View Full Version : Cleaning arcade cabinets
Pantechnicon
12-11-2003, 02:23 AM
I'm currently working on building two MAME cabinets for Christmas presents. After I remove the existing decals from the sides and fronts, what would be the best way to remove the adhesive residue from the cab walls? Is plain old hot soapy water sufficient or is there some arcane homemade solvent I need to whip up e.g. - white vinegar and bacon grease?
Videogamerdaryll
12-11-2003, 04:17 AM
Hmm..
I say some hot soapy water used with some scotch brite pads.
§ Gideon §
12-11-2003, 05:43 AM
Hoho! Some people must've been good this year to get MAME cabs!
BTW, I think this belongs in the Restoration Society forum.
Sniderman
12-11-2003, 06:36 AM
BTW, I think this belongs in the Restoration Society forum.
Capital idea, Tish!
<shimmy-shimmy-coco-bop>
sisko
12-11-2003, 08:58 AM
I dismanteled mine (took off the control panel, the glass, the marquee etc etc) and used several coats of windex, warm water, and lots of paper towels.
I also used about a can and a half of that air neutralizer stuff sprayed directly inside the cab to get rid of the musky smell (it was in a barn for 10 years).
It looks (and smells) great now!
ehall
12-11-2003, 09:07 AM
Goof off. Good Stuff.
Pantechnicon
12-11-2003, 09:52 AM
Thanks for the tips. Sorry for posting this in the wrong thread, your modness. :roll:
Pantechnicon
12-11-2003, 09:57 AM
Hoho! Some people must've been good this year to get MAME cabs!
One's for my sis-in-law, the other is for a friend actually paying for it. The latter fella is a well-connected guy around town, and I'm hoping that enough of his upwardly-mobile friends will see this thing in his house that they'll come beating down my door. I currently have enough empty cabs to make two more, possibly three, on top of the two in progress. A little post-Christmas cash is always welcome in Casa Retrotaku.
sisko
12-11-2003, 11:23 AM
Goof off. Good Stuff.
Never heard of this....is it like goo gone?
Still, I'd highly recommend staying away from chemicals when cleaning side art.
Fantastic, Goo Gone, 409, even Windex can destroy it, depending how its done. Just use warm water and sponge it down a few times.
FABombjoy
12-11-2003, 12:44 PM
(it was in a barn for 10 years)
Whew! Tell me about it!
When I got that cab (and the others) out of that barn, I brought a shop vac to give them all a preliminary cleaning. Now, every time I turn on the vacuum I'm instantly transported back to that hot summer day in the boondocks.
The mothballs really add to the boquet, too.
Goof Off is like Goo-Gone-Wild. More like turpentine than oranges. Reacts with many plastics. However, as long as it doesn't react with what you're using it on, it's guaranteed to remove whatever's stuck to it.
ehall
12-11-2003, 01:02 PM
Goof off. Good Stuff.
Never heard of this....is it like goo gone?
Still, I'd highly recommend staying away from chemicals when cleaning side art.
Fantastic, Goo Gone, 409, even Windex can destroy it, depending how its done. Just use warm water and sponge it down a few times.
http://www.goof-off.com/goofoff/PRODUCTS/goofoff.html
After I remove the existing decals from the sides and fronts, what would be the best way to remove the adhesive residue from the cab walls?
I would definetly not put this stuff near side art, but I since he's getting rid of that and just dealing with the remaining glue, this is good stuff. I would probably try some of the milder cleaners on the glue first, and if you decide to use something like this make sure to test that it won't remove the paint. It's strong stuff.....
username
12-11-2003, 01:40 PM
Hoho! Some people must've been good this year to get MAME cabs!
One's for my sis-in-law, the other is for a friend actually paying for it. The latter fella is a well-connected guy around town, and I'm hoping that enough of his upwardly-mobile friends will see this thing in his house that they'll come beating down my door. I currently have enough empty cabs to make two more, possibly three, on top of the two in progress. A little post-Christmas cash is always welcome in Casa Retrotaku.
Mind if I ask how much you're charging him?
Pantechnicon
12-11-2003, 04:26 PM
Mind if I ask how much you're charging him?
More than a new Playstation2, but less than a grand.
Pantechnicon
12-11-2003, 04:26 PM
Mind if I ask how much you're charging him?
More than a new Playstation2, but less than a grand.
Funk Buddy
12-11-2003, 05:10 PM
Mind if I ask how much you're charging him?
More than a new Playstation2, but less than a grand.
Wow! X_x That's a small ballpark. ;)
You can try Motsenbockers (sp?) Lift Off too, it's safe on plastics. I use it for all my carts to get rental stickers or price tags off. You could also try to find Un-Believable Un-Goo by Core products good stuff too.
Funk Buddy
12-11-2003, 05:10 PM
Mind if I ask how much you're charging him?
More than a new Playstation2, but less than a grand.
Wow! X_x That's a small ballpark. ;)
You can try Motsenbockers (sp?) Lift Off too, it's safe on plastics. I use it for all my carts to get rental stickers or price tags off. You could also try to find Un-Believable Un-Goo by Core products good stuff too.
Pantechnicon
12-12-2003, 02:36 AM
Mind if I ask how much you're charging him?
More than a new Playstation2, but less than a grand.
Wow! X_x That's a small ballpark. ;)
Ach. I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be flippant, merely discreet. Anyhow, thanks for the cleaning advice as well.
Pantechnicon
12-12-2003, 02:36 AM
Mind if I ask how much you're charging him?
More than a new Playstation2, but less than a grand.
Wow! X_x That's a small ballpark. ;)
Ach. I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be flippant, merely discreet. Anyhow, thanks for the cleaning advice as well.
sidgoop
12-12-2003, 08:08 AM
WD40 works just fine. Just spray it on, and wait a few minutes before wiping it off. It's not water-based, so it won't warp or seep into the wood on the sides of the cabinet.
sidgoop
12-12-2003, 08:08 AM
WD40 works just fine. Just spray it on, and wait a few minutes before wiping it off. It's not water-based, so it won't warp or seep into the wood on the sides of the cabinet.
Pantechnicon
12-21-2003, 05:01 PM
Warm soapy water and the light application of steel wool seemed to do the trick nicely. Thanks, guys.
ZackWIU
12-27-2003, 12:19 PM
WD40 works just fine. Just spray it on, and wait a few minutes before wiping it off. It's not water-based, so it won't warp or seep into the wood on the sides of the cabinet.
The only problem with using wd40 is that you are left with a big greasy mess afterwards.. I used wd40 on some window decals on my car and then had to spend the better part of an hour trying to get all of the greasy wd40 off of the window.