or it doesn't happen. 
I like the pinball trophy and art ideas. You'd also think with all the super creative brain power in this hobby someone would be asking for these to be sent to them for some major recycling effort.
Didn't someone post before these could be tumbled back to be used again? Crap, can't someone make a business of us sending these into someone and getting x off new ball purchase.
I dont do anything with them. I do have a lot of them rolling around the tool box, can't seem to throw them out.
Quoted from SealClubber:I just throw them in the trash where they belong. No need to hoard old worthless junk.
Still worth a buck plus shipping, so not "worthless"
ebay.com link: Steel Ball Williams Fire Pinball Machine Stainless 1 06 27mm c
Quoted from TunaSled:If it makes my son happy, nothing is worthless. He likes his cider bottle full of pinballs.
be careful. I kept putting them into a antique glass milk jug, but the weight of the pinballs ended up breaking the glass.
Who needs whiskey stones - love it. Is it sanitary or does the booze kill off all the playfield wax?
Quoted from MinusWorlds:BS! Nobody plays marbles anymore...
Sure kids do. There are several Marbles apps available for the iPhone and Androids.
Quoted from MrBally:Sure kids do. There are several Marbles apps available for the iPhone and Androids.
Then they're not using pinballs.
Quoted from badbilly27:Who needs whiskey stones - love it. Is it sanitary or does the booze kill off all the playfield wax?
Bah, what's a little wax going to hurt ya'?
Quoted from MrBally:Sure kids do. There are several Marbles apps available for the iPhone and Androids.
I see what you did there! No need to go outside anymore!
Internet_Connection_Went_Down.jpgQuoted from sanctumwear:be careful. I kept putting them into a antique glass milk jug, but the weight of the pinballs ended up breaking the glass.
Yes, please be careful. I used to keep mine in a big mason jar. The bottom blew out one day when I picked it up. So if you're going to keep them in glass then you need to keep them out of the reach of kids. I keep them in a plastic jug now.
Quoted from Whysnow:ben wa balls for the wife's kegel exercises
Best to use new ones for that purpose after cleaning the oil off. Used ones with rust don't belong there. Works for girlfriends as well as wives, by the way
Also, never start with Bingo pinball balls; Not that I know anything about this.
5 months later
4 years later
So I took the idea from here:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/what-to-do-with-old-pinballs-2
I got my steel 'gumball' machine finally but need more 'gumballs', anyone willing to help me with your old pinballs you have no use for, please PM me.
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Quoted from yzfguy:Be careful if that's glass. There are stories on here where the weight broke the glass.
You mean like this story?
Pinballs just blew out a big chunk. Looked great for about 5 minutes.
So anyone know where can I get a plexiglass globe for this little bubble gum machine? It's a carousel junior.
20190310_203253 (resized).jpgI used to throw them away but for the last month or so I've been keeping them. I was asked by our local school if I'd like to come in offer a session on pinball for their "high interest" day. On high interest day the kids can choose from a number of different sessions to get a quick introduction/overview of various hobbies, jobs, etc. If I remember correctly, the sessions are 40 minutes long. I was planning on giving each kid that takes my session a used pinball.
Hopefully, I'll have enough by then (it's happening in May) to give each kid a pinball if they want one.
Quoted from egyptrus:I used to throw them away but for the last month or so I've been keeping them. I was asked by our local school if I'd like to come in offer a session on pinball for their "high interest" day. On high interest day the kids can choose from a number of different sessions to get a quick introduction/overview of various hobbies, jobs, etc. If I remember correctly, the sessions are 40 minutes long. I was planning on giving each kid that takes my session a used pinball.
Hopefully, I'll have enough by then (it's happening in May) to give each kid a pinball if they want one.
The school district's window repair company thanks you in advance 
Quoted from egyptrus:I was planning on giving each kid that takes my session a used pinball.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but they could be a serious choking hazard. It's a nice thought, though.
Quoted from yzfguy:The school district's window repair company thanks you in advance
I hadn't thought of that...maybe I should put them in bubble wrap and they can just look at them and then when they get home they can throw them about if they like 
Quoted from beeker3000:Not to be a Debbie Downer, but they could be a serious choking hazard. It's a nice thought, though.
Well, these are middle school kids so I'd like to think they wouldn't think of eating them but then again, this age group eats tide pods so maybe I should rethink it.
Perhaps the better thing to do would be to let them feel the weight of a pinball so they have an idea of how heavy they are rather than giving each kid one to break windows or choke on...
I appreciate the input.
Finally got my filler pieces completed, manufactured from Chinese Christmas tree ornaments that are almost the exact size as pinballs, then sourced some "scratch and dent" surplus balls from the Ball Baron...here is the final product. I'm happy with it.
I would say less than 30% of what appear to be pinballs are the real deal, only the outer most ones are real, the others are "memorex".
gum two (resized).jpg
I forgot to say I have an extra machine (rectangle one) if anyone is interested, PM me.
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Bermuda Triangle
2 years later
As I'm reviewing my used inventory prior to heading to Allentown, I found this old discussion. I'm a newbie with just over 3 years collecting, but already have 30 balls. There's got to be some way of recycling these. I replace mine after 100+ plays. If you inspect them, they look usable, but it just seems a shame to toss these. My town has metal recycling, but I can't just toss these in a dumpster, they'll be rolling all over the place. Maybe in a container. I did like the trophy pics.
Quoted from Bluebeard:As I'm reviewing my used inventory prior to heading to Allentown, I found this old discussion. I'm a newbie with just over 3 years collecting, but already have 30 balls. There's got to be some way of recycling these. I replace mine after 100+ plays. If you inspect them, they look usable, but it just seems a shame to toss these. My town has metal recycling, but I can't just toss these in a dumpster, they'll be rolling all over the place. Maybe in a container. I did like the trophy pics.
100 plays? You can use them a whole lot longer then that.
Quoted from fiberdude120:100 plays? You can use them a whole lot longer then that.
Exactly! Inspect them and if they look good continue using.
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