Removing Swirl Wear/Dirt

Pinwizkid

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So I picked up a Rollergames will pretty consistent swirl dirt marks throughout the playfield. I've read that using a magic eraser works well for getting rid of swirls, but that there are some risks involved. Basically my question is this:

Should I worry about scrubbing too hard? ...or too long?

Also, what chemical do you guys recommend cleaning with? Regular playfield polish?

Thanks :)
BB
 
Yes, it's a very real concern with magic eraser. It's a very mild and soft abrasive, along the lines of 2000 grit or so, but it's still an abrasive. Work it too long and you're going to be seeing bare wood eventually.

It is effective, but only to a point. If you try to chase out every swirl mark, you're going to break through to bare wood eventually before you get them all out. But it will quickly knock out most of them.

Oh, and you'll definitely need to wax/polish when you're done. Otherwise you'll have a dull finish.
 
I have a taxi thread somewhere where I removed some paint from scrubbing to hard and/or long. Basically just understand that magic eraser is an abrasive. It's like very fine sandpaper. I used it with isopropyl alcohol. How hard or long is too hard or long depends on the game.
 
The goal with the Magic Eraser is to pull out as much dirt as you can. You shouldn't break through the lacquer to the paint. If you start seeing color on the ME, you've gone too far. You'll still have swirls with some dirt in them, but it should be a lot better. After you've cleaned with the ME, the playfield will be dull. Hand polish it with a mild automotive polish to get the shine back.

If you are going to clear coat the playfield after cleaning, you can be more aggressive, but you still shouldn't be removing paint.

You can't get rid of yellowing of the lacquer, so don't go overboard thinking that the yellowing is going to clear up.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I am going to do a full surface cleaning first with regular playfield cleaner before hitting it with the magic eraser. I will probably start in the back behind the ramp where you can't see to try get a feel for using the thing. Then I'll re-polish the playfield when I think I've gotten all that I can out of it.

Any other tips or methods for dealing with swirls?

Thanks again,
-BB
 
As for anymore tips, I believe after researching the same issue you have is what others have said, GO Slow with the ME, and use Novus #2 after, and follow up with Casrnuba wax to protect. Theres no other way . I have to the same to my machine. I have ignored the ground in dirt for to long. Just been hesitant, as I have paint missing in some spots theres swirls, I dont know if I should avoid that area or not since theres a bit of bare wood from the chipped paint. The worst areas are the white and yellow areas on the PF have turned gray from the swirls. I dont think you need to clean first as the ME and alcohol is gonna do the cleaning, I suppose wipe off surface dirt, etc. first. Lets here about the results when your done? Iam gonna tackle mine when I dont have so much distractions here at home and I can focus. I know you dont want to be distracted and in a rush when doing this or anything for that matter. Good luck.
 
I had decent results with magic eraser on my Pinbot, but it's pretty subtle IMO, and if you have any doubts about wearing away paint, either be extremely careful or don't do it.

Most of the swirl marks on my machine are actually under mylar so I can't even get to them.
 
A guy who restores old EM pins for the silver ball museum recommended ME to me as well but instead of alcohol, he said it was best to use "Super Clean". Its a degreaser sold in walmart in the automotive section. Cuts through the gunk better.

Supposedly works wonders. He showed me some playfields he did and the
swirl marks where pretty much gone on the yellow and white areas.
 
A guy who restores old EM pins for the silver ball museum recommended ME to me as well but instead of alcohol, he said it was best to use "Super Clean". Its a degreaser sold in walmart in the automotive section. Cuts through the gunk better.

Supposedly works wonders. He showed me some playfields he did and the
swirl marks where pretty much gone on the yellow and white areas.


i'd be very, very, VERY cautious with that.

"Super Clean is a degreasing agent manufactured and sold by the SuperClean corporation. This cleaning agent posses several chemicals that are very strong bases. Specifically, tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, pH 11.8, and sodium hydroxide, pH 14."
 
i'd be very, very, VERY cautious with that.

