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Episode 66 - Pinball Maintenance
PodcastAnalysis updated yesterday51 min listen
Support the show: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast Companion piece episode here from Alan to talk about how to maintain that pinball machine that Alex convinced y'all to buy in the Pinball Buyer's guide...
Highlights
- Novus 2 is safe and effective for cleaning clear-coated playfields (post-late 1980s games) despite internet claims it damages playfields
- Naphtha is less effective than Novus 2 for cleaning playfields and is carcinogenic/banned in certain states
- Sam Stern games accumulate more grime due to higher ball velocity causing more rubber and metal degradation
- Waxing with carnauba car wax is effective for older pre-late 1980s games but not necessary for modern clear-coated games
- Pin Guard rubber cleaner is superior to alcohol or naphtha for cleaning rubbers because it moisturizes rather than dries them out
- Home collectors dramatically overestimate maintenance requirements out of fear and misplaced caution
- Sprayway glass cleaner (blue cans with clouds) is superior to generic brands for streak-free cleaning
- Playfield swirl marks and ball trails embedded in pre-1989 varnish playfields cannot be removed without stripping paint
Notable quotes
“They bought a pinball machine they're trying to clean it they're afraid that novice 2 is gonna clean their pinball machine too easily or too well so they're using this flammable petroleum solvent that's banned in certain states”
“We're putting 60 70 000k on our godzilla and then selling it like you know what i mean like we're fucking we're doing real numbers out here dude we're pushing weight”
“Novus 2 is what pinball maintenance is built on”
“if you do get to the point where you're having to clean a game that has gotten dirty what the other guys will tell you to use instead is just fucking annoying”
“Don't listen to idiots that clean their games once every couple months and don't know shit dude”
“It's like over time, they'll lose balance and they'll degrade. So pin guard is the way.”
“Anything from the late 80s and onwards, Novus 2. These play fields have what we call a clear coat on them an automotive clear coat”
“These old games are pokey now just fucking wax your game dude”
Entities
- Ko-fi· company
- Pinball Life· company
- Pinball Wizard· company
- Pintastic· event
- Wedgehead Pinball Podcast· organization
- Alan· person
- Alex the Waterboy· person
- Roger Sharpe· person
- Mother's (car wax brand)· product
- Naphtha· product
- Novus 2· product
- Pin Guard· product
- Sprayway· product
