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Arcade Collecting => Pinball => Topic started by: Sarver Systems on October 17, 2014, 03:21:13 pm

Title: triple thick a backglass
Post by: Sarver Systems on October 17, 2014, 03:21:13 pm
I'm going to be doing some backglasses for a customer, using Krylon (or whatever brand it is) Triple Thick.

Most of the backglasses are in great shape, but a few have some minor peeling.

What is the process for sticking down the paint before I triple thick them?
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: pbj on October 17, 2014, 03:25:07 pm
Spray and pray
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: ChadTower on October 18, 2014, 02:28:43 pm

He's pretty much right.  There are tutorials for doing that on the web but I have yet to actually see it work.  IMO it's far more realistic to cut off most of the loose paint and adhere a decal to the back of the glass to make up the difference.  I tried several times to "stick down" loose chips and it just doesn't work. 

General method for Triple Thick is to do a couple of very light mistings from far enough up that you're not blowing any extra paint off with the air blast.  Those will stick down anything that's going to stay so that you can come in closer and put in 2 more real coats on.
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: pbj on October 18, 2014, 08:30:21 pm
Yep, couple of mist coats to keep everything in place.  Then slather it on and lock the loose parts in the clear.  If you can get clear underneath the big chips, you can push on them with a toothpick to push them flat against the glass.

I still kick myself for cleaning my Alien Poker backglass before I triple thicked it.  It's still decent, but I went from perfect lettering to flakes in it during the wipe down with Windex.  And, of course, I even joked with my wife beforehand that "most collectors would cringe if they saw me cleaning this thing first."

On the other hand, there was a lot of dirt and cigarette smoke caked on the back.

So...

 :dunno

Good luck.
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: ChadTower on October 19, 2014, 07:43:45 pm

And it IS worth blocking off the score windows.  I've seen people come in after thinking they could scrape those off and it's just a pain in the ass.  I usually cut a little piece of cardboard to the shape of the windows and spray over it.  Then pick it up between coats so it doesn't adhere.  Cardboard is heavy enough to not blow around and won't soak through with this stuff.
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: pbj on October 19, 2014, 07:52:01 pm
I mask them off with  painters tape but otherwise no argument there
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: Sarver Systems on October 19, 2014, 10:37:10 pm
I would definitely mask off the score windows. I saw a backglass that wasn't masked, and it looked like a shower door.
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: ChadTower on October 20, 2014, 09:53:38 am

Honestly, you might want to practice this a couple of times before you try and charge someone for it.  This process can destroy a backglass just as easily as it can save it.  Now and then you'll run into a glass where WAY MORE of the paint is separated that you think.  Those glasses just shrivel up the artwork when the moisture hits it.  That customer will be very unhappy...
Title: Re: triple thich a backglass
Post by: Sarver Systems on October 20, 2014, 01:54:21 pm
Nah, he's cool with it. He knows this is the first one I've done.

He's also the one who brought it up to me to have me do it in the first place.
Title: Re: triple thick a backglass
Post by: Fursphere on December 07, 2014, 07:56:41 pm
This is a process that uses plastic wrap (the clear stuff you put on food) to push down the artwork after you clear it. 

Spray Heavy
Plastic wrap and press down
walk away for a couple of days - don't even think about touching it until you know its totally dry

Also, I wouldn't use masking tape.  The slightest tug can pull off sheets of ink.  :(

And I've heard really bad things about triple thick and cold weather?  Like, it'll cause the entire sheet of ink to de-laminate from the glass. 

Just my $0.02....