I'd skip the naptha ( lighter fluid ) and go with Novus 1 first.

Then a good hard carnauba wax like this : One or two coats.

https://www.jbtools.com/meguiars-m2611-hi-tech-yellow-wax-paste/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmcWDBhCOARIsALgJ2Qco712z38YjtxzjOBP-ABDYyotFMtQ1nCeDPNPY-sgOSnJjC9HupNYaAvTtEALw_wcB

You can find it at auto parts stores.

LTG : )

Controversial opinion, but I don’t put Novus on a play field - only on plastics and ramps. It’s liquid sandpaper and with repeated use over time, it will remove the protective varnish, leading to wear spots.

VM&P Naphtha is alcohol-based and evaporates quickly, but the fumes tend to linger. Use a respirator in a well-ventilated area away from open flames. Or you can use a de-greasing water-based cleaner and wipe immediately.

I also recommend finishing with Carnuba paste wax before re-assembling the play field. Apply a coat, let it set for an hour, wipe away with a clean rag and buff with a microfiber cloth.

It's for deep cleaning places like you are showing, area with ground in dirt trails.
It is abrasive, so if you used it everyday it might be bad for the PF but its nothing to worry aboot. If you can get those trails out with just naphtha, then you won't need novus. It's lighter fluid, don't let yiur kids drink it and they'll be fine

I personally would never put glass cleaner on a PF.

I agree. Novus 1 is probably the only cleaner you need then Carnuba wax. Nocus 2 and 3 start getting abrasive.

Agree that Novus 1 is all you need. Spray it directly onto a microfibre towel and just go to town. It works on playfield, plastics, and rubbers. Carnauba wax and a new set of balls and you’re good to go.

Since Naptha isn’t water-based it’s safer for playfields. You don’t want water to interact with wood. I use Naptha for when there’s noticeable dust and dirt on a playfield.

Think of it like wiping dusty things down with a wet wipe.

Novus is an abrasive cleaner, so use it as such. I personally use Novus 1 and it’s so gentle it almost doesn’t clean anything.

Realistically you aren’t gonna be wiping this game down enough to do damage. Unless you clean it every day or something you should be fine. Normally it’s every 6 to 12 months, or whenever you notice it’s dirty. After you finish the PITA that cleaning a game is, trust me, you will want to wait as long as possible to do it again!

Yes. Since the OP is new to pinball. I'm not in a hurry to send someone into a game with something flammable.

He can learn as he goes and improve methods.

LTG : )

It's a learning experience. You'll be learning your entire life as you grow in pinball. I've been cleaning playfields for 60+ years and I'm still learning.

And what works great for one person, may not for others.

You'll learn what works best for you.

LTG : )

You should be fine with it. Just a little careful. Like don't have the machine turned on when using it.

You'll find that out when you try it. It should work.

LTG : )

Start with Naptha. If it doesn't do the job then move onto Novus 1. That should do it. If not then Novus 2, once. Once your playfield is clean and you keep it up. Naptha should be enough, if not Novus 1. You'll likely never need Novus 2 again in a home setting. ( until your next pin )

LTG : )

Yes. Lighter fluid. Hardware store might not have it. Cigar stores will.

LTG : )

Naphtha should be necessary for light cleaning on a new machine. Once a machine is clean it only takes small efforts to keep it clean. I just start with Novus 1 and clean whole playfield with the microfiber cloth. If there is any dirt left, and if so it’s usually only in the highest traffic areas, then I use the smallest amount of Novus 2 (like a few drops) and it comes right up with the cloth. Then a light wax if you want to but that’s also not strictly needed if you keep it clean. Finally I will clean the black dust off rubbers with a damp cloth, rubbing alcohol or wildcat rubber cleaner if really dirty.

Honestly it isn;t complicated at all; you're way over thinking it.

You're going to need Novus 1, 2, & lighter fluid anyway, so just buy them all.

