3 wide with shelfs

[wrkey]

So, what do I do in my spare time when I'm not working on website Pachinko database or restoring a machine (or two) or playing the games? Well.. I make a cabinet of course!

I have 6 machines, two I've already put into single game stand up cabinets, one has a custom self contained cabinet that is over sized which left me with three machines that needed a home. So I did some looking at cabinets that other members have made and came up with my own. I originally planned on having a central ball hopper at the bottom but my wife talked me out of it. When she plays, she likes to know how many balls she is transfering from the losing tray to the winning tray which helps her know if she's "winning or losing".

Anyway, I'm about 90% complete and took the attached photos. It will eventually be painted and mounted with L-brackets to the wall.

Thanks for looking!

[mudfud]

nice cabinet!

you may want to cut a hole on the right side of each machine, like the ebay guy did. this gives you access to both the rocker reset and to the latch in the back, so you can swing open for refills. he cut the hole and used a router to make it smooth from the outside.

[takethecastle57]

Don't forget the upper tray ball dump lever on the left side facing the the machines front unless you like to swing the frame out to dump all the balls when you need to clean, change machines/cells the tray in your hands will get quite heavy very quickly

[mudfud]

hey ttc,

you could always use that pin hole thing to dump balls from the front, right?

[wrkey]

Good suggestions all! When it comes to opening the machine I will first try to 're-key' the locks or replace them as I want things to look as much original as possible. Failing that I will certain use MudFud's suggestion to access the latch. As for the ball dump I've always made the original dump feature with the small pin hole function for the same reasons.

I should be finishing the wood work and painting today. Hopefully have it mounted in the KeyChinko Parlour by Wednesday or Thursday if life doesn't get in the way.

Thanks again for the suggestions which is the very reason I post on here!

[Moparformances]

nice looking cabinet rusty

[takethecastle57]

hey ttc,

you could always use that pin hole thing to dump balls from the front,
right?

The vintage machines are not that easy you have to move a lever to start the dump of balls . Even the Modern Pachinkos ie the Lumina you need to turn a knob in back of the machine to start the ball dump. only a few modern pachinkos give you the option of the large paper clip in front ball dump . I own 3 at this type right now .

[wrkey]

On all six of my machines the pin hole dump mechanism works so I'm lucky in that respect.

So... here's the cabinet all completed and hung on the wall. I've also included some new photos of the "KeyChinko Parlour".

I've still got to screw the machines into the cabinet and the wife hasn't decided if she likes the layout yet. The 3-wide cabinet won't move but the other three are fair game.

[takethecastle57]

Hi Folks ,

I took another look at my Vintage machines and yes they do have a front ball dump hole on the left side my apologies but i never had to use it in all my 30 + years with them

[wrkey]

I agree with Take... just didn't want to admit it!

The onlytime I dump the balls is when I'm working on them or moving them around. I haven't had any problems yet.. but that's not to say it's not a good idea to have the tray's empty when you swing the machine out. I do have all my cabinet's attached at the top to insure they don't tip over when the machine is swung out.

[mudfud]

nice job with the triple shelf! looks very professional.

on the ball dump mechanism, I don't really use the pin hole either; most of the time the back lever gets accidentally bumped and I have a mess of balls everywhere.

only for transporting machines, when I have to tip them sideways, do I drain the balls.

I suppose that it was a good idea in the parlors, but it doesn't have any utility for me.

[Moparformances]

nice looking unit rusty... i like it

i did notice u have no way of holding extra balls on top of any machines?? i understand if all u have is model "a" machines, but with any other model i have seen i would want a larger hopper?? do u find yourself refilling them often?

again nice lookin cabinet

[outdoorenth]

That is a very nice looking cabinet and your KeyChinko Parlour looks great! Good job!

[musky]

What!? The double wide wasn't good enough for ya? Oh! That's right, we're in Texas! Great job Rusty, looks really good and a good use of space too!

[wrkey]

Thanks for all the compliments. Here's a few answers to the questions I've gotten.

I don't have extra ball hoppers nor do I have fill holes from the top. I've discussed this with the wife and here's what we determined. While it's concieveable that having an 'unlimited' number of balls available for wins, it has been our experience that since there is no 'pay out' (money, prizes, video, etc.) on the Vintage machines, it becomes more of a contest to 'empty the machine'. By having a set number of balls in the win hopper, there is a set 'goal' that you can play too. By having to open and re-fill, it gives you the ability to know if you are 'gaining' on the machine or not and it also provides a bit of a break in the action. It also gives that play that sinces of acheivement when you 'empty the machine'.

As for the opening of the machines, on all of the machines I have either replaced the lock, removed the lock or modified the lock to work with out a key. One of my goals in the design of the room and cabinet is to give it that 'Pachinko Parlour' feel, thus you can access the winning ball hopper or open the machines easily.

I've mounted all the machines at the same level in the room so I can use the rolling bar/drafting stools on all the machines. I think we will do some are arranging as two corner machines are a bit to close together to prevent the players from rubbing shoulders when playing.

Thanks again for all the comments!

[JACKSJE4]

Rusty -

Love the "parlour" shelf you made. What a cool idea!! Can you tell me what kind of wood you used and how you mounted it to the wall? I'm wondering how you are supporting the weight of three machines and all of the steel balls they hold.

Do tell!!

[wrkey]

The bottom board is a 1x12 pine and the top board is 1x8 pine. The rest of the framing is done with 5/8" plywood with a flat trim piece on the front edges to hide the "stripes" in the plywood.

If you look at the last photo you can see the metal shelf braces under it. I current have 4 metal braces that screw into wall studs. I may add another as there is one more stud I didn't screw into. Also, you can't see it in the photos, but behind each machine is a 'cross brace' made of 5/8" plywood that is located about 12" from the top board. In each of these cross braces I also screwed them into a wall stud to prevent the unit from wanting to tip over.

Each of the machines have 4 screws through the sides and into the plywood frame to hold them in place. Although I could have made the clearances abit more liberal as it's a fight to get them machines into their holes.

My plan is to build an Operator Control box and mount it in the corner. This box will have hopper empty lights for each machine, house the transformer for all the machines, have an external 110plug (for the KeyChinko sign) and have an on/off switch to control it all. But... it'll be a while before I can get to that. I have my other machine to refurbish an I'm helping my daughter buy her first car and will be tinkering with that for while. <sigh> my work is never done!

[dattia]

Great job Rusty!

[digital1]

I am so impressed!

You all make me want to build stuff that I don't have time to do.

Great job RK!!

[pinball wizard]

nice job,rusty.were you able to rekey the locks so you can open the machines from the front?