Has anyone found a good DIY solution to skeeball score rings/chutes?

[NateFromTheInternet]

I've been reading through some posts here on and off for years.  I just now tracked down how to join if I have one of the email clients that sadly disagrees with the website's verification process so now I can post!

I'm in the middle of building a skeeball game from scratch.  THe amount of helpful drawings, measurements, ideas, and photos I've found here already has been incredible.

One thing I haven't seen (and it's possible I've missed some good ideas) is a way to make DIY target rings for skeeball.  The white rubber rings.  From what I've read, they were originally made custom by goodyear.

Obivously the most accurate solution is to buy an old set, but I really want to stick to the DIY theme.  I'm making a video about this, and the DIY theme is one I'm trying to stay with.

So is there a source of white rubber that works for this?  Floor mats? Tiles?  Extra-thick wall baseboard?  I really want something rubbery to both take the impact of the balls, and to not damage the balls themselves.  It's fine if it's the wrong shape, I can cut and bend it.  But I haven't found a good solution yet.

Thank you!

[PL1]

So is there a source of white rubber that works for this?  Floor mats? Tiles?  Extra-thick wall baseboard?

IIRC one of the Skee-Ball build threads (don't remember which one) used pop rivets to fasten outer layers of vinyl wall base and an inner layer of welded metal rings made using a ring roller like this one from Harbor Freight.

Nickels - Skee Ball V2.0
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,130545.0.html

Entropy42 - Skee Ball Restoration and Improvement
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,116309.msg1232320.html#msg1232320

Thatpurplestuff - That's how I roll!
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,91011.0.html

Jayhawk - Skee-ball Repro
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,55648.msg545673.html#msg545673

Ixliam - Skee-ball
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,29455.0/all.html

Ixliam - DIY Skeeball
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,29727.0.html

Fatsheldon - Skee Ball build
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141016.0.html

Nipsmg - Major League Skeeball - Skeeball Gut & Replace with Custom Software
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,156301.0.html

netlohcs - SKEEBALL IS LIFE
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,163879.0.html

Imgpoz - Basement Arcade Skeeball!
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,163263.0.html

fungus amungus - DIY Skee Ball Machine
https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Skee-Ball-Machine/


Scott

[NateFromTheInternet]

IIRC one of the Skee-Ball build threads (don't remember which one) used pop rivets to fasten outer layers of vinyl wall base and an inner layer of welded metal rings made using a ring roller like this one from Harbor Freight.

At one point or another I've read through each of those threads I believe.  Wall baseboard is certainly an option I'm considering.  But I'd love something thicker and sturdier, that would bounce the ball off rather than half-smush under its weight.

[PL1]

outer layers of vinyl wall base and an inner layer of welded metal rings

But I'd love something thicker and sturdier, that would bounce the ball off rather than half-smush under its weight.

That's why I didn't recomment the vinyl wall base by itself.

If the welded metal rings half-smush, you're using metal that's way too thin or balls made from depleted uranium.   

Pic shows 1/8" thick metal bar and some vinyl wall base from Lowes.  The lip at the top of the vinyl covers about half of the bar.


Scott

[NateFromTheInternet]

I ended up buying some 3/16 buna-n (nitrile) rubber.  I got the food grade kind, because it's white.  It's definitely tough, although probably not as ridgid as official score rings.  It will handl the abuse I'm sure, but rings may sort of fold if hit at a high speed, rather than just bounce the ball off like real ones.

However, I'm not trying for a perfect replica of an arcade cabinet, just something that plays and is fun (and looks good)!  So I think this will work. 

Now I gotta experiment with riveting the ends together to make it hold a nice ring shape.

[NateFromTheInternet]

I think this will be my attachment method.  Thin aluminum sheet, holes drilled in that and the rubber, held together with these chicago-screw type hardware.