Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Arcade Collecting => Pinball => Topic started by: shardian on July 09, 2010, 02:08:32 am
-
I've heard folk say they've done this online, but have never seen a 'how to'. I figured I would document my process for anyone who has considered it, but didn't have the confidence to have at it.
This Freddy was missing all three blades. Fortunately I found a busted blade in the bottom of the cabinet to gauge by. I decided to go with craft sticks.
My tool of choice is a dremel. I have a nice corded dremel with the flex head attachment...but that thing is a cumbersome beast. I decided to invest in the $20 cordless Dremel model for its compact, light weight design and 'grab-n-work wherever you happen to be standing' convenience.
Step #1: Prep the glove
I don't know what other people have done, but to me the best course of action would be to completely remove the old blades and create a slot for the new ones. This would give a very solid connection and add to overall strength.
To do this I used a cutoff wheel to remove whatever was left of the protruding blades. Then I used a barrel sander to grind down the blade tops on the fingers. Finally, I used a thin cutoff wheel to hollow out where the blade will go. Popsicle sticks are almost exactly the same thickness as the original, so you have a built in template of where to cut. I went to the same depth as the original blade goes on the tips of the fingers.
Sorry for no progress pics here, but I did all this work before deciding to document. Sometimes I get a wild hair and accomplish more than I plan on in a sitting.
-
Step #2: Make the blades.
There is a high probability that many of you won't have a spare blade to use as a template. In this case, go by pics on the 'net and improvise. If anyone is interested, I could just scan in my blades before I glue them on.
Since I had a broken blade on hand, I used it to lay out the blade size and dimensions. I put it back in place and measured from tip to the end of the blade back on the hand. It then cut the stick to size.
Next I laid the existing blade on the stick with the tips lined up. There is a slight curve to the blade, but you don't have to go by that. Feel free to shape the blade as you see fit. I personally tried to keep them identical to the original. At the other end, I traced one of my cutoff wheels so it would match the cutout in the finger.
Here's the other catch - I only had one blade to go by. I decided to cut them all the same, then address the asthetics later. See a post further down for more on that...
Now to cut them out. Once again I went with a barrel sander to shape the stick based on my tracing of the original. Once that was done it is a simple task to dry fit the blade and adjust the cutout and/or blade as needed. Next you just use the finished blade to cut all the others out.
-
Step 3: dry fit and adjustment
Now you can fit in the blades to the hand and see where you stand. If you followed the original blade outline for your plunge cut, you should have a snug fit. As you can see on my dry fit, the fingers need a little trimming to tie in better with the actual flipper blade. I'll trim down the ring finger blade a bit, but that's about it.
Once you are happy with how the blades look as a complete unit, it's time to spray bomb them with some silver paint.
More tomorrow assuming I'm not at the hospital welcoming my new little gameroom helper into the world.
-
It's not the best game in the world, that's for sure. I don't care much for it.
-
I finished this up and installed it yesterday. I am very pleased with the results. I used a metallic chrome spray paint. Now I need to polish the actual metal flipper because it looks like crap next to the new blades. I also did trim down the ring finger blade to better transition to the flipper.
Sorry for the pic quality, but all I have right now is my camera phone.
Also, if anyone wants this done to their hand but is afraid to do it, I'd be happy to do it for you for a nominal fee.
Now onto my next custom Freddy project, which I will post about once I have some progress.
-
Now that the game works perfectly, I'll up my rating just a little. Still not great, but I might knock it out of my bottom 5. I do like the claw save. It's one of my favorite ball save features and very well implemented.
-
It isn't mine. I'm fixing/shopping it for the guy I bought my Jurassic Park off of. Man...the op that 'fixed' this Freddy did some real classy hack repairs. Some people should not ever repair things.