I was very busy Saturday and didn't get much done. Tonight I made up for it.
So, since I have committed to fixing this swiss cheese POS, I have gone ahead and bought all the required new parts:
* leg levelers/plates
* cap kit for the monitor/pcb
* kickplate decal
* cpo/cp bolts
* bezel
* marquee
* t-molding
* free play coin door inserts
* joystick grommet
* buttons
...everything else I should be able to refurbish. With the possible exception of this vandalized coin door...anybody have recommendations on how to fix this?:
![](https://i.imgur.com/pulqxML.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/tIW6aIv.jpg)
I went ahead and glued in the back panel. I also drilled (most) of what I need for leg levelers and the casters I am adding.
Pac-Man is missing the handles/wheel of Ms. Pac, so moving it is a ---smurfette---. Since I have already had to throw "all original" out the window...
The leg levelers I bought were advertised as 2.75" plates. Most I see are 3"...I couldn't find a drill template online, so I marked out 3" square and at least got the center hole ready.
I couldn't mount the front wheels; I need flat 1/4 bolts. Nuts on the bottom are too long to allow the wheels to swivel, and the carriage bolts I have won't flush up since the holes are round. Yet *another* trip to Home Depot required:
![](https://i.imgur.com/3f1aCz0.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/0vu9qdI.jpg)
I also sanded my mis-cut flush. Were the bottom front corners slightly rounded? Anyone wanna chime in and tell me the radius?
![](https://i.imgur.com/EOSvZP4.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/uMYgrcs.jpg)
So, The cabinet definitely needs some wood hardener. Spots of the edges are de-laminating, and the top is crumbling:
![](https://i.imgur.com/ePcmrDD.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/hkBjSPI.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/Z98zWu6.jpg)
The upper back is also in rough shape and will have to be addressed. The paint is just flaking off:
![](https://i.imgur.com/kXLIZI1.jpg)
So I begin washing the edges in hardener, using clamps of the more iffy edges of the plywood:
![](https://i.imgur.com/9lwBCh1.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/8jMAhg5.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/yxhlkjO.jpg)
This is a LOT of work I am going through, I have to remind myself that the side art is intact and in really good condition, and when I am done, half of what's visible will be original. It keeps me motivated:
![](https://i.imgur.com/66lQU3f.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/FHPFQ55.jpg)
So this cab is massively more screwed than I originally thought. Using my nail test, I went through and prepped: I dug out all of the eaten trails. It's *bad*...luckily, the other side will be better:
![](https://i.imgur.com/FoWsD5u.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/hz3aPW3.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/Q0Lb50z.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/0cKGcvo.jpg)
...so I sanded the front, top, and back of the cab. The top is *really* rough:
![](https://i.imgur.com/ZUxOrXj.jpg)
After sanding it , I give it another coat of wood hardener:
![](https://i.imgur.com/HEonEwE.jpg)
I just can't win! The insects have eaten *everywhere*!:
![](https://i.imgur.com/824iFRx.jpg)
I gave the top another sand. This is over an hour, and there's still *lots* of pitting. I an going to have to skim coat it in filler.
I should've gotten a belt sander. The time I spent on this piece so far would've made up for it alone:
![](https://i.imgur.com/08TGSpm.jpg)
The back was in a reasonable shape, but it didn't escape getting eaten, either:
![](https://i.imgur.com/ng2NBt7.jpg)
While bondo is the conventional repair material,I am trying to save the art, which means I can't be excessively sanding.
So for the brunt of the filling, I chose "Liquid Wood"...no mixing, and a squeeze tube to deliver it directly where I need it. Not as good as bondo, but in this case, it's worth it. Round 1:
![](https://i.imgur.com/hJ4SiTW.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/Aal3R5P.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/3vU1T1X.jpg)
...using a random door shim:
![](https://i.imgur.com/J03zFAv.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/Z07mGBo.jpg)
...filled in the back, side, and front with the first coat:
![](https://i.imgur.com/hye4FAu.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/b8GBPyY.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/HYKvjiu.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/Zl0mQGK.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/6OewB9D.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/CPblxq1.jpg)
...I'll get it up on it's feet when I get more bolts and the leg levelers.
There's still plenty left to do, but I feel like there is an end in sight.