So I spent $20 on this stripper... (EDIT, now with more pictures).

[paigeoliver]

Recently picked up this cabinet as a freebie.



Got to work today with the 3M Safest Stripper. It looks like it is going to come out flawless, better than some of the Atari games I have owned that weren't painted over.

[paigeoliver]

I bought a gallon of stripper hoping it would be enough. Looks like it will be enough for two cabs (there is a painted over Stargate down there too!).

[paigeoliver]

These pictures are just after the first pass, I am about to go downstairs to finish this side up.

[Witchboard]

hehe.. $20 stripper...

Anyway, the side art looks really well preserved.  Looks like it's going to make a good recovery.

[RacerX]

That's great.  I guess sometimes getting painted over was the best thing for these old cabs.  Looks like the top layer preserved what was underneath quite nicely.

[paigeoliver]

Current state.

[Tahnok]

Wow! Amazing looking cab! I'll have to remember about that 3M stuff for future projects!

[paigeoliver]

Just did a bit of work on the front.

[Silly Burrito]

Wow, that looks great! I have an old cabinet in my shed that I believe has Defender underneath the black paint, but I can't find the 3M safe stripper. Where did you buy it?

[paigeoliver]

Home Depot, Lowes and the other big boys never have it. Try True Value or one of the other small places, they usually do.

Williams cabinets work for this too, although they don't come out quite as perfect. I just did one side of a Stargate.

You might be able to do better than me though. On a Williams cabinet you need to wash off the excess stripper and goo immediately after scraping, or else it is going to soften up the Williams paint and give you trouble.

[Magnet_Eye]

Can you provide a few tips using the 3M Stripper? I am thinking about using it too.  

[DrewKaree]

so, where's the pix of this $20 stripper?  

[Magnet_Eye]

so, where's the pix of this $20 stripper?  

It's right here!  

[Rocky]

Williams cabinets work for this too, although they don't come out quite as perfect. I just did one side of a Stargate.

You might be able to do better than me though. On a Williams cabinet you need to wash off the excess stripper and goo immediately after scraping, or else it is going to soften up the Williams paint and give you trouble.

I used Goof Off on a Williams cab (Moon Patrol). It requires a lot of scrubbing, but the Williams paint seems to take scrubbing with a nylon brush better than more powerful chemicals.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

This thread has misled!  

[SirPoonga]

Ok, how does this stuff take off the paint over paint but not the orginal paint?

[Grauwulf]

It's pretty mild as paint strippers go, so basicly you're taking off one layer of paint at a time. I've been using a bio-degradable stripper on an old ceadar chest that was left in the house I bought, it's slow, there's about 6 layers of paint on it, but I know the stripper won't damage the wood underneath.

[IceCold]

Ok, how does this stuff take off the paint over paint but not the orginal paint?

What I was told was that the original paint was a different kind of paint that the stripper doesn't really remove too well.  If I remember correctly, the original was oil based which the stripper doesn't remove real well and the operators painted over it with latex paint which is removed much easier.

I'm probably way off, but that's what somebody told me.

[paigeoliver]

Well, Atari cabinets aren't even painted, they are covered in silk-screened vinyl, thus the paint stripper doesn't really strip the sideart, although it can start taking off the black.

[SirPoonga]

oh right, this is Atari,. argh, I wasn't thinking.  I was thinking pacman from that other post.  Pacman is stencilled on.

[bdsjake]

found a pic of paige and his stripper.


 

[Wade]

Well, Atari cabinets aren't even painted, they are covered in silk-screened vinyl, thus the paint stripper doesn't really strip the sideart, although it can start taking off the black.

Paige,

   I know I asked this somewhere else but never saw the replies (KLOV?).

   Atari cabinets aren't covered in silk-screened vinyl.  They are made of laminated wood/particle board and then screened.  Big difference.  In other words, there is not a separate sticker that was applied at the factory.  This is why you will never see NOS atari sideart for games like DigDug, Centipede, Kangaroo, etc. (unless it is meant for a conversion).

   Correct me if I'm wrong.  I see people commonly mention the same thing that you have, but I think they are mistaken.

Wade

[paigeoliver]

Well, what is the white stuff on the cabinet if it isn't vinyl. It isn't actually paint is it?

[philcollins]

Paige, I miss you.

[Brogner]

I have a bump n jump in an atari kangaroo cab.  Thinking of trying this with it.  Cant see why anyone would want to cover up this stuff when the cab is is good shape

[Wade]

Well, what is the white stuff on the cabinet if it isn't vinyl. It isn't actually paint is it?

Uh, yeah, it isn't paint, but it isn't a sticker either.  Looking back at your post, I thought you were saying it was a sticker, but you weren't.  It is some kind of laminate, probably vinyl.

The thing I was wanting to clarify is that it is laminated wood with the art screened right on.  I have seen a lot of people lately mention "apply screenprinted vinyl sideart, to make it just like the original" which is not really true.  Same goes for the Galaxian cabs and the sideart that is expected to be made soon on vinyl (not true to the original).  Correct?

Hope that clarifies, and sorry for jumping the gun on you when it was I who misunderstood your post.

Wade