best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

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best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by steamfitter »

Hi , looking for the best way to flatten playfield plastics ( heat gun , oven ect..... ) tks
Denis
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by redketchup »

I used the oven method couple time with good result, just be sure to look at it all the time. If president Obama call when you do this, you stay there and you don't answer the phone
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by novaguy »

I've done the oven method but I like using 2 sheets of glass and a heat gun.

Ted

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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Chris Silver »

If you do a search I wrote a detailed post on it about 4 years ago regarding Space Station. I'm a little busy right now to dig it out.

Its super easy.
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Drano »

novaguy wrote:I've done the oven method but I like using 2 sheets of glass and a heat gun.

Ted

This is what I do as well.
Or, if you have time and it's a hot summer day, just leave the glass out on your deck (on a blanket) and let mother nature do the work.

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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by steamfitter »

Tks guys

In the oven do I use wax paper on a cookie pan ? Time ?

With the 2 sheet of glass do I put something between glass and plastic ? Will just heating one side do it ? Is ticker glass better ?

Tks again guys , I want to make sure I get it right . I only get one shot at it and don't want to srew this up.

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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by novaguy »

I just make sure the glass is clean.put the plastics on one sheet and after you heat the crap out of them put the other sheet on top with a jug of washer fluid or something to weigh it down.


Ted

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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Drano »

Just be very careful with the heat gun. Too close or too long on exposed plastics and you'll risk bubbling.

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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Chris Silver »

steamfitter wrote:Tks guys

In the oven do I use wax paper on a cookie pan ? Time ?
If you do the oven method use parchment paper not waxed. It only takes a few minutes and kind of looks like Shriky Dinks back in the 80s. It'll move around a little and then lay down. Pull it out at that point and put whatever on top. I used a huge old atlas that still had the unified Soviet Union in it and put some extra books on until it cooled off.

If you have long plastics I find they shink enough that you might need to elongate the screw holes a bit to get it back on the posts.

I dug up some information from one of my old posts:
1) I started the oven at 200 degrees.

2) After the oven warmed up, I placed the plastic (printed side up) on a piece of parchment paper and both onto a cookie sheet.

3) After 8 minutes and nothing happening I cranked it up to 250 degrees and within 2 minutes I witnessed the plastic starting to flatten out.

4) It took about 10 seconds to flatten so I pulled it out.

5) I placed it with the parchment paper underneath directly on the flat countertop and under a large book until it cooled (10 minutes was fine).

Conclusion: I found 200 degrees wasn't warm enough, but it probably was a good method to bring the plastic's temp up slowly without flash burning the painted side of the plastic. I am quite comfortable with the results and I am not hesitant to carry this method out on the rest of my pieces.



If you use a jug of washer fluid like Ted said get -40C. -42C is some bullshit selling feature. 2C doesn't make a difference and whoever goes about buying the "bug guts pink stuff" is plain nutty. Get the $2.99 jug from the grocery store. Buying those $5.99 jugs at the gas station is highway robbery. There should be a law against that.


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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by steamfitter »

Tks guys , I'll try these methods on old plastics and witch I'm more comfortable with .
Tks again

Denis
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Azatotht »

LOL great pictures ;-)
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by pinhead »

I got a laugh out of your pics also, nice job Chris!
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Chris Silver »

steamfitter wrote:Tks guys , I'll try these methods on old plastics and witch I'm more comfortable with .
Tks again

Denis
Did you ever get around to trying it out Denis? I'm doing it again tonight on my EightBall Deluxe. Pictures later.
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Chris Silver »

It worked great on Space Station Williams System 11 Plastics but I found Bally EightBall Deluxe cooked much quicker. I might have a problem. I'll know shortly after I pull it out from the press.
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Bagdad »

You can also use a Hair dryer if you don't have a heat gun. I did that last weekend and it worked well...
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Chris Silver »

Bagdad wrote:You can also use a Hair dryer if you don't have a heat gun. I did that last weekend and it worked well...
What year was the game from? My assumption today was a tragedy. 1987 plastics definitely require a higher temp than 1981 plastics.
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by steamfitter »

I use a heat gun but not crazy close , back and forth. Practice with old plastic is the best .

Denis
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by steamfitter »

Bigger plastics are the worst, I also weight them down when they cool down .
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Re: best way to flatten playfield plastics ?

Post by Bagdad »

Chris Silver wrote:
What year was the game from? My assumption today was a tragedy. 1987 plastics definitely require a higher temp than 1981 plastics.
It was for my Hurricane Plastics (1991). Hair dryer directly on the plastic, then when it's hot enough (it's a bit long), put the flat surface on top.
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