Brasso and Elbow Grease

[plcharb]

The least amount of fun I Have had with my Pachinko machine! Who knew that under all that tarnish was gleaming beautiful brass! I am about a fourth done, a little at a time as I get time. Wish there was an easier way but it'll be worth it in the end!photo (2).jpgphoto (3).jpg

[luckydog]

Some members have used a shoe string wrapped around them to polish them!

[compirate]

A small piece of brass tubing a little larger than the nail head, in a drill or something similar, stuff with cotton not quite to the end and a drip of brasso now and then. As the cotton compresses, add more so the tubing doesn't rub the cell face. Good for the heads, at least.

[plcharb]

I am using strips from an old Tshirt, biggest problem is trying to get my fingers into some tight spots to have enough room to move the strip back and forth without banging and nicking my fingers up on the heads of the nails. Not fun but well worth it!

[Spyder138]

A pair of thin leather work gloves like Mechanix brand might help with the banging and nicking. It does suck, but your results look great.

[mxfaiman]

A pair of thin leather work gloves like Mechanix brand might help with the banging and nicking. It does suck, but your results look great.

You also want to use gloves because the oils in your fingers make the nails tarnish faster.

[Mr_Smeggers2]

Is that a laminated cel or a printed formica face?

[MrAl]

GOOD LORD PULL THE NAILS....................................................... ..

[plcharb]

I am not sure exactly what kind of cel is on it. It is a 1975 from reading the stickers on it and is the original cel. I thought about pulling the nails, but being my first and only machine (so far!) I am kinda nervous to pull them and get them back in to the correct depth. I would hate to mess it up. I feel pretty lucky finding this in the shape it is in. It was really dirty, had a ball jam in the back,but all the parts were there except wiring and I got it working again. The door frame is cleaning up nicely with steel wool, I would like to replace the plexi with glass, and finish up the cleaning. I wired up lights using 6 volt bulbs and a lantern battery, all the switches work. Mu nephews and a niece were up from Florida for a week and they loved playing it while they were here. It is definitely addicting, I am keeping my eyes open for another one to work on. This site has SO much info I feel I have learned so much. I love the mechanical aspect of these machines-almost like a Rube Goldberg Machine that actually works!

[mxfaiman]

GOOD LORD PULL THE NAILS....................................................... ..

NO!!!!

That is a formica face. If you pull the nails it chips out. Trust me I learned the hard way.

[MrAl]

NO!!!!

That is a formica face. If you pull the nails it chips out. Trust me I learned the hard way.

Oh ....... well then don't pull the nails

[Tink]

Looks like a Sankyo, are all Sankyo' s formica? The few I've seen up close are.

[mxfaiman]

Looks like a Sankyo, are all Sankyo' s formica? The few I've seen up close are.

Yeah. I'd say around 80% of most Sankyos have formica and about the same for Daiichi.

It is easy to tell a formica background because they are always bright white. Paper ones tend to yellow quite a lot.

[plcharb]

It is a Sankyo

[PachiNC]

I just tried a new nail polishing technique with some success this week. I used a pipe cleaner with a little polish dabbed on it and wrapped it once around the nail shaft. the pipe cleaner is just stiff enough to give you some control and work it like a little polishing brush.

[plcharb]

Thanks! I will give it a try-seems like it would work

[Super Dave Osbourne]

There has to be a better way or tool to be invented. Each machine I polish the nails takes at best a couple of hours for 130+ nails. Any brilliant ideas on a tool that will polish without splatter, without damage to the cell, and quick/easy?

[emmadog]

Just polish the heads. Sure, it looks better to polish the entire nail but it's just not worth the time for the comparatively small amount of improvement. It takes me 10-15 minutes with a rag and metal polish to do a machine. Stick your finger in the rag (old t-shirts are best) and get some polish on it. Polish the nails that are in a line or diagonals almost all at once. Easy.

[Super Dave Osbourne]

Yep, lots of work to get it done, mostly a waste of time except on high end restoration. TV show and some drink make the time pass faster when doing a full nail polishing. Looks great afterwards!

[emmadog]

If it's a full resto then I use brand new nails. I bought several pounds via Juno some time ago. Also, if it's a high end resto then the cel is getting replaced and the nails pulled anyway. If reusing the original nails then they go in the tumbler.