What's new
By:
Pinball info

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Cleaning My Playfield - Foam Cleaner & Carnuba Wax

Goodwinsplace

Goodwinsplace

Site Supporter
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
177
Location
Barry, Wales
Hi, Being a relative noobie to pinball I researched the hell out of playfield cleaning and waxing.
With most of the waxes and products suggested on YouTube and other places online aren't easily available here in the UK.
So after a load of head scratching and probably leaving my playfield dirty for longer than I should due to decision paralysis I jumped in feet first and I bought all the following on Amazon in the UK:

71UiNW7+COL._AC_SY879_.jpgAnti-Static Foam Cleaner (LINK)
Love this stuff, the US guys use either Naptha or Nuvos 1 for playfield cleaning. I've seen a couple of people use this foam and it worked a treat for me. Used in the corner first to test it wasn't going to strip anything and then went for it over playfield, plastics and even ramps. Worked great and easy to clean off with little mess as it doesn't run everywhere.


91-i+cDkiFL._AC_SY879_.jpgNovus 1, 2, 3 mini bottles (LINK)
Don't worry I bought as a kit and have only used a small spot of 1 and 2 on a stubborn mark since finishing my clean up. 3 I've used on other Game consoles and it will rip a hole in your playfield if you use it with any effort. Use 1 and 2 with caution, a solution for anything that the foam cleaner can't shift.


81b49ZNO7YL._AC_SX679_.jpgPoorBoy's Natty's Carnuba Paste Wax (LINK)
This was my biggest sticking point, I couldn't for the life of me find the Carnuba waxes being suggested, not without importing them and at a high cost. I researched loads of Carnuba waxes, both more expensive and some cheaper. This paste wax is great, only need a small amount on the cloth, polish in then light buff out and it came up great after 1 coat, given it a couple of coats now and it's looking glossy.

I am still very much a pinball noob, but used a lot of cleaning products and waxes on both classic and freshly painted motorbikes so get a bit obsessed in these areas.

Welcome any thoughts or a slap on the wrist if I've suggested anything wrong, just posting what worked for me and my experience with these products if anyone else is in cleaning paralysis like I was.

Edit: Video of the cleaning below now.
 
Last edited:
Neil McRae said:
just check that the wax has no silicon in it?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collinite-845-Insulator-Wax-473/dp/B000JK2D06/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=collinite+wax+476&qid=1676893582&s=automotive&sprefix=collinite,automotive,57&sr=1-6&th=1 is the wax I use typically.
Click to expand...
Cheers, I'll take a look but wanted a wax paste rather than liquid, more of a personal preference I think.

Yeah I checked, one rule I learnt early on with caring for motorbikes is that silicone can look nice but can be a nightmare down the lines, especially in the spraying world.
From the PoorBoy's website:
"All Poorboy's products are formulated to be used in or out of the sun. It contains no silicone."
 
FinalFight said:
Novus* 🙂👍
Click to expand...
Thanks, corrected! Can't even blame spell check that was all me.
Neil McRae said:
I try and avoid novus at all costs
Click to expand...
Yeah, the 3 pack could be dangerous. I've used it before and using it again now on a translucent Game Boy I'm working on for someone. It could do damage if not used in the right way, but equally useful if you have any stubborn marks and don't come off with foam cleaner. I had one target and one mark somehow on the traffic lights that it helped.
 
carl lawrence said:
Foam cleaner try pinball heaven ?
www.pinball.co.uk

Foaming spray cleaner - Pinball Heaven

Foaming spray cleaner. Great for shifting stubborn dirt on playfields/cabinets. We cannot ship this out of the UK!!!!! Or post by standard post due to new regulations. So if you have this in your basket, it will force you to take next day delivery!
www.pinball.co.uk www.pinball.co.uk
Click to expand...

crsedgar said:
For foam cleaners I have found this to be a really good reasonably price brand

pro-POWER
Click to expand...

Thanks both. Will look at these when I've used up this can.
 
I've only used the Ambersil foaming cleaner myself and liked that. 3M and automotive compounds for playfield polishing. And yeah any silicone free waxes in paste form, Gerlitz #1, it's just a bit of a pain getting it in the UK. Flame polishing plastics - NEVER - and Magic Erasers only in dire circumstances, like if you were going to be repainting anyway, otherwise don't.
 
Goodwinsplace said:
PoorBoy's Natty's Carnuba Paste Wax (LINK)
This was my biggest sticking point, I couldn't for the life of me find the Carnuba waxes being suggested, not without importing them and at a high cost. I researched loads of Carnuba waxes, both more expensive and some cheaper. This paste wax is great, only need a small amount on the cloth, polish in then light buff out and it came up great after 1 coat, given it a couple of coats now and it's looking glossy
Click to expand...
Bought some of this following your tip and have ro say its pretty impressive. Have only done one coat on the main playfield area of TFTC (easy to reach bits) and it's brought it up a treat 👍
 
PAX said:
Bought some of this following your tip and have ro say its pretty impressive. Have only done one coat on the main playfield area of TFTC (easy to reach bits) and it's brought it up a treat 👍
Click to expand...
Awesome. Glad you like it, mine is still looking awesome since cleaning and waxing.
 
