Quoted from Pinoffski:Going to re-decal the cab this weekend i hope (pending weather)
any tips would be helpfull please.
is it better to do it dry or wet ?
wife is going to help me and she thinks wet is the better option as you can move it
was going to do the front first to line up the start button
There are a few good vids on YouTube of pinball cabinet decals being applied. One is a Williams Indy Jones, a vid from Australia, I think. Another is a vid of an Addams Family cab being restored. Both are good videos.
Wet method is far more forgiving than dry. Plenty of skilled restorers apply decals dry, but you need to have the cab sanded and prepped smooth, free of any dust or debris. I’m a novice restorer, having replaced decals on just three games so far. I did use a solvent designed for applying things like decals, but it evaporated very quickly, so basically I had to be right the first time. If you can line up the decal on the cabinet perfectly with the paper backing still on, then place something heavy on one end of the decal to hold it (like dumbbell weights, with something soft like a cloth under the weights to protect the decal), you can then lift up the other end and peel about half the paper backing off, then cut it off with scissors or utility blade. Then you can pull the decal tight at the corners and carefully apply it, smoothing out any bubbles after. Then you can remove the weights and peel back the rest of the paper, apply the other half. Then use a very sharp razor and while holding one corner of the excess decal, carefully run the razor along the edge, trimming the decal. You’ll still want to sand or trim 1/16 inch or so of decal at the edges, so the decal won’t catch and peel.
That’s just the way I learned how to do it. Lots of more experienced people here I’m sure can help. Good luck!