New Life Games Tech Forums

   The surface of many S2000 reel strips are water soluble and if you attempt to clean them with any liquid, it will destroy the strips.

Many owners have found this out the hard way.

(note to Mod, you may want to sticky this post or make your own)


Thanks,
Wayne

Guilty as charged...  :52- :52- :52-

Still looking for a nice set of Super Stars Spin reel strips if anyone can help.

Thanks,

Rob (the wrecker of strips)  :25- :25- :25-

Consider it stickied. :88-

I would add that this problem applies particularly, but not exclusively, to backlit reel strips.

StatFreak :31-
:nlg- Global Moderator

This also applies to early 5 reel IGT strips too.

So, is there a way to properly clean them?  :103-

What if something actually spilled on it (god forbid)?  :47- We have discussed dusting them, but not really cleaning them...

Also, maybe we should start a list of strips that are in danger of being damaged. I'll start:

IGT Super Stars Spin

Rob

The list would be endless.  Most of the IGT strips produced during a certain period of time were not protected.  Not sure what that period of time is but I have 2 sets of strips for Diamond Stars (which is the same game as Super Spin Sizzling 7s), one set is not protected and the other is a new set that is protected.

As I suggested in another thread, I think it may be from the time when IGT first introduced backlit reels, and the reels they used at first didn't have enough torque to spin a full-weight strip, so they left off the lamination layer.

MrBellMan  - Why don't you do this until you find real strips - scan the reels strips you have.  Using photoshop fix the damaged part and then go on to the whole strip and make sure they are perfect.  You can then bring the image to Kinkos and they will print out them out for you on large format paper.  You can use them as is  on the paper or laminate them.  -  If you can't fix them pm me and I'll do it for you. 

Your strips will look better than originals

I don't know if yours are backlit - this may not work then.

Has anyone tried denatured alcohol ?
It has no water in it like Isopropal alcohol.
If you have damaged strips, you can use them to test what will or will not damage them.

They are backlit strips... :-(

I love your idea though...

Rob

So, I had another thought regarding my reel strips... If it ends up that I truly can not find a decent replacement set of original strips and since EI (for the moment) is no longer reproducing IGT stuff, could I not just have EI make me a set of custom strips that "somewhat" match the symbols on my game? I know there have been a few custom kits made here on NLG. Bars and 7's I would think are no big deal, I would just have to come up with a new "Super Stars" logo/7...  :103-

Thoughts?

Rob

If the design is your original artwork and not copied from IGT symbols, then there should be no problem at all.

Isn't any kind of alcohol a solvent though? I would assume it would still dissolve the coating and inks.

 Dan (tacman)

I would still be more inclined to make my own.  There are many smart people in this forum -  I would find a material that I could cut out to put as the back of the strip to only allow the light through the symbol. 

1st I would try black paper.  Cut the symbol match it up for the back and laminate.   A lot of work - yes but the fruits of your labor will be enjoyed for many years. 

I may actually try this...   :89-

We have a Tap Plastic store by us and I know they have plastic film that can be used. Printing will be my issue..

"If" I do decide to do this and they turn out OK, I will well document my progress for others to follow if needed.

Thanks,

Rob (who hopes EI gets permission to make IGT stuff again)  :131-  :131-  :131-

FedEx Kinkos will print the correct size for you.  I think it's around $12 here for a full sheet.

It sounds like you have done something like this before.  :3- :3- :3-

Can you or anyone chime in with some tips before I get started? What plastic to use, how to cut to size, what file format does Kinkos need, etc...? I have just scanned my "one good" reel strip, so I have all the graphics needed. I just need to touch them up. My plan is to make a regular set and add my own black backing as mentioned earlier, but I want to make sure the graphics are not too translucent that they wash out when the backlit lights come on.

Thanks,

Rob (who will now look for old threads about making reel strips)  :96-

This won't work.  The strips will be too thick to fit in the reel slots.  I have spray painted strips with matte black paint and that works.

Ah! Nice tip! Do you have other tips you can share with me before I get started?

Thanks,

Rob

My office has a HP designjet printer.  Right now we are running 38" wide paper on a roll, it can do up to 44. We also have some nice Vellum that appears semi-transparent. If you know anyone who works in a Engineering firm they should have equivelent access to the same.

Just as a suggestion I am thinking that if you were to spool two of each strip, you could then cut out the symbols on the second strip set and lay them on the back of the first strips symbols, perhaps tacking them down lightly with painters tape or other non-marking gum. You could then spray paint these and only the symbol would then be semi-transparent.

I know black is behind the IGT strips but I would wonder giving the semi-transparent nature of the Velumm if a white paint might not be more appropriate. All it has to do is block light.

Another thought that has been rattling around the back of the ol'knogen has been a reel strip generator.....
I am pretty lousy at doing the cut/paste thing and then evenly spacing the symbols and getting them right. Seems like work to me.
However assuming you had the correct number of symbols you could put these graphics in a Excel Spread Sheet then do a mail merge into word.
You would create a WORD document for each strip set and then the Excel sheet is just your collection of graphics named Symbol1, Symbol2, Symbol3, etc.
This would allow you to use any graphic with any reel strip set and the output would be printer ready.

Just to kick this off....
What is the length and width of reel strip ? What are the square dimensions of a reel strip symbol ? what are the square dimensions of a virtual stop....