"Super Clean is a degreasing agent manufactured and sold by the SuperClean corporation. This cleaning agent posses several chemicals that are very strong bases. Specifically, tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, pH 11.8, and sodium hydroxide, pH 14."

Yea I'll have to ask him how much he dilutes it. Havent tried it myself yet. Now that I read more on the net about it... maybe I'll stick to
alcohol as well. Full strength the stuff can act s a paint stripper:(
 
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Yea I'll have to ask him how much he dilutes it. Havent tried it myself yet. Now that I read more on the net about it... maybe I'll stick to
alcohol as well. Full strength the stuff can act s a paint stripper:(

yep. i wouldn't use it at any dilution. stick with alcohol...
 
Heard back from him...

"I use the Super Clean full strength spray it on and let it sit for a minute then use the Magic Eraser with it make sure it is wet, you may have to give it another little spray to make sure it is wet. If you leave it sit on the playfield it will go through the clear.

Do not get the Super clean on any Pop Bumper Caps or the Card Tray!, this will take off the ink. cover up these areas or be careful when applying the cleaner

Every spot is different some spots you can rub harder than other spots just let the magic eraser do the work. Make sure you have good lighting when you do this so if you do rub to hard you can see it right away and adjust the pressure your using on the Magic Eraser. Some spots just will not come clean try using circle motion and up and down as well as sideways light pressure. Thank you ***Bill PS: do little areas at a time do not try to do the whole PF, Than use Novis 2 to neutralize it."

I might try it if alcohol doesn't pan out.
 
Hey Brendan , something I learn using alcohol with magic eraser, use 50 or 70% alcohol,the 90% is too strong, I've never taken paint off with 50 or 70, but I have with 90 once,I was really rubbing hard and didn't pay close attention to what I was doing,before I knew it I was down to the wood.I have also used ME with novus and it works well and is more safe.
 
Tetrasodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate is a chelating agent which dissolves calcium deposits or other inorganic residues. Calcium deposit are for hard water. According to the Superclean web http://www.superclean.com/?gclid=CLGojbbA560CFYvRKgodsmTT7g
There are a number of cleaners. The sodium hydroxide is a strong base which is LYE, crystal drain-o or in liquid form, it is liquid plummer. This sounds like the old Easy Off Oven Cleaner ingredients. I would not use these. I would think you would want an alchohol based cleaner the will help remove greasier residues.
 
Thanks for the tips Dennis, as well as the rest of you. Very much appreciated. If it was a small area of swirl wear, I could live with it, but the playfield is basically covered in it, so it's definitely gonna be a clinic in swirl removal... I'll probably try the 70% alcohol, since it's gonna need to be fairly strong in some spots. I'll stay away from the 90%. Can I pick this up in any cleaning aisle?

-BB
 
Thanks for the tips Dennis, as well as the rest of you. Very much appreciated. If it was a small area of swirl wear, I could live with it, but the playfield is basically covered in it, so it's definitely gonna be a clinic in swirl removal... I'll probably try the 70% alcohol, since it's gonna need to be fairly strong in some spots. I'll stay away from the 90%. Can I pick this up in any cleaning aisle?

-BB

Nope, not the cleaning aisles. First aid section of the store.

Most any CVS / Walgreen or other pharmacy will have it as will the big box places like K-mart and such.

-hans
 
Nope, not the cleaning aisles. First aid section of the store.

Most any CVS / Walgreen or other pharmacy will have it as will the big box places like K-mart and such.

-hans

I've also picked it up at the local quicky mart,gas station,it was actually empire gas.
 
This is a great article: http://www.pinrepair.com/restore/index3.htm#me

I like to go in small sections, don't rub too hard and wipe often with a CLEAN rag or paper towels. Remember, the swirls will still be there but, hopefully, the crud is out so you won't see them. Then I follow up with Novus 2 and it really brings out the shine.

I also wear rubber gloves because that ME crap really sticks when it dries and a pain if it gets under the nails. Wiping up with naptha helps get rid of ME residue. Keep in mind you don't have to buy the Magic Eraser brand; there are cheaper, no-name equivalents of the melamine pads.

Great gams!

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