Pinball Coffee Table

[dstone]

Just thought I'd share a project I finished up. A local arcade was throwing out a pinball machine that had been stripped down (nothing left but the playfield, a few solenoids, and a transformer in the box); I picked it up and used the playfield as a centerpiece for a coffee table. Work log is here.

   

   

This has been quite a fun project stretched over a two year period (there were a few months when no progress was made while I focused on school). It's been quite enjoyable and extremely educational.

[HaRuMaN]

Wow.  Cool idea.  I like that a lot....   

[Queeg]

Very nice, I like the fact that you used the original coffee table glass as the overlay instead of plexi or something else.

[drventure]

Very cool idea.

Does it actually play or is it just for the effect?

Either way, it's a very nice build! Great job!

I've been wanting to do something similar with a big LCD and make it a playable virtual pinball coffee table, but that's a whole other project...

[severdhed]

very awesome

[newman25]

That is very cool.  I bet it is a great conversation piece too. 

[dstone]

Thanks, everyone. It does make a great conversation piece, either about the gaming aspect or the woodworking aspect of it. The table is completely non-playable, it only lights up (I've been amazed at how often that question comes up; it would be rather cool, though). All the circuit boards were gone (all the glass as well) and some of the solenoids had quite a bit of damage from years of wear. The body and head were still in decent shape, however the cost to acquire all the missing parts would have been substantially more than if I were to purchase a nice working Firepower outright.

I used a Plexi top on the cocktail MAME machine I built, got scratched up rather quickly and knew I would have to use glass for anything else that I did. I did, however, use Plexi on the bottom so the lights create a nice soft glow on the lower shelf.

I suppose I should add that all the small photos are click-able to enlarge, however my web uplink is a bit slow and can sometimes be a bit unstable.

[Angry_Radish]

That looks great!
I'm planning on doing a wall box similar to what you did with a table, now I'm wondering if I shouldn't build a table instead 

[bleargh]

Ok, that's a freakin awesome idea....

* bleargh now goes to look around and see if he can find a playfield anywhere within 100km...

[Shortbus]

that is very awesome and unique. I like it alot, especially at night, gives the room a warm feeling, like christmas, always.

I wish I had an arcade that was throwing anything out......I'll take it.

[ammitz]

very nice build

[Ryglore]

Oh wow. that looks amazing! I swear the things on this site never cease to amaze me.   

[spOOf]

This would also be a great idea for a bartop... 

[BamBam]

Quite possibly one of the best woodworking projects I have seen.
Excellent work. 

[BamBam]

That looks great!
I'm planning on doing a wall box similar to what you did with a table, now I'm wondering if I shouldn't build a table instead 

The window box for that table would look awesome, especially if she was lit up.  Courier it up to Canada.  I am sure I have room in the family room for it.

[Trebeck]

Wow I am really impressed with this idea.  I may have to put my jukebox on hold......

 

[ChadTower]

A Black Rose playfield that doesn't have cannon wear all the way into the wood should find a home in a real machine... not many of those around.   

[Angry_Radish]

It looks great in that pic, not up close 

The host cabinet was outdoors for a bit:



That being said, I stripped the playfield saving the ramps, and all other parts, the playfield is on a shelf next to a poor condition stripped STTNG playfield that was out in the same conditions, need one?