I understand this is your first time so you're trying to be very careful and that's cool, but we are basically spending all day explaining how to put air in you bicycle tire

Here's the truth, using any of these for your first cleaning is going to have 0%* chance of harming ANYTHING.
If you're worried, just use the least potent item first and work your way up. If you are able to get out those filthy dirt trails with novus 1, then by all means use it.
If it doesn't worth, naphtha, if not than novus 2.

*the only issue you really have to worry aboot is SERIOUS PF damage. And unless there's an optical delusion, is this a 'tear' in the playfield? Casue that might change some things.

wtf (resized).jpg

Mylar. To protect playfield. Can be removed or replaced. Don't do that until you learn a lot. It's best to freeze it and pop off and then clean up glue left behind.

Remove screws, lift ramp up, bend flap back down a little.

No reason to feel bad. A good cleaning and you'll be proud of your machine.

Now quit posting and get to work. You'll be glad you did.

LTG : )

Rubbing alch also does great on rubbers and less smelly

The ramp looks like its got a little chunk of plastic stuck under it?

Yeah mylar explains some of it, what the heck is the round part by the pop bumper? More dirt that worked its way under the mylar?!

Yes.

LTG : )

Not on mine

Ah yes I see it now. Very confusing.

You should really just buy a small thing of lighter fluid form a store...unless you feel like you need a gallon jug (you don't)

Yes.

They can't spell one or the other.

Google lighter fluid contents.

LTG : )

Because most lighter fluids (like Ronsonol) no longer contain Naphtha

I've read that 2017 was the cut off point, because Zippo bought Ronsonol a few years prior.

My old cans of Ronsonol still say "Contains Naphtha", but I've been refilling them for years...

Did not know that. Thanks vid1900 !

I don't use it, so never kept track of it.

LTG : )

It looks like even a decade ago, Ronsonol was only 30% Naphtha

1bb58930023d0e17e7a0cf4d7b538c731e0b0cd5 (resized).jpg

Everything sucks now.

Ronsonol - changed their formula

Simple Green - changed to weaker formula

Bix - is now the worst paint stripper, you used to scrape it all up and put it back in the can for reuse.

Maker's Mark - watered down their whiskey (although after much outcry, have restored it to 90 proof)

imkkkages (resized).jpg

Thankfully they restored it. Great for mint juleps.

LTG : )

Happened a decade ago, and the new stuff has been cleaning just as well the entire time.
Naphtha is not a "thing" anyway. They don;t mine naphtha out of the ground and put it in a bottle

Rabbit hole.

Hardly.

If I'm cleaning a $$$$ playfield, I'm not going to risk cleaning "just as well" with some mystery petroleum product.

Same thing happened when everyone was cleaning their CDs with ArmorAll and when they changed the AA formula, it caused them to become cloudy.

Or when everyone was cleaning their rubber tape rollers with Formula 409 (dating myself here). 409 secretly changed their formula and it pitted everyone's rollers (very expensive mistake on a 2" tape roller!).

Rabbit hole, that's not we're talking aboot here.

If you're wiping down a PF for CC and all that, you aren't using a 6oz bottle of Ronsonol. This "mystery formula" has been used by people for a long time and seems to be fine. I'm sure he'll make it through some lite cleaning OK.

True, I usually use it more for for rubbers myself. Hey, another reason to go straight to Novus 2 in my book

I mean really, we don't need to worry. Everyone is pretty sure Novus 1 will easily take all the filth off so the 'Mystery Petroleum Blend" won't be wildly used.

Just like the 409, they are not going to tell you when the formula changes (why not call it "Formula 410"?)

Someone might use it for a decade with good results, then suddenly, your Nakamichi Dragon needs a $400 service call.

$_57 (resized).JPG

You left out Lava Lamp.

jvivlemore don't try flame polish on a nice ramp like that before practicing on junk ramps. You'll likely ruin it. I have used Nova 3, then 2, then 1 on the plastics with good results, but never really worried about bringing back to factory finish.

Flame polish you gotta have all the ramps removed...its easy but i would advise against it for the first cleaning. Leave that for when you're more seasoned...like removing the mylar.

What? Novus 1 didn't take out the ingrained ball trails?!?