Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Pinball => Topic started by: HanoiBoi on October 22, 2010, 07:57:12 am

Title: Lockdown bar, Side Rails: Custom? Sizes? (Virtual Pinball build)
Post by: HanoiBoi on October 22, 2010, 07:57:12 am

I'm embarking on a Virtual Pinball build.  I've done quite a bit of reading and just about everyone says build the table around the lockdown bar.  I don't have that luxury as my build is drivin by the TV size and I don't want too much extra space between the sides.

So, does anyone know if custom made lockdown bars are available?  If so, where?  Or, does anyone know where to find lockdown bars that are about 24"?


The standard 22 1/4" is too small for my needs and a 25" widebody is too big as my decased TV is 21 3/4" wide and I'm using 3/4" ply for the sides (x2) which brings my total width to 23 1/4".

Title: Re: Lockdown bar: Custom? Sizes? (Virtual Pinball build)
Post by: Dazz on October 22, 2010, 11:47:01 am

Yeah, your best bet is to go with a widebody lockdown and build from there.  If you wanted a custom bar then you'd need to seek out a metal working shop and they would have to fabricate one. That could get pretty expensive.

Title: Re: Lockdown bar: Custom? Sizes? (Virtual Pinball build)
Post by: HanoiBoi on October 22, 2010, 01:54:34 pm

True, the locking mechanism is not as important.  If need be, I could attach with heavy duty velcro (like interlocking 3M, as seen with EZPASS mounts).

I have no idea what the cost could be from a metal shop, or what the process would entail, but if a 24" isn't available, I imagine I would inquire about shortening a widebody lockdown (cut, weld, 'blend to seamless'?), rather than starting from scratch.

Title: Re: Lockdown bar: Custom? Sizes? (Virtual Pinball build)
Post by: HanoiBoi on October 29, 2010, 07:08:16 am

I think I'm going to go with the standard lockdown bar.  To do so, I'll need to cut out the sides of the cabinet to fit the TV on top.  Since the TV is essentially the same width, the sides of the TV will be visible without side rails in place.

The biggest con to this method is that I won't be able to experiment with the viewing angle as the side cab cuts would determine the TV placement.

Okay, to do this, I need side rails that are 3" deep.  I thought these were 'standard' as this is what's on the 2 machines that I have.  I ordered side rails online, but they turned out to be just about 1 5/16" deep.  (Unfortunately, most online stores do not show measurements of the side rails)

Can someone tell me where I can find the side rails that I need?  They'd be 3" deep, have a hole for the flipper button and be pretty solid.  (The ones I received seem pretty thin).

Title: Re: Lockdown bar, Side Rails: Custom? Sizes? (Virtual Pinball build)
Post by: jennifer on October 29, 2010, 08:51:53 pm

      Custom made parts make the difference between hey, thats cool and WOW. A few well placed dollars shouldn"t hurt to bad.