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So you want to fix up and restore pinballs - well open up your wallet and bust out the charge card because accumulating the correct tools is going to cost you some Benjamins. This page contains a lists of the many variety of tools and products I use to maintain and restore pinball machines. The lists below are not all inclusive, there is more!! The good news is you don't need everything in these lists, but they sure make the task easier and more enjoyable. I've also included a section on how to package and ship a Pinball machine.
I've accumulated lots of tools along the way. The old axiom about "using the right tool for the right job makes it easier" holds true. The tools are organized by the USAGE column.
All paints are Water-Based ACRYLIC. All were purchased at DEE'S CRAFTS in Louisville KY. All cost approximately $1.25 bottle. The list below is organized by COLOR.
Packing & Shipping a Pin Section In this section you'll find the steps it takes to pack a pinball for shipping to a buyer. You can also use these steps as a reference if you purchase a game from someone that is going to ship it to you - make sure they follow these steps and send you some pictures of the packing process prior to shipping it to you. Also included in this section is a list of materials you will need to properly package a pin. There are links to websites that have pictures on each step of packing a pin for shipping. Finally, there are links to the different shipping companies who will move your pinball machine from Point A to Point B, just about anywhere in the world. Why Would You Ship a Pinball? It is expensive to ship a pinball game. It can cost between $200-$400. Plus you will also have to pay a "packing fee" which is for the time, labor and tools it takes to package and prep a game for shipping. The Packing Fee can be anywhere from $35 to $80. Shipping can easily add an additional $300 to the cost of a pinball machine. As a SELLER, I would prefer to have someone pick up the game or for me to deliver it. This way there are no "surprises" by the buyer when they get the game and there are fewer chances of damage during the transportation process. Some SELLERs offer shipping because this opens up the market place for them - nothing wrong with that!! Some SELLERs prefer to ONLY ship because they are selling merchandise that is not be truthfully advertised...they do NOT want you to see the game until after they get their money - I refer to this a FRAUD!! As a BUYER, I would prefer to view a game and play it before I purchased something for this kind of money. This usually eliminates the need for me to have a game shipped. Every now and then you come across a game from a trusted individual (either through direct contact or reputation) and you can feel safe purchasing the product sight-unseen. When you have a game shipped to you, you have to factor the cost of packaging & shipping into the total price of the game. If you get a great deal on a game for $700 and it costs you $300 to ship then your TOTAL COST for the game is $1000. You might have been able to pick up that same game for around $900 locally, Yes, you are paying more for the game, but you will get to physically see and play what you are purchasing prior to forking over the cash. Actually, you will save $100 AND get the satisfaction of knowing exactly what you are and are not purchasing. When you purchase a game and have to pay for shipping, make sure you take into account the expense ratio for shipping. This is the ratio of shipping expense for the total price of the game. In the previous example where you got the game for $1000 ($700 + $300 for shipping), the shipping expense ratio was 30%. You paid 30% basically for NOTHING. You could spend that 30% on a local game and possibly upgrade the game to a new, funner, more collectible game. The object is to get the shipping expense ratio as low as possible. I prefer 0%, as in I go pick up the game myself. Lets say you find a game for $300 but its across the country. Now its going to cost you $600 for the game ($300 + $300 shipping). The shipping expense ratio is 50% - WOW! Now this still may be a good deal because they game might be worth $700!! Funny thing about this shipping expense ratio. If you get it too low, that's not good either. Lets say you buy a $4000 game and its shipped to you for $300. Total price is $4300. The shipping expense ratio is 7%...not bad. However, do you really want to pay $4300 for something sight unseen? The higher the price of the pin, the more riskier the transaction. Can't life be easy? Heck, the seller may be first class, the game may be perfect, the deal might be awesome, but the pin might get damaged or destroyed during shipping. You might be left with a bundle of kindling. This brings up a great point - make sure you get SHIPPING INSURANCE!!! For me personally, I would have a game shipped to me under the following conditions:
Steps to Pack a Pinball for Shipping If you are going to package a pin for shipping, then here are the minimum things you should do. If you are having a pin shipped to you then these are the steps you want to person to take when packing the game. Do NOT assume they will do this - you won't be happy with the final results! Take lots of pictures. Take them at every step. Take them from different angles.
NOTE: If your game has a TOPPER on it, such as Fish Tales, White Water, Whirlwind, F-14 then you may want to remove that piece and send it separately. Toppers are usually fragile, so they need to be carefully wrapped. There is a reason why many toppers are missing from games: some are stolen but most are damaged during shipping. Tools for Packing a Pinball for Shipping
Links Showing How to Pack a Pinball for Shipping
Links of the Pinball Shipping Companies
This page was last updated on 11/14/02 |