I like MER polishing wax. Where I've done a playfield restoration and clearcoated it, etc 3 or 4 coats of this, using a foam mop-head really does give a nice finish. And once the pf is built, the odd hand polish every month or so keeps it looking good.
 
Doug said:
I like MER polishing wax. Where I've done a playfield restoration and clearcoated it, etc 3 or 4 coats of this, using a foam mop-head really does give a nice finish. And once the pf is built, the odd hand polish every month or so keeps it looking good.
Click to expand...
I thought about using a mop head, but as you say it would be easier on a new playfield but on a populated pf I'd be useless in trying to control it and not snap things.
Jb3d said:
Out of interest, why is silicone undesirable in a wax?
Click to expand...
My only knowledge is from when having cars painted that sprayers say the silicone is a nightmare to remove and new paint not securing to the surface. I think it used to hold moisture too, but I've been told that modern waxes don't cause this issue if used right. Others will have more knowledge on silicone.
 
Goodwinsplace said:
My only knowledge is from when having cars painted that sprayers say the silicone is a nightmare to remove and new paint not securing to the surface. I think it used to hold moisture too, but I've been told that modern waxes don't cause this issue if used right. Others will have more knowledge on silicone.
Click to expand...
It's exactly this - it effectively makes it impossible to restore the playfield in the future, as paint/clear-coat won't adhere to it properly. And because silicone is inert, it can't be removed by dissolving it in anything. It's very often in spray on furniture polish, so avoid them.
 
I wouldnt say it's impossible, but certainly difficult. One good tip to note is before you are thinking of doing a restoration, you should throughly degreaser it before anything else. A proprietary de-greaser, as used in refinishing car bodyshop, will do the job. Lots of people make the mistake of sanding or rubbing ( on a car but same principle) before its degreased. The heat, particularly from machine sanding, actually helps bury contaminants into the surface which in turn rise back when paint or a clear is put on top to then spoil the surface.
 
Doug said:
I wouldnt say it's impossible, but certainly difficult. One good tip to note is before you are thinking of doing a restoration, you should throughly degreaser it before anything else. A proprietary de-greaser, as used in refinishing car bodyshop, will do the job. Lots of people make the mistake of sanding or rubbing ( on a car but same principle) before its degreased. The heat, particularly from machine sanding, actually helps bury contaminants into the surface which in turn rise back when paint or a clear is put on top to then spoil the surface.
Click to expand...
IMG_20220716_153157530.jpg
Indeed, the hidden enemy 😔
IMG_20220721_074838355.jpg
 
My Star Wars Pro arrived today and the playfield/ramps could do with a clean. I've ordered some Pro Power foam cleaner, and already have some Novus 1, 2 and 3.

Opinions on using Novus 2 seem to differ, some people say you can use it, others say avoid it. On Pinball Heaven's website it is part of the cleaning instructions, so it's left me confused whether to use it or not?

Cleaning your machine - Pinball Heaven

This is a quick guide on how to renovate your pinball machine playfield. For more information on Pinball Machine renovation contact Pinball Heaven.
www.pinball.co.uk www.pinball.co.uk
 
Novus 1 to clean and polish plastics etc ,Novus 2 will polish up dull clear plastics , I do use this to make car head lights clear again when age dulls then !!
Hope this helps !
 
Marvello said:
What about using Novus 2 to clean a dirty playfield?
Click to expand...
Yes it’s perfect for taking out ball trails as it has a fine cut in it , I would only use Nouvs 2 for a deep clean then Wax the playfield . If you need a deeper cut then use T-Cut and then Wax again.
 
All my second hand machines get the Novice 2 treatment once after that they have a Novus 1 and wax treatment , so Novus 2 is rarely used .
 
Goodwinsplace said:
PoorBoy's Natty's Carnuba Paste Wax (LINK)
This was my biggest sticking point, I couldn't for the life of me find the Carnuba waxes being suggested, not without importing them and at a high cost. I researched loads of Carnuba waxes, both more expensive and some cheaper. This paste wax is great, only need a small amount on the cloth, polish in then light buff out and it came up great after 1 coat, given it a couple of coats now and it's looking glossy
Click to expand...
I used some of this earlier, smells like holidays abroad 😎. *Not beer and sick, but butter milk/coconut suntan lotion kind of smell, smells nice.
 
I followed the first post when I first cleaned up machines a few months back and they've always been perfect for me, the anti-static cleaner is weirdly addictive to use. The wax I found the first couple times I used far too much and left little bits of residue built up around the machine and the balls flew for weeks, lesson well learned!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom