Topic: Warped side wall?

[SgtStank]

I recently picked up a couple of grey marble coin-ops that I’m guessing are 2005-2006 or so models and have been restoring/upgrading them. I’ve started on the second one and noticed once I got it out of the trailer and into some light, there is some oddball warping of one end of one of the side walls (most pronounced at the corner). I don’t recall having seen this before, and it seems to encompass the mdf as the wall isn’t dead anywhere along the warped area and ball may even rebound faster there than from any other wall on the table. The table is in pretty solid condition otherwise after a lot of cleaning and hardware replacement. (Couldn't get images to embed, but you can click the links below to see them)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ytitxcV2ETHkZVNRoG-mnlqpkJNRIwrm/preview
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vxHOzTMdmgQe3HpsXjMcmYG8lSLj74bc/preview
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hPBUV_21Wd3Xg3QUFfAngmGfytHoBneS/preview
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dx41oNudgFl1dJwY2jbS__SyuvUTjoej/preview
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15gwR81YS8Sl7D1BHwq97TA0sXIbM-hkQ/preview
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10jW74PaFCdff47Qwr6uGMcGUDzJY_e2f/preview

I’m curious if anyone else has seen this and if there are any reasonable methods to correct the issue. Both tables came out of bars and were full of dirt and candy and cigarettes and broken glasses and years of drinks poured down them that were subsequently attempted to remedy by dumping a trash can in as a chaser, BUT they had good playfields and cabinets and all Merkel rods.

The first one now has all of the T3000 updates and plays beautifully and I was looking to get both of them to that state. If this wall warping proves too bothersome to remedy and negatively effects play in any way, I suppose I can always sell it. There are a couple of 30th Anniversary models available for sale here now and I could easily replace this one I guess.

[JimWaterman]

Pics look good.  Thanks for post and sharing your puzzle.   I'm not a hands on authority in doing this kind of work.  Over there years there are three top strategies for "swollen MDF boards or swollen particle board stuff".   
A) Remove laminate, sand, sand, sand and reattach laminate.
B) Disassemble and exposed MDF from underside of sidewall - saw out gap in sidewall, fill gap with glue and clamp, clamp, clamp sidewalls with straight rails to compress back to straight walls.
C) Sell used game and upgrade to game with true walls.

Keep up the posts, look forward to hear about option A or B if you attempt them!

Some folks will reference "cabinet repair searches"...
... https://www.hometalk.com/1522864/q-my-cabinets-are-pressed-wood-swollen-from-water-how-do-i-repair
... https://www.thisoldhouse.com/21097229/repairing-a-built-in-cabinet


Cheers... Jim

[alaskan thunder]

Having repaired and or refurbished a bunch (40-50 at this point) of tables, I would personally sell the table or just keep in in that state versus trying to repair. Unless you have some serious cabinetry skills, you are likely to end up causing more harm than good if you go down that path. MDF is really hard to repair correctly IMO.

[JimWaterman]

... MDF is really hard to repair correctly IMO.

1 vote (with 40x experience points multiplier)  for Option C  :-)