Any ideas on the best way to protect Stern playfields. As clear coating seems extreme and a lot of work. What's the best way to protect it from wear. I have a beautiful 2003 LOTR and want to keep it that way. I am considering buying more stern titles but have read about issues on playfields. It looks like Stern is the only newer manufacturer having these issues. I have read about wear and other issues on the Sterns playfields. My other games are older B/W or Sega and the playfield quality seems better. I would rather keep it nice then try to repair it or live with the wear. If just keeping it clean-waxed-and new balls in it...I already do that. Any info. will help.

#2 7 years ago

DAD

fish1975tx

Pinside member

Houston, TX

12y 55,050 505 25

Keep it waxed!

#3 7 years ago

JOR

jorro

Inactive member

Bermuda Triangle

8y 81,550 2,988 8

Dont play?

#4 7 years ago

TDR

Who-Dey

In Memoriam

9y 117K 11,746 7 12

The best way to keep it nice is to not play it. I think you're worrying way too much about this. Just keep it clean and waxed and play and enjoy the damn thing. Its not going to hurt it at all and even if it does who cares? There's nothing you can do about it so stop worrying about it. It's a pinball machine not a museum piece.

#5 7 years ago

MTB

mtbpinball

Pinside member

Harleysville, PA

10y 77,550 581 27

Quoted from Who-Dey:
The best way to keep it nice is to not play it. I think you're worrying way too much about this. Just keep it clean and waxed and play and enjoy the damn thing. Its not going to hurt it at all and even if it does who cares? There's nothing you can do about it so stop worrying about it. It's a pinball machine not a museum piece.

That's ok...Until you go to sell it! Then people go over them with a microscope.

#6 7 years ago

???

snaroff

Pinside member

Jupiter, FL

11y 93,800 5,830 15

I've owned my LOTR for 12 years and it's been played quite a bit. Play field still looks great. As others have said, clean and waxed is all you need. Not playing it makes 0 sense. Pinball machines need to be played!

#7 7 years ago

MTB

mtbpinball

Pinside member

Harleysville, PA

10y 77,550 581 27

Not playing wasn't an option. Just trying to keep it nice.

#8 7 years ago

TDR

Who-Dey

In Memoriam

9y 117K 11,746 7 12

OP
Quoted from mtbpinball:
That's ok...Until you go to sell it! Then people go over them with a microscope.

Well I dont buy my machines to sell, I buy them to play them and to enjoy them. Dont get me wrong, I want my machines to look pristine forever, but you are worrying about something that you cannot control. Your machine is going to get worn if you play it enough eventually, nothing you can do about that. How many plays do you have on it right now?

#9 7 years ago

TCP

tpoeckh

Pinside member

Lacey, WA

7y 36,050 96 3

Makrolon playfield protector will prevent dimpling or any wear to the playfield. Machine still needs to be cleaned regularly.

#10 7 years ago

BDS

pinball_erie

Inactive member

Erie, PA

12y 67,900 1,297 7 9

Change the balls regularly, that is ALWAYS the key

#11 7 years ago

TSH

Travish

Pinside member

Greensboro, NC

11y 98,800 3,348 6

Quoted from tpoeckh:
Makrolon playfield protector will prevent dimpling or any wear to the playfield. Machine still needs to be cleaned regularly.

Get the playfield protector. Problem solved.

#12 7 years ago

CWD

Cdonnerusmc

Pinside member

Lincoln City, OR

7y 78,800 370 53 36

I agree get the playfield protector. I had one installed on my Ghostbusters premium day 1 before a single play and with now close to 900 plays there is not a single dimple on my playfield, that being said yes keep it clean it will develop ball trails and it will cloud up over time/plays I spend about 5 min cleaning it with novus 2 and a soft cloth at around 800 plays or so and it looks new again! As far as play goes I've had many other Ghostbusters owners tell me there is little to no difference in play. " I have the new and improved 0.5mm thick protector I cant speak for the older style. I believe a lot of people won't want to spend the 3 to 4 hours tearing down a brand new machine so it's easier to just discredit the product rather than admit that they are actually a great product to protect your machine. I can also tell you if I was looking at buying a used machine and someone told me they had a playfield protector installed day 1 vs. Someone that had not personally I would lean more towards the one with the protector "It's Pease of mind".

I wish i could go back on time and install them on my cirqus voltaire, medevil maddness and attack from mars. I was quoted at close to 2k for a playfield swap "labor only" for cirqus voltaire. I have a new playfield I bought for 1,200 not too long ago, And I have have a playfield protector waiting to go on as soon as I get it done. So for around $100 Bucks to save thousands in the furure....yeah It's a no brainer for me.

20161027_121213 (resized).jpg

#13 7 years ago

EHL

lyonsden

Professor Pinball

11y 126K 3,128 156

Depends -- do you want to play it or just look at it. If you play it, it will get dimples, but they will flatten out after enough plays. Otherwise, clean and wax regularly, and use premium balls. Check the balls each time you clean and if they look scratched or have any other physical marks, replace them (or replace them once or twice a year, depending on how frequently you play).

Just think that if you place 3 games a day on average, you are putting about 1100 a year. I know that even for my most frequently played games in my collection, they don't see that kind of play.

#14 7 years ago

EHL

lyonsden

Professor Pinball

11y 126K 3,128 156

Oh, and put cliffies and mylar on the high impact spots: scoops (shire and golem's cave), ball drops, and shooter lane.

#15 7 years ago

MTK

nocreditdot

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 84,300 1,992

Quoted from lyonsden:
Oh, and put cliffies and mylar on the high impact spots: scoops (shire and golem's cave), ball drops, and shooter lane.

I recommend a full set of Cliffys for LOTR including the shooter lane protectors. Then just keep clean and change balls regularly. Keep an eye on the ring ramp.

#16 7 years ago

MJA

Mitch

Pinside member

Wellesley, ON

10y 131K 5,030 18 38

I have a first run metallica premium all I do is wipe it down once in awhile. No wax, no protector no cliffys still looks mint.

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