Pinball Waxing
- Thread starter Purity
- Start date
Can anyone tell me their approach to cleaning and waxing a playfield?
I was going to use Novus 2 on the playfield to clean it. I have a mylar coating on my playfield
....and Novus 1 for the plastics.
Then wax it with???? Millwax is what has poppped up but some people seem to use car wax instead.
Any recommendations?
Purity2013-01-30 15:10:44
I was going to use Novus 2 on the playfield to clean it. I have a mylar coating on my playfield
....and Novus 1 for the plastics.
Then wax it with???? Millwax is what has poppped up but some people seem to use car wax instead.
Any recommendations?
Purity2013-01-30 15:10:44
I remove the easy to remove big parts like ramps so I can get to as much as is reasonably possible. Give things a spray down with a foam based cleaner, then give it a good old buff up with car wax. Not sure if it needs to contain or not contain any particular ingrediants, it's a bottle of wax I've had for about 12 years now! I can dig out particulars if required.
Obviously it needs to be a good quality wax that doesn't contain abrasives like things such as T-Cut do etc.
Obviously it needs to be a good quality wax that doesn't contain abrasives like things such as T-Cut do etc.
Bloodf/system11 once told me that he uses MEGUIARS BODYSHOP #16 CARNAUBA WAX and I have to say it looks fantastic... I got mine from:
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/meguiars/16-paste-wax.aspx
£12.95 a tub but'll I've hardly dented it!!
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/meguiars/16-paste-wax.aspx
£12.95 a tub but'll I've hardly dented it!!
Here's why you shouldn't use Millwax:
1) It contains solvents - these can damage plastics, cause mylar to lift at the edges, and thin out damaged paint even further.
2) It doesn't even contain wax - it's a silicone based polish which is nearly impossible to properly remove later, and can cause fisheye effects in new clearcoats.
3) Since it's a liquid, it's difficult to apply in a tidy manner, which is why you see so many games with caked up star posts.
4) Since it doesn't even contain wax, it doesn't provide the same protection a decent wax coat provides. This is why people wax cars, it protects paint.
Millwax was created for lazy operators who wanted a quick clean & polish product. It doesn't clean as well as Novus, it doesn't protect like a wax. Pure Carnauba waxes in paste form are easier to control and apply, contain only natural ingredients and protect the finish.
But don't take my word for it - how about Clay who made those pin repair guides and works on pins for a living:
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/mill-wax-again#post-337198
Or Williams, perhaps:
http://www.dziedzic.us/images/mylars.gif
Friends don't let friends use Millwax, I wish pinballmania would just stop stocking the stuff.
bloodflowers2013-02-03 12:35:49
1) It contains solvents - these can damage plastics, cause mylar to lift at the edges, and thin out damaged paint even further.
2) It doesn't even contain wax - it's a silicone based polish which is nearly impossible to properly remove later, and can cause fisheye effects in new clearcoats.
3) Since it's a liquid, it's difficult to apply in a tidy manner, which is why you see so many games with caked up star posts.
4) Since it doesn't even contain wax, it doesn't provide the same protection a decent wax coat provides. This is why people wax cars, it protects paint.
Millwax was created for lazy operators who wanted a quick clean & polish product. It doesn't clean as well as Novus, it doesn't protect like a wax. Pure Carnauba waxes in paste form are easier to control and apply, contain only natural ingredients and protect the finish.
But don't take my word for it - how about Clay who made those pin repair guides and works on pins for a living:
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/mill-wax-again#post-337198
Or Williams, perhaps:
http://www.dziedzic.us/images/mylars.gif
Friends don't let friends use Millwax, I wish pinballmania would just stop stocking the stuff.
bloodflowers2013-02-03 12:35:49
Guitar waxes (the pure Carnauba ones) work fine, the best one I found was Claytons but it seems difficult to get now. I've never used that Meguires one, someone else must have suggested it. Doesn't seem to say what's in it. Stick to something claiming to be all natural ingredients is the way to go.
For example, here's one you shouldn't buy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boora-Carnauba-Wax-Paste/dp/B0038KR93K
Note 'contains petroleum distillates' - that's bad. I'm using Gerlitz #1 Guitar wax at the moment, it doesn't seem quite as good as Claytons unless you put at least two applications on.
Edit: I found some in the UK!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Clayton-Inc-CW2-Carnauba/dp/B000EEN9KA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359905142&sr=8-1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clayton-CPCW2-Carnauba-Wax-Polish-/400336959862
bloodflowers2013-02-03 15:27:24
For example, here's one you shouldn't buy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boora-Carnauba-Wax-Paste/dp/B0038KR93K
Note 'contains petroleum distillates' - that's bad. I'm using Gerlitz #1 Guitar wax at the moment, it doesn't seem quite as good as Claytons unless you put at least two applications on.
Edit: I found some in the UK!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Clayton-Inc-CW2-Carnauba/dp/B000EEN9KA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359905142&sr=8-1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clayton-CPCW2-Carnauba-Wax-Polish-/400336959862
bloodflowers2013-02-03 15:27:24
pooman2084
Be Attitude For Gains!
+1 for what Bloodflowers said, avoid Millwax.
There's little a combination of foam cleaner, magic eraser (be careful), Novus 2 and a good carnuba wax can't shift.
There's little a combination of foam cleaner, magic eraser (be careful), Novus 2 and a good carnuba wax can't shift.
pooman2084
Be Attitude For Gains!
Just another note, on NEW playfields, Novus 1 is all you need. I found that Novus 2 is too abrasive for what is needed just to clear light balls trails and a bit of pin dust. It started to scratch the clear with just a light application.
And ALWAYS use a new microfibre cloth for each application and don't mix Novus and wax cloths.
And ALWAYS use a new microfibre cloth for each application and don't mix Novus and wax cloths.