Hi Guys I'm new to all this but this is what I did.
I had a set of strips made for a machine I put together and they were thick. The printer laminated a thin coat of the graphics on plastic strips about 1/16" thick. I sanded the edges inn about 1/8 of a inch so they would slide in the rim of the reel basket. Because they were thick I had to roll the strips up for a week with a rubberband and leave in the sun to take shape. I thought they might be to heavy to spin but the machine has been working for 2 years. This was on a S Plus.

i know this is an older thread but i was reading it and had a thought, it may be totally dumb and not work but. i have found out too the hard way you cant clean these as the image seems to rub off. so if the strips are pretty much junk now anyway, why not clean them of all the ink. then like people have been saying scan then into the computer. then take the now cleaned reel strip to Kinko's with the scan and have them reprint the imagine back on the original strip? like i said i may be totally off on this but it was a thought i would post.

Holy Thread revival Batman!
I forgot all about this Jay...sorry
I had these measurements last year and never posted it up.
It's important that the CENTERS of the symbols stay at 2-1/2" apart.
It doesn't really matter how big or small they are...
as long as the centers of the symbols are 2-1/2" apart.
That way they line up perfectly on the line.
The top and bottoms are different.
Click on picture to enlarge!>>>

Wish I would have read this 2 months ago.............Since I ruined the strip, I found out if you just put the strip under running water, it will wash all of the laminate off, leaving you with nice new looking strips. The only drawback, you can see the lights glowing a little through the strips from the back lit reels. So I need some Triple Stars strips if anyone has some to sell!

We were up in Blackhawk yesterday at the Amerstar Casino. I was talking to some Slot tech's about I.G.T. back lit  reel strips. They said they believe that every I.G.T. with back lit strips on the floor were water soluble.  Even the new games like the GOLD FISH.
They thought it may have something to do with the heat generated by the  back lit  reels. They also said they weren't 100% sure.

Just thought I would add that.

I just found this thread and have a smaller problem with my Bally Proslot. It is a Diamond Line Double Blazing 7's, 2 coin machine. My center reel has the paint peeling off 2 of the 7's. They have never been cleaned and when the 7 comes up on the pay line you can see inside the reel cage. Where would I find what numbers the reel strips are and if they could be replaced?  :103-

I usually shine a light from behind the end of the strip to see the number.  They must be old strips.  If you list the symbols in order of each strip or post a pic, someone will likely have some.

Thanks,
Wayne

I suggest listing them in a new topic on the Bally reel slot board.

Thanks Stat I'll do that. I was just reading  the thread and wondered if this was a common problem across all the platforms i.e the not being able to clean and the fading crackling  peeling etc.  And jsut thrw in the sources. I'll move to the Bally Forum. :89-

A Lot of the Newer strips DO not dissolve under water or in water.   This was just some of my encounters.  B.

Yup.  I'm another one that found out the hard way.  Within about an hour of getting my new machine set-up, I figured I would clean everything with Windex.  My heart sunk when I saw the ink wash off the strip!  (anyone have any backlite strips for Triple Double Stars 3coin to sell?)  :)

-D

I may have a set.  You may have gotten  Lucky.
Please P.M. with you email adders  & I will send some photo's later today.

The only cleaner I use is  CRC HYDRO FORCE GLASS CLEANER. It will not fog up the film on the inside of the glass. it will work on WASHABLE REEL STRIPS with no problems. I use it on chrome & everything in the machine. Safelite Auto glass also has the same stuff.,I haven't checked their lately. It is a foam. Nicotine dissolves & wipes right off.

Many of use have learned the hard way.

Should never really use an amonia based products on reel strips as it may yellow over time.  If you must use a cleaner to get rid of stubborn stains, make sure you remove the residual with water.  As these machines become extinct in favor of the server based solutions with "lcd" based reels, you will not be able to replace them when they turn yellow and ugly.

On my washable strips (shiny face) I use Simple Green. I lay them on a counter top an spray them and wipe them off
with a paper towel in one direction before it dries. I turn them over and do the back side. If you wipe in both directions
they will fold up and put a crease in it. :37-

Ron (r273)

<edit> The tip off between the two kind of strips are high gloss finish is washable but the matt finish is NOT! If
           you are unsure do a very small edge and see if it becomes sticky or the matt finsh comes off.

For those reading this thread from the end, please see warning quoted..

 YEP :205- i killed a set of 5 reel Cleopatra strips  after i had a good cry :8- and temper tantrum :37- i found this site and the CLEANING REEL STRIP WARNING             ( DANGER WILL ROBERTSON DANGER ) That's for all who are older and remember

Rob,
I am really new to this but a sign shop should be able to duplicate the symbols that are no longer there so the backlight would still show through.  I have thought about doing this by getting a set of blank reel strips and making my own designs.  I would think a sign shop would make a couple symbols to help out.
Doogie

Good luck with that.
Any verifiable printing business wouldn't touch those symbols or strips with a ten foot pole
considering the symbols are copy-write protected designs.

Ask the owners of EI of what happened to them when Federal investigators
raided their printing shop one fine morning... :72-

I know this is a very old thread but after reading through it and not seeing anyone stating what could clean the reels without messing them up.

Baby wipes. Has to be non-alcohol type.

Those work on older non-washable S2000 strips?

We use them where I work when we PM games. We have a lot of old S2k and about 25 S+ coin games. I will get the brand name when I go back to work tomorrow.

Man, I'd tread lightly with some strips.  Some that I've seen barely have any clear coat at all and have a chalk like finish.  If you sneeze lightly on those, they'll smear.  Some cannot take any liquid at all.  Others will turn a milky white color when a damp cloth is applied, but even with those, I would be VERY careful.  If the strips are ultra rare to find, I wouldn't take the risk.

Jason

:212- :212- :212- :212- :212- :212- :212- :212- :212- :212- :212-

The Brand we use are huggies baby wipes. If you are unsure about them messing the stripes try and small area to be 100% sure on the very old ones.