Do I have to have my monitor and other components removed for painting/ sanding?

[marioxb]

So yeah, I really don't want to (or know how to) remove the monitor if I don't absolutely have to. Any experience with this? How much more work would I be making for myself? I don't have any place to put the monitor (25" Zenith, I believe from a Dragon's Lair II) except on the bare cement garage floor if I did remove it. I also don't want to remove the wiring and have to figure out how to get it all back in the right place.

[Bimmy]

I used to be intimidated about removing the circulatory system, but when you think about it, there isn't much to it. You can take out the whole thing without disconnecting a lot of stuff. Use a sharpie and mark the molex connectors if you do need to disconnect stuff. As for the monitor, if you're using a roller to paint, there shouldn't be much trouble if you're careful. Just mask off the monitor and chassis real nice and you should be fine.

[PL1]

It shouldn't be that difficult to remove the monitor -- use some masking tape to make a flag on the cable, write a code on the flag, and take a picture before you unplug the cable so you can easily reassemble it.

If you don't want to remove the monitor and don't mind that you may not be able to paint some parts of the cab, consider using heavy garbage bags/plastic sheeting and tape to make two layers of cover.

Paint/sand
Use shop vac to clean dust
Remove first layer
Shop vac again to catch any remaining dust/particles
Remove second layer


Scott

[marioxb]

OK, I guess I will give it a try. So far I have the back off of the cab, the control panel, the marquee and monitor bezel. I'm just kinda afraid of touching the wrong part of the monitor and exploding or something.

[PL1]

As long as you have read this post from the monitor FAQ and remain attentive to what you are doing, you'll be fine.   

If you ever do need to discharge the monitor (to replace capacitors), read this post and view the PowerPoint slideshow here.


Scott

EDIT: Reworded and updated links for greater clarity.
Thanks for catching my poorly worded/possibly misleading advice, Paige.   

[paigeoliver]

Take the monitor out, the cabinet will be way easier to deal with if it is out.

Don't let people mislead you into reading a huge monitor FAQ, if all you are doing is removing the monitor in one piece. All you need to do is remove the signal cable, unhook the power cable, and unscrew or unclip the green earth ground (if it is even there), unbolt the monitor and pull it out.

When simply removing or installing a monitor the ONLY safety bit you need to remember is "don't pull the suction cup off the tube". As long as you don't do that then you aren't going to make the monitor explode, nor are you going to fry yourself.

You DO NOT AND SHOULD NOT be discharging a monitor just to remove it from the cabinet. Doing so adds an element of risk to an activity that previously had none and serves no purpose.

Removing monitors isn't a big deal, I rarely go a week without pulling one.

[jennifer]

        You dont have to remove the monitor to refinish the cab... Although Its not really a big deal, As pointed out it comes out in a one piece assy. However if you strip the rest of the cab (T mouldings, coin doors and the like) you can wrap the monitor with plastic, and then newspaper, The reason for this is plastic has a static charge and dirt will cling to it, only to wind up in your paint job... The inside of the cab (about where the monitor is) is usually a black trim lacquer. A foam tube, or a tape not stuck flat will create a soft edge to blend it in, and not make a hard tapeline.... In any case be mindfull of the monitors neck (where the wires hook on) this is a very fragile area and if it breaks that monitor is shot.

[PL1]

My earlier post about reviewing the FAQ was only intended to point to the parts on how to safely discharge and handle a monitor. (updated links/wording in post above)


Scott

[marioxb]

Thanks guys! A friend and I just took the monitor out last night. It was pretty easy. We just disconnected the wires, no discharging or anything. Unbolted four bolts, and done! Easier than we thought!

Now off to the local free tool rental library to rent a sander!