How to Clean a Pinball Machine - Tips and Tricks

Nick talks through his best practices on how to clean a pinball machine playfield. What to use, how to use it and what to avoid. Includes discussion of Novus, Naptha, waxes and more. Learn how to give your game a bath and make it look great!
Links to products discussed in the video:
- Novus 1 - www.amazon.com/NOVUS-PC-10-Pl...
- Novus 2 - www.amazon.com/NOVUS-Plastic-...
- Naphtha - www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Str...
- One Grand Blitz Carnauba Wax - www.amazon.com/One-Grand-Blit...
- CP-100 - www.marcospecialties.com/pinb...
- Microfiber towels - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
- Glass cleaner = distilled water and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
- New pinballs - www.titanpinball.com/index.ph...
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[@jnkmal9519]

Careful with that Naphtha! Luckily, I tested it in a hidden area on my Brunswick, and it immediately started to pull paint. Check your rag. I used it in a small blue area, and my white rag had blue paint on it.

[@txag007]

Some better advice on micro-fiber towels, don't put them in the dryer. The heat could melt the fibers, so instead let them air dry.

[@thunderfan77]

Naphtha is perfect for cleaning rubbers, as well as the playfield. Everyone's cleaning regimen is subjective. But IMHO CP-100 isn't necessary if you already have Naphtha. YMMV

[@jackpoulin6443]

Thanks for the great tips. I'm the proud owner of a latest built (October 2021) Willy Wonka LE. The game has 600 games played total. I tried Naphtha on the rubber/plastics and it worked like pure magic. For the ball trails, I was very disappointed though as Naphtha (the same brand that you use) did nothing at all. I rubbed pretty firmly 3 times (putting Naphtha on the microfiber cloth each time) and nothing changed. I guess that the only way to get rid of this problem (ball trails) is to use some light abrasive like Novus 2. Someone in another cleaning video tutorial suggested to use Rejex (a polymer wax-type protective product) in replacement for carnauba wax ... just wow, will NEVER use wax again (been using high quality carnauba since 2007). It's WAY shinier, way stronger and durable and extremely easy to put on and you don't have to buff when you cleanly (no dust) and easily wipe off the haze 15 minutes later. Keep on the great work !

[@chughes737]

Excellent video. Love the background detail of all the products as well as the safety uses. Your first video on cleaning was the best one I viewed when I first started this hobby. This video just upped the bar. Well done.

[@BuffaloPinball]

Glad it was helpful!

[@russellgentile4719]

I use a vacuum with a soft brush head before cleaning any pinball machine to pick up loose dirt then after waxing and wiping, hit it again, to pick up excess wax dust.

[@donerbe9721]

Looks like that Blitz wax is no longer available? Any other recommendations for wax?

[@perpetuallegend2034]

Aye aye aye A. Let's go buffalo.......Pinball

[@AbeFlips]

Good job, thanks for explaining this complicated topic in an easy way! However, alot of people buy new games and if you wax those, they will be so crazy fast that it really can be frustrating to play the game. So i recommend not waxing new games, what do you think Nick?

[@gusphan]

I personally always wax new games. The goal of wax is to protect the playfield, so IMHO, playing anytime that you don't have wax down, is a mistake. I get what you're saying about them being fast - that's very true. After an hour or so of play things should slow down. Plus, the game will seem easier when it does slow down ;)

[@Pitbull0669]

What's best for 1990 to 91factory Overlays bally Williams ?

[@BrianLiccardo]

Naptha is illegal out here in California, suggest any alternatives?

[@gusphan]

Really good question, and unfortunately, I'm not sure. I'd highly recommend checking out this thread on Pinside to see if the answer is there: pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cleaning-and-waxing-pinball-machines-vids-guide If you can't find it, message Vid in that thread - he's usually great about responding. But just check the thread good first before doing so. Good luck and let me know what you find out.