|
building menus... |
There are hundreds of web sites with valuable information for pinball and arcade enthusiasts. We've listed just a few here.
International Pinball
Database
Pinball Hall of Fame
Flyer Reference
In addition to the general FAQ's on this page, we also have these product-specific FAQ's
Q: What are your terms of sale?
A: We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of our products. If what you receive does not meet your expectations, or if you do not want to use the product for any reason, just return it to us and your purchase price will be refunded. Check the Order Info page for more details. We have no minimum order requirements, and we ship the same day your order is received whenever possible.
Q: Is it safe to order on-line?
A: Yes. We use the highest 128-bit security available for on-line transactions. Orders are handled by a secure server, and we do not store your financial information after your transaction is complete. We do not rent, sell or lend out your personal information for any purpose (see our Privacy Policy for details).
Q: Do you ship outside the United States?
A: Yes, we ship world-wide.
Q: How do you calculate shipping and handling charges?
A: We ship our products using the most economical means possible, and pack them so that they are not damaged by normal handling. We try to set our shipping charges as close to our actual costs as possible. We haven't artificially padded our product prices to cover the cost of shipping, and we don't try to profiteer from excessive shipping charges. If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve our service or save money on shipping, please let us know and we will do our best to implement them. Depending on the weight of your shipment and your location, you will be given the option of a number of shipping methods and their costs. In general, small parcels under 13 ounces are best shipped via First Class Mail, and larger packages are best sent using USPS Priority Mail, unless you wish to pay a premium for express delivery. We will continue to offer as many shipping choices as possible while maintaining a high level of service and economy.
Q: Can I re-use the cabinet stencils on another cabinet?
A: Our earlier vinyl stencils were not meant to be re-used but the current material can be reused if it is carefully removed after painting and placed back on the backing paper until it is needed again. The number of times they can be reused depends upon how carefully they are handled, the type and thickness of the paint used, and other factors. Since the new material tends to tear cleanly rather than stretch as did the vinyl stencils, minor damage can be repaired simply with masking tape.
Q: Aren't these stencils kind of expensive?
A: We have priced these stencils in line with other precision stencils for arcade games. A great deal of material goes into each set of stencils. For every set, over 50 square feet of stencil material is machine-cut, then the pattern cut-outs are manually removed. We are focusing on cabinets that have complex patterns that are difficult to reproduce manually. Many hours go into reproducing the factory look exactly. We are constantly looking at new manufacturing methods and materials to make the cabinet refinishing process quicker, easier and less expensive. We have held the prices the same even though the new stencil material that we now use is substantially more expensive than the vinyl that we used to use. Although there is some savings by no longer needing the clear application tape on top, this is more than offset by the cost of the stencil material and the extra labor needed to deal with this material, which is harder to cut and process after cutting.
Q: How do I get that "overspray" look with these stencils?
A: The factory paint jobs on pinball machines were done very quickly with little attention to detail. The stencils were made from thin metal that was placed against the cabinet as the colors were sprayed. Typically, there are areas in the factory paint job where the paint coverage is thin next to an edge of the stencil, and there may be areas of overspray. The overspray is caused by a stencil that is not flush with the cabinet when the paint is sprayed. It is up to you to add these features, if you wish. You can control the exact amount of overspray by strategically pulling the vinyl stencil material away from the cabinet wherever you want this effect. If you prefer a perfect, no overspray job, just make sure that the vinyl is sticking completely to the cabinet before you spray the paint.
Q: The two stencil patterns are not perfectly aligned. Is this a mistake?
A: No. It is rare to find an original pinball machine cabinet where the two stencil patterns are perfectly aligned. There were two sources of error. First, the master stencils may not have been registered accurately (remember, the objective was to get the games out the door, not build fine furniture). Second, the metal stencil may not have been accurately aligned on the particular game when the paint was sprayed. Our stencils have a built-in mis-registration that closely matches what you would see on a typical game. In our judgment, a perfectly-aligned pattern has a "fake" look to it. Still, if you prefer to align the patterns exactly, it is your choice. All you need to do is "eyeball" the second stencil when you apply it. Instead of following the registration guide marks that we provide, just align the second stencil pattern to match the first before you press it down.