I'm looking for some thin, self-adhesive foam that can be installed in the back of a scoop to prevent bounce-outs. I used to buy the stuff from Pinbits, but they no longer carry it. Plus, I don't think they are currently fulfilling orders even if they did have it. Does anyone know of another pinball supplier that has some in stock, or what the Pinbits product was so I can source it from somewhere else?
Thanks!
Quoted from JayDee:Could you use a piece of weatherstripping?
Not like dead drop foam. Balls will bounce off of weatherstripping.
Try searching for black rubber gasket material.
LTG : )
Quoted from Phbooms:Surprised there's not modders selling 1 inch squares for $20 plus shipping of this yet...
agreed
This stuff is 1/8" thick, so a bit thinner than those others I linked.
https://www.amazon.com/Dualplex-Neoprene-Adhesive-Perfect-Cosplay/dp/B07WVQF1DF/ref=sr_1_3
Quoted from Phbooms:Surprised there's not modders selling 1 inch squares for $20 plus shipping of this yet...
Pinbits sold a 1' x 6' strip of self adhesive high density foam for $2.50 each for years. No limit on how many you could order. I suspect another reputable supplier will stock something similar soon and it won't cost $20 a square inch.
Pinbits foam was perfect for pinball, so let's hope the new supplier gets the same stuff.
Quoted from phishrace:Pinbits sold a 1' x 6' strip of self adhesive high density foam for $2.50 each for years. No limit on how many you could order. I suspect another reputable supplier will stock something similar soon and it won't cost $20 a square inch.
Pinbits foam was perfect for pinball, so let's hope the new supplier gets the same stuff.
I was just kidding around but with pinflation $2.50 years ago is now $25 so maybe i wasnt kidding...
I found an old post on Pinside where a guy recommended a product called sorbothane. It seems expensive ...
Quoted from jj44114:Can you use the foam that is used on standup targets on wpc games
No, it bounces/cushions. Isn't drop dead.
LTG : )
Quoted from Phbooms:I was just kidding around but with pinflation $2.50 years ago is now $25 so maybe i wasnt kidding...
I'm buying one now. I'll let you guys know if it works.
Quoted from gweempose:It seems expensive ...
Only in this hobby could sometime with 18 pinball machines and Kuro TV's not want to spend $20 on a part 
Quoted from chooch:Only in this hobby could sometime with 18 pinball machines and Kuro TV's not want to spend $20 on a part
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I think it's normal not wanting to spend $20 on a 25 cent piece of foam.
Quoted from RTS:I think it's normal not wanting to spend $20 on a 25 cent piece of foam.
It was never 25 cents from Pinbits and it's not just regular foam. Plus a 6x6 is a large piece and you are paying for the size of it as well. You found a solution that worked for you so great and maybe you could send him a piece of the double sided tape too try out.
Quoted from chooch:It was never 25 cents from Pinbits and it's not just regular foam. You found a solution that worked for you so great and maybe you could send him a piece of the double sided tape too try out.
Yeah chooch, excellent suggestion. Thank you.
I was just offering an inexpensive alternative that is readily available which worked well for me.
I didn't mean to take away from Pinbits' highly profitable dead foam division.
Quoted from gorditas:I found this at a local hardware store. It solved all of my Merlin scoop bounce outs.
If you are in a place in the world that doesn't sell it, pay for shipping and I'll send you a piece.
[quoted image]
Most hardware stores carry that soft spongy stuff. It's not really the right material for replacing dead drop foam, unfortunately.
Quoted from ForceFlow:Most hardware stores carry that soft spongy stuff. It's not really the right material for replacing dead drop foam, unfortunately.
This isn't soft: it is dense, closed cell foam. They should have changed the larger part of the labeling. One thing is for certain, it solved my issue. I don't care what they called it.
20210820_000837 (resized).jpgQuoted from gdonovan:Gottlieb used velcro, the hooked side not the fuzzy side to reduce bouncing on ball returns.
Crazy. I have that on my Monte Carlo. Assumed it was something someone did after the fact. Didn’t know it was factory.
Quoted from gorditas:This isn't soft: it is dense, closed cell foam. They should have changed the larger part of the labeling. One thing is for certain, it solved my issue. I don't care what they called it. [quoted image]
I don't care what they call it either - i could use a 6" piece for Indiana Jones and T2 if you don't mind -
i have about an 80% failure rate when I whiz the ball up the left orbit on T2 up to the top rollovers.
Quoted from chuckwurt:Crazy. I have that on my Monte Carlo. Assumed it was something someone did after the fact. Didn’t know it was factory.
Yup, my Spring Break had a chunk on the apron for ball return.
Quoted from pinzrfun:I don't care what they call it either - i could use a 6" piece for Indiana Jones and T2 if you don't mind -
i have about an 80% failure rate when I whiz the ball up the left orbit on T2 up to the top rollovers.
I've got an appointment in Canton today. Send me a PM, maybe I can drop it off. Heck, I'll install it. Otherwise, I found it at Lowe's. Just be sure to read the fine print, and do a compression test with your fingers.
Quoted from gorditas:I've got an appointment in Canton today. Send me a PM, maybe I can drop it off. Heck, I'll install it. Otherwise, I found it at Lowe's. Just be sure to read the fine print, and do a compression test with your fingers.
Copy that -
I'm thinking there's probably some exact (or almost exact) self adhesive foam duplicate of what Pinbits was offering for dead drop foam at McMaster-Carr's online website (mcmaster.com) under "self adhesive foam". The next time I need some I plan on ordering some samples from them to see if I can get close or an exact match.
Quoted from gdonovan:Yup, my Spring Break had a chunk on the apron for ball return.
Velcro is everywhere too, I throw chunks of the stuff out at work. Always in some kit or other that comes in.
Quoted from Rum-Z:I'm thinking there's probably some exact (or almost exact) self adhesive foam duplicate of what Pinbits was offering for dead drop foam at McMaster-Carr's online website (mcmaster.com) under "self adhesive foam". The next time I need some I plan on ordering some samples from them to see if I can get close or an exact match.
That was my next source if I couldn't find something local that worked. Their selection of parts is amazing. I honestly wasn't expecting to find anything dense or thin enough to work at the hardware store. There are only so many companies that make adhesive foam, and I'm sure none of them market to pinball. Do you have any of the original stuff left? Is the backing marked?
Quoted from gorditas:Do you have any of the original stuff left? Is the backing marked?
I have a small amount left, but the white backing has no identifying marks on it all.
Quoted from gdonovan:Gottlieb used velcro, the hooked side not the fuzzy side to reduce bouncing on ball returns.
I used this on my Hook tonight, have had problems with rejects on the VUK at the clock shot since I got the game. Used to be 50% or more of the clean shots would reject. Got to where I always purposefully tried to rattle it in by hitting a rail on the way up. After some game testing I would say I’m at more like 25% of the clean shots get rejected so it’s an improvement.
Funny thing is on my Lethal Weapon 3 I don’t think I have ever had a reject.
The VUK cap does look newer on my LW3, but Hook doesn’t really look worn, does a new fresh VUK cap help hold them in?
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