WHERE PRECISION MEETS PLAY
Restoration is at the core of Jakers Precision Pinball Restorations.
As a boutique shop, this is for collectors who care about their machines and
want them brought back to life with the same precision we give our own pins at home.
Each game that comes through is taken apart, gone through piece by piece,
and rebuilt from the ground up into a clean, reliable game that plays and feels the way it should.
The goal is simple. When a game leaves, it should feel like a Jaker’s Pin.
Each project is handled with patience and attention to detail,
resulting in games that not only look great, but feel right after pushing that start button.
Every restoration starts by making sure the machine works properly. Before anything is taken apart, I track down problems, fix underlying issues, and get the game stable and dependable. This step ensures the machine is working correctly before restoration begins and helps avoid issues later in the process.
Once the machine is fully working and any issues are resolved, the focus shifts to the playfield. This is where most of the restoration work happens. I strip the playfield completely and go through every assembly, mech, and part, deciding what needs to be repaired, replaced, repainted, or reused to bring the game back to the way it should be.
When possible, the game is rebuilt on a brand new playfield. From there, everything is transferred over carefully and intentionally. New braided wire is ran for all GI and insert lights. Mechs are cleaned, rebuilt, and adjusted. Hardware is tumbled or replaced as needed, and playfield plastics are replaced with a new set whenever they’re available. Ramps are repaired or replaced as necessary, all ball guides are polished, and the entire wire harness is removed and cleaned. Socketed insert lighting is replaced with PCB LED boards for consistency and long-term reliability. Playfield rails are repainted during this process, helping tie everything together so the game not only plays right, but looks right too.
Once assembly is complete, the focus shifts to dialing everything in so the game plays right and looks the way it should.
Cabinet restoration is all about taking the cabinet down to a bare shell and building it back up. I start by removing all the hardware, electronics, and wiring to get a clean slate. Then it’s a process of stripping off the old paint or decals and fixing any dents, dings or damage to the wood.
Once the cabinet’s smooth (after plenty of sanding), I apply new artwork using either stencils and paint or decals, depending on the machine’s era. I like to keep some of the wood’s natural texture, so I don’t go for a super glossy automotive finish. A matte clear coat seals everything up and keeps the look feeling right for the game.
When I put everything back together, I install new ground wiring and clean and polish all the metal parts. For older machines, I upgrade the leg brackets for a little more stability. In the end, it’s all about making sure the cabinet looks clean and finished in a way that matches the quality of the entire restoration.
I document the entire teardown and restoration process from start to finish. You’ll receive those photos for
your personal records, so you can see exactly what
went into the work and have a complete visual
history of your machine’s restoration.
Thinking about a restoration? Let’s talk about your game and what it needs. I’m always happy to chat about pinball.
These machines were meant to be played, not parked.
Here you’ll find a mix of behind-the-scenes moments and finished shots of games back in action. More detailed work can be found in the Full Restorations and Shop Work & Service sections.
Because sometimes a finished pinball machine deserves its own highlight reel.
Using my background in video production and animation, I offer a VIP package that captures the finished machine in a more cinematic way and creates a lasting record of your machine at its best.
I’m Jake, known in the pinball community as jakers on Pinside. I’ve been involved in the pinball hobby for over 10 years, but working with my hands goes back much further. Even as a kid, I was always taking things apart just to see how they worked, VCRs, toys, anything I could get into. That mindset eventually led me into the arcade world, where I spent years learning how to repair and restore cabinets, electronics, and mechanical systems.
My path into pinball really took hold when I bought my first machine, The Simpsons Pinball Party. Not long after that, my arcade games started to fade out, replaced by the much more interesting world of switches, coils, and blinking lights. I was hooked. Pinball brought everything together, and I enjoy the process just as much as the result, paying attention to the small details that make a game look great and play right.
What I enjoy most is the hands-on work. Tearing a game down, finding what actually needs attention, rebuilding assemblies, and putting everything back together with care. I take my time with each project and focus on doing things the right way so the game is reliable, plays consistently, and feels the way it should.
Jakers Precision Pinball Restorations is built for collectors who care about their games and want them treated with the same patience, pride, and respect I give my own machines. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out.
