These are Playfield Jacks...

Cary Hardy·video·4m 46s·analyzed·Mar 16, 2023

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.016

TL;DR

Performance Pinball Playfield Jacks reviewed as premium alternative to DIY lifting method.

Summary

Cary Hardy reviews Performance Pinball's new Playfield Jacks, a premium aftermarket lifting tool for pinball machine playfields. He compares them to his previous DIY method using cheap clips, explains the installation process, discusses compatibility with modded cabinets, and demonstrates how they enable both maintenance access and continued gameplay testing.

Key Claims

Performance Pinball's Playfield Jacks are significantly more expensive than the DIY method using 88-cent clips
high confidence · Cary Hardy explicitly states cost difference but declines to quote prices due to changes over time
Playfield Jacks are compatible with modded cabinets through optional extra piece kits that accommodate wider mods like PIN Graphics blades and PIN Stadium lighting
high confidence · Hardy demonstrates removal of inner portions to fit PIN Graphics blades and references optional kit availability
The Playfield Jacks maintain proper playfield angle for continued gameplay testing during maintenance work
high confidence · Hardy demonstrates playing the machine while playfield is lifted on jacks, showing regular ball physics remain functional
Installation is straightforward and marked with R and L arrows for proper orientation
high confidence · Hardy describes installation process as 'close to dummy proof' with clear directional markings
The product is manufactured from very rigid, strong material capable of securely holding a lifted playfield
high confidence · Hardy physically demonstrates material durability and playfield stability on the jacks

Notable Quotes

“Little did I know that it was going to be such a big help to a lot of you and i think a part of that was that it was easy to do and the tools required for it were pretty cheap”
Cary Hardy@ 1:05 — Explains why his original DIY lifting method gained traction in the community before commercial alternatives emerged
“Yes if you want to continue using the method I use using the 88 cents clips and they work fine for you then go ahead. This is merely an option.”
Cary Hardy@ 1:39 — Hardy maintains position that his budget DIY method remains viable, not positioning jacks as necessary upgrade
“If you're working on something and you want to be able to test it out and still be able to play it while having full access to your playfield then definitely this is a great option for you.”
Cary Hardy@ 4:12 — Identifies the key competitive advantage: playfield jacks enable simultaneous maintenance access and gameplay testing

Entities

Cary HardypersonPerformance PinballcompanyPIN GraphicsproductPIN StadiumproductStern PinballcompanyPlayfield Jacksproduct

Signals

?
community_signal: Cary Hardy's original DIY playfield lifting video gained significant traction with the pinball community, prompting commercial manufacturer to develop professional solution based on the method
high · Performance Pinball explicitly took Hardy's demonstrated method and improved upon it with commercial product; Hardy notes 'it was going to be such a big help to a lot of you'
?
product_strategy: Performance Pinball's Playfield Jacks represent a premium solution differentiating from Hardy's budget-friendly DIY method through professional engineering, optional modular kit compatibility, and built-in safety features
high · Hardy demonstrates optional extra piece kits, clamping security features, and rigid construction not available in DIY clips approach
?
technology_signal: Emergence of specialized playfield handling equipment addressing accessory ecosystem complexity caused by modded cabinets (PIN Graphics, PIN Stadium, Mirror Blades) requiring adaptive solutions
medium · Performance Pinball developed optional piece kits specifically to accommodate cabinet width variations from modern mods, indicating industry-level response to modding ecosystem

Topics

Aftermarket playfield maintenance toolsprimaryDIY vs. commercial solutions in pinballprimaryPlayfield access and machine servicingprimaryCompatibility with modded cabinetssecondaryPlayfield angle maintenance during worksecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.82)— Hardy provides a favorable review of the Playfield Jacks while maintaining objectivity by acknowledging higher cost and positioning them as optional rather than necessary. Positive tone about product quality and functionality; neutral stance on DIY alternatives.

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.014

Thank you. what's up guys and welcome back to my channel where i talk and do everything pinball now a couple of months ago i created the video showing everyone how i go about lifting a play field to perform certain work obviously on certain games and for instance spike 2 from stern it gives you complete top side access for whenever you need to work on your machine whether becoming like cleaning or installing mods. This is just a task and a way I went about doing it. I decided to share it with all of you Now little did I know that it was going to be such a big help to a lot of you and i think a part of that was that it was easy to do and the tools required for it were pretty cheap now performance pinball has decided to take that method and improve upon it by developing playfield jacks now let me go ahead and get this out of the way yes these do cost significantly more than the method that I use. So let's get this out of the way guys. Yes if you want to continue using the method I use using the 88 cents clips and they work fine for you then go ahead. This is merely an option. I'm not going to tell you the price on the video because prices change over time and then I have to go back and edit the video per the maker's request but I will put links in the video description down below. So with that being said let's talk a little bit more about the materials on this product. This is very tough. I mean you can hear that it's you know very rigid, strong, definitely no issues when it comes to holding up my playfield like John Youssi behind me over here. Now the installation process is pretty straightforward He has it close to dummy proof so you should be able to figure it out with the R and L and arrows pointing accordingly Now every cabinet is not going to be the same width and that's mainly due to the mods that are available today. So, for instance, I have the pin graphics blades, and they do add some girth to the cabinet. Now, so that means that the inner portion of the playfield jack is going to have to be removed in order for it to fit. Now, the piece that I'm installing here is part of the optional extra piece kit that is available on the website. For mods like that or pin stadiums and mirror blades can be allotted for with this particular extra piece that can be removed. All you have to do is lift your plate field out and make sure it is secure on your lockdown bar receiver like so. Once you know those are in position then you should be able to grab the handle on the back of your plate field and lift this up and slide the playfield jacks on each side and then lower the playfield down onto the playfield jacks and your plate field is secure you can wiggle it around move it around beat on it it not going anywhere if you want the extra security option then by all means you can clamp down the play field where the lockdown receiver is touching the play field rails you can use some sort of grips biscripts or whatever or clamp and clamp those to the cabinet to just give you the extra security feature of it not going anywhere but unless you're doing something completely like obtuse than normal work on your machine I think you're going to be okay without the extra security and of course in this position with the playfield jacks you are still able to test play your game it has your playfield at an angle so therefore you still have the regular play of a pinball machine so if you're working on something and you want to be able to test it out and still be able to play it while having full access to your playfield then definitely this is a great option for you. If you would like to pick up your own set of Playfield Jacks, I will put links in the description down below. And thank you very much to Performance Pinball for sending me a pair of these so that way I can show all of you how they work and what they can do.