After the basics, you're ready to start working on the good stuff! Like I said, much of our design was trial and error.



Adding Springs

Springs are a great way to add some extra bounce to your playing field. We added some springs across the back of the field so that the ball would come back to the player faster. To do this, we simply attached two small hooks to the sides of the structure and stretched a spring across it. We also used a spring behind the paddles closest to the player. If the ball rolls back through the paddles with enough force, it will bounce back into the playing field! Experiment with the height of the springs. If it's too high or too low, it wont work correctly.



In addition, rubber bands can also work well.



Adding Bumpers

After testing out a few different things, we settled on using Super Bouncy Balls from Five Below to act as bumpers. First we drilled 1/2" holes through the balls and into the melamine. Then we put a bolt through the ball and melamine and bolted it through using 3" carriage bolts. Remember to top them off with bolt protectors.



Adding Blockades

Another easy way to make the pinball machine more fun is by adding some wooden blocks to the playing field. These blocks can maneuver the balls different ways.



Jazzing It Up

One of the best ways to make your pinball machine unique is by adding your own art or giving it a nice ol' paint job. We used exterior glossy paint to give the machine a nice finish. I also added some art work to the top. My boyfriend is a big fan of Futurama, so I decided to go with that theme. Be careful about adding paint to the playing field since even the smallest imperfections can cause the ball to roll differently. Also, if you use melamine, do not use acrylic paint on it. It will peel right off. Outdoor paint works well.

