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.

[coreys429]

I always wanted to do something like this. I think it would be neato if I could do that someday.

[TNTPLUST]

Very Cool

[MachineGex]

That is very cool, good job!

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Awesome!

Does it generate a lot of (or any noticeable) heat?

Does the electricity run clean/quiet or does it buzz/hum when it's powered up?

[dstone]

Thanks, everyone. The process of building it was extremely fun, there's just something relaxing about woodworking.

The only time I have managed to get the transformer to buzz or hum was when I had it on a dimming circuit (one of those X10 things) and would dim it down to just a few steps before it would turn off completely. I don't use it with a dimmer, though, I was just curious to see how it would react. I've left it on all day several times, it does get a little warm but nothing that I would really worry about. My last company laptop generated more heat than this does. But, as a precaution, there is a 1/8-inch gap between the sides and the top frame to allow for air flow under the glass. The transformer has remained just ever-so-slightly warm to the touch throughout all the testing.

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.

[Videogamerdaryll]

AWESOME!!!

That is soo Coool..I gotta show my Dad this.


................................

[jb143]

The only time I have managed to get the transformer to buzz or hum was when I had it on a dimming circuit (one of those X10 things) and would dim it down to just a few steps before it would turn off completely. I don't use it with a dimmer, though, I was just curious to see how it would react. I've left it on all day several times, it does get a little warm but nothing that I would really worry about. My last company laptop generated more heat than this does. But, as a precaution, there is a 1/8-inch gap between the sides and the top frame to allow for air flow under the glass. The transformer has remained just ever-so-slightly warm to the touch throughout all the testing.

Looks really nice, the only suggestion that I'd make (if you didn't do it already) is to put a fuse in the circuit.

[dstone]

Looks really nice, the only suggestion that I'd make (if you didn't do it already) is to put a fuse in the circuit.

The mains come in and go through a fuse, a line filter, the switch, then into the transformer which steps it down to the 6.3v AC for the lighting. That goes through another fuse and finally to the lighting. All the fuses are sized accordingly.

[jb143]

The mains come in and go through a fuse, a line filter, the switch, then into the transformer which steps it down to the 6.3v AC for the lighting. That goes through another fuse and finally to the lighting. All the fuses are sized accordingly.

Nice to hear...don't have to worry about your cool looking coffie table burning down now.

[dstone]

Yeah, when I was working on the electrical portion, I could envision the table bursting into flames in the middle of the living room. Not likely to happen, but still didn't want to take any chances.

[madman77]

That looks great, looks really well put together from a wood working perspective as well.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I don't have much to add other than "Awesome." How cool is it, that you turned a piece of gaming history that was undoubtedly going to be trashed, into something useful that'll live on for a long time? Maybe it's just me, but if you found the right type of buyers, this looks like a very sellable product. To me, it's a "found art" masterpiece. Any idea how much time and money you put into it? Although I'll venture a guess and say that soon-to-be-trashed playfields aren't easy to come by.

[Flashback2012]

As a pinball fan, I have to say that is most excellent looking.

[slapdash]

Oh, I like it... If only I had the talent to make one of my own, or the money to hire one out...

[JohnnyBlaze]

A Firepower coffee table? You sir are teh roxxorz! Anyways, too bad you can't play it. But, it still is awesome nonetheless. It would probably make a great heirloom too. BTW, since you're in school, any plans to use this as a term project or something toward your degree?

[boatofcar]

I don't have much to add other than "Awesome." How cool is it, that you turned a piece of gaming history that was undoubtedly going to be trashed, into something useful that'll live on for a long time? Maybe it's just me, but if you found the right type of buyers, this looks like a very sellable product. To me, it's a "found art" masterpiece. Any idea how much time and money you put into it? Although I'll venture a guess and say that soon-to-be-trashed playfields aren't easy to come by.

QFT. I know anytime someone makes something cool, tons of people suggest they make more to sell, but this really seems like something a lot of man caves are begging for! If you factored in labor cost, how much would you charge for one of these if you did decide to sell them?

[dstone]

any plans to use this as a term project or something toward your degree?

Don't really have any classes that something like this would work with, as I've already finished my mechanical design capstone project and am now working on a degree in broadcasting.

As for how much I could sell one for, I'd have to dig out a few receipts and run all the numbers again, as I've added a few parts since the last time I had it figured out. Hardest part would be tracking down more playfields, but I've got a friend that has a lead on some more.

[dstone]

If you factored in labor cost, how much would you charge for one of these if you did decide to sell them?

I ran the numbers last night, it looks like I could sell these for around $600. Costs would fluctuate a tad depending on the playfield, though.

[boatofcar]

That's not a bad price at all, depending on the kind of wood you use.