Ever notice how the little details make the biggest difference?
If you’re restoring or shopping your pinball machine, you’ve probably focused on the big things first — the cabinet, the playfield, maybe even chrome or powder coating your side rails.
But there’s one upgrade most people miss that can really tie everything together: replacing your plastic channels with steel ones.
Why Plastic Channels Don’t Age Well
Over time, the original plastic lift and U-channels on most pinball machines become brittle, discolored, or warped. They might do the job, but they’re far from show-ready — and if you’ve already invested in a full restoration or fresh powder coating, that plastic sticks out like a sore thumb.
If you’re serious about giving your machine a clean, complete look, those plastic parts are the first thing to go.
The Power of Small Details
Those small trim pieces around your glass and speaker panel are what frame the entire playfield. When they’re upgraded, the game looks finished — like it just rolled off the factory line (or better). When they’re left untouched, the whole machine feels half done.
Pro Tip: The best restorations pay attention to everything you can see and everything you touch.
Upgrade to Custom Steel Channels
We offer steel replacements for all major channel types:
-
Lift Channel — sits at the bottom of your back glass and lets you remove it safely.
-
U-Channel (Speaker Panel) — frames the top of the speaker and DMD panel.
-
Glass Channel — holds the playfield glass and gives a clean, finished edge.
Shop all pinball channels → Pinball Plating
Each piece is made from steel instead of plastic, so it not only looks sharper but lasts longer.
Finishes That Match Any Restoration
We plate or powder coat these channels in finishes like chrome, brass, and black to match your existing hardware. Whether you’re working on a Bally/Williams or Stern machine, we have both standard and wide-body sizes available.
They’re easy to install — just remove the staples holding the plastic channel, line up the new metal one, and fasten it with simple screws (¼-inch or Phillips both work fine). The result looks seamless once the glass is in place.
Did You Know?
Plastic channels were stapled into place on older machines — but using screws instead makes future maintenance much easier.
When to Upgrade
If you’re already restoring your game — repainting the cabinet, redoing your side rails, or powder coating your lock bar — that’s the perfect time to add metal channels.
They tie everything together visually and protect those edges from wear over time.
See the Difference for Yourself
Once you replace those plastic pieces, you’ll notice it right away: the game feels more solid, more complete. It’s one of those subtle upgrades that takes a “nice” restoration and makes it great.
Ready to take your machine to the next level? Check out our full selection of channels and finishes → PinballPlating.com