Best playfield wax

[snaroff]

I've been using Mill Wax (marketed as great for playfields), however I've heard from "beepnutz" that it's not so great (when compared with other products). IIRC he recommended "Mother's" brand wax (used for cars). Other folks I know like Mequiar's and 3M...

Interested in other opinions on what works best for folks...

Thanks.

[Tdchewy]

I have only used mill wax so far. I think it gives a good result, but maybe something else is better.

Edit: I use novus 2 and 1 to clean before using the millwax for shine.

[ibis]

Depends on what it is going on!  Older EM's should use Millwax only but Millwax can also be used on any play field for cleaning.  Newer pins like from mid 80s on up can use Novus 2(cleaning) and Novus 1(polishing) although Millwax could take the place of Novus 2 as well in this pin line up.  Some like to use automotive waxes but I believe these are reserved for newer pins and clear coat jobs as well.  And some use Pledge as well.  Lots of angles and personal preferences when it comes to wax and even a few rules like the EM pin one I mentioned.

[Raikus]

I'm a newbie to all this, but I used Novus #2, then #1, then some Carnauba Wax and it turned out looking pristine. This was a EM to, by the way. Everything I read online said that carnauba was fine for a EM playfield. Will that somehow damage it?

Also, I found out that Harley Davidson keeps Novus #1 and #2 in stock in their stores. It's a cheap and easy place to pick it up rather than ordering it.

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

i used millwax on pin #1, and then bought the big treasure cove kit.

[pinballcorpse]

Depends on what it is going on!  Older EM's should use Millwax only but Millwax can also be used on any play field for cleaning.  Newer pins like from mid 80s on up can use Novus 2(cleaning) and Novus 1(polishing) although Millwax could take the place of Novus 2 as well in this pin line up.  Some like to use automotive waxes but I believe these are reserved for newer pins and clear coat jobs as well.  And some use Pledge as well.  Lots of angles and personal preferences when it comes to wax and even a few rules like the EM pin one I mentioned.

Pledge? Really--what formula?  I thought that was not recommended.

[micksimmonds]

Jaime used Lemon Pledge I think (or whatever variant) on his fine examples  

[sirmatt]

Hard Carnauba only (no "cleaner wax" even if it says carnauba). Mill wax for EM's sure, but pure, non-cleaner carnauba still rocks it IMO...just lacks the "cleaner" aspect, but that's what you don't want to begin with! You want to *optimize* surface with this process:

1. Dewax with naphtha
2. Novus 2
3. hard carnauba


I find the stripping of the intial (usually super-old) wax helps...like 15% better play? Not as much as simply a fresh waxing but enough to warrant the time and effort.


- Matt

[Mamushka]

Hard Carnauba only (no "cleaner wax" even if it says carnauba). Mill wax for EM's sure, but pure, non-cleaner carnauba still rocks it IMO...just lacks the "cleaner" aspect, but that's what you don't want to begin with! You want to *optimize* surface with this process:

1. Dewax with naphtha
2. Novus 2
3. hard carnauba


I find the stripping of the intial (usually super-old) wax helps...like 15% better play? Not as much as simply a fresh waxing but enough to warrant the time and effort.


- Matt

I think Novus is great... for plastics. Seriously, it's a plastic cleaner/polisher, why does everyone seem to think it's the cat's ass for cleaning playfields I use Simple Green for cleaning and it works much better than Novus products. I also used to use the hard Carnauba wax, until one day I had an insert that was a little lifted. I was rubbing the wax down the playfield and it caught the lip of the insert and ripped 75% of the art off . I only use Pledge now. You have to make sure that it is the type with wax as most varieties are wax free.

[DarrenF]

I think Novus is great... for plastics. Seriously, it's a plastic cleaner/polisher, why does everyone seem to think it's the cat's ass for cleaning playfields

Many SS-era playfields are covered with plastic.  Mylar=polyester=plastic,  Diamondplate=polyurethane=plastic.

[John I]

Mill Wax is terrible stuff.  Not only shouldn't you use it, you should throw it away.  Search RGP for a million testimonials on why this is true.  Do not every spray anything into your machine (Pledge or Novus 1).  If anything spray it on a rag first than wipe the machine down.

For all your games with DMDs I would simply clean the playfield occasionally with a Novus 1 dampened microfiber rag and follow with a dry polishing rag.  Every once in a while I'd use Novus 2 on a microfiber rag to and really shine things up.  No real reason to use a wax at all on factory clear coated games. 

For your Kiss machine, I'd clean with Novus 1 or 2 and then wax.  If it is clearcoated, then no need to wax unless you really want it to play fast for a little while.

The best wax that I have found is Eagle One Nano wax.  It is a very hard finish that leaves a sparkling shine.  Most important it does not leave a bunch of white residue and powder everywhere.  Works great on cars too.

John

[Mamushka]

Many SS-era playfields are covered with plastic.  Mylar=polyester=plastic,  Diamondplate=polyurethane=plastic.

I have plenty of polyester shirts, should I clean them with Novus too  

I have used Novus as a  playfield cleaner and it just did not work as well as Simple Green, on top of that the Novus is expensive too.

[Mamushka]

Do not every spray anything into your machine (Pledge or Novus 1). 

Why not

[0geist0]

I just trisd hard carnuba on my BSD now the thing is so fast it's hard to keep track of the ball

[DarrenF]

I have plenty of polyester shirts, should I clean them with Novus too  

I have used Novus as a  playfield cleaner and it just did not work as well as Simple Green, on top of that the Novus is expensive too.

Mylar's a polyester film, your wardrobe is polyester fiber 

I've also heard people berate Milwax.  The crux of the issue I read about was that it has silicone in it, which makes it nearly impossible to get any future touch-up paint to adhere.  I don't know if this is true or not... I haven't had a chance to take a sample of Milwax to work to run through the FTIR spectroscope and find out for sure.

The other concern I've read about is water.  People avoid water-based products on older PFs, 'cause the water is thought to seep into the wood and cause it to swell.  This is why some clean playfields with 99% isopropal alcohol, vice 70% (which is 30% water).

Darren