Just got a set of used plastics & I'm just wondering what people do/use to clean them.
- Apply Novus 2?
- Soak them in soap and water?
- Dishwasher?
They aren't in bad shape or extremely dirty...I just want to make them shine again without damaging them or removing the art.
Just curious about the different techniques everyone uses...
Quoted from ImNotNorm:Just got a set of used plastics & I'm just wondering what people do/use to clean them.
- Apply Novus 2?
- Soak them in soap and water?
- Dishwasher?
They aren't in bad shape or extremely dirty...I just want to make them shine again without damaging them or removing the art.
Just curious about the different techniques everyone uses...
Novus no1 is a definite yes, Soak in soapy water only if Novus No1 does not work. A definite no for the dishwasher from us.
Good luck!
Dawn power dissolver (Walmart used to sell this in a solid blue bottle, but now only office supply places have it for about $12 per large bottle. It's SUPER concentrated, you can probably add 50% water and get two bottles out of it), then flame polish. Aside from yellowing, that takes care of everything.
You only have to be careful on the back side. If you leave it on more than a few seconds, it can start to take off the white basecoat. I just spray it on a wet sponge, wipe quickly and rinse immediately. Works GREAT. My go-to.
https://www.pjpmarketplace.com/dawn-1983-power-dissolver-32-oz-two-pack.html
Quoted from pinballaddicted:A definite no for the dishwasher from us.
What if we got our dishwasher from Sears instead of you guys?
Quoted from pinballaddicted:Novus no1 is a definite yes, Soak in soapy water only if Novus No1 does not work. A definite no for the dishwasher from us.
Good luck!
Just confirming Novus 1 and not Novus 2
Quoted from o-din:What if we got our dishwasher from Sears instead of you guys?
That is funny! Maybe the Sears dishwasher will have a gentle cycle.
Quoted from ImNotNorm:Just confirming Novus 1 and not Novus 2
Novus No2 will take the silkscreening off the back of the plastic. You can use it on the other side if you want to. The No1 usually brings the plastics up pretty nice.
Quoted from pinballaddicted:Novus No2 will take the silkscreening off the back of the plastic. You can use it on the other side if you want to. The No1 usually brings the plastics up pretty nice.
Awesome...thanks
For the back side I use Simple Green. For baked on dirt / cigarette smoke it takes a little more work, but eventually all comes off without harming the artwork.
I just used denatured alcohol to clean the dirt off the tops and then a lot of polishing with Novus 2 to make my ratty Getaway plastics presentable.
For the bottom, printed side, I wouldn’t do anything harsher than you need to. My plastics have some solvent damage from someone using some thing harsh I think, but luckily it’s pretty deep in the game.
Quoted from PinMonk:What about crop dusting?
Wtf ? lol
I bought this kit to play with, but haven’t used it yet.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-39071-Scratch-Removal-System/dp/B003NS5NK8
It’s for auto clear coats - so it should work on a newer playfield, but I’m curious if it would work on plastics?
I’ve been using this as my go to. I run the plastics through my ultrasonic. Rinse , spray with novis 1 , whipe with a microfiber towel and then flame the topside. Keep in mind I restore system 11 and up. Not sure how the earlier plastics would hold up in my ultrasound.
Quoted from Skypilot:I’ve been using this as my go to. I run the plastics through my ultrasonic. Rinse , spray with novis 1 , whipe with a microfiber towel and then flame the topside. Keep in mind I restore system 11 and up. Not sure how the earlier plastics would hold up in my ultrasound.
Flame the topside - good idea
Quoted from ImNotNorm:How does one "flame" the topside?
I have a smartass answer for this but it would probably get me booted for awhile. 
Quoted from 0geist0:I have a smartass answer for this but it would probably get me booted for awhile.
I purposely posed it that way, lol
But in all seriousness....what does it mean?
Quoted from ImNotNorm:I purposely posed it that way, lol
But in all seriousness....what does it mean?
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/flame-polishing-ramps-video-b_r
Quoted from ImNotNorm:I purposely posed it that way, lol
But in all seriousness....what does it mean?
If your plastics are warped then i can show you a great safe way to straighten them. But if they just need to be cleaned then trust me and go with CP-100.
Quoted from hawknole:Plexus
?
Quoted from SUPERBEE:If your plastics are warped then i can show you a great safe way to straighten them. But if they just need to be cleaned then trust me and go with CP-100.
No warping....just a little dirt and grime that needs to be removed.
Plexus is great stuff, a fellow pinsider reccomended. Originally formulated for aviation plastics. I use on all tops of plastics. Excellent for clear plastic pieces and DMD shields. Cleans and protects.
So you guys are successfully flame polishing the top side of printed plastics? I’ve only done clear ramps before but was researching doing plastics and came across this thread.
Quoted from SUPERBEE:Pick up some CP100. Works great on all plastics and playfield cleaning. Its all i use.
CP100 is just 99% Naphtha and 1% Paint Stripper.
You get a whole gallon of Naphtha for only $14 ......just refill your Cp100 bottle and save!
60cce9da51eef4dd8ead1ced0ecb5decb7414b46 (resized).jpgQuoted from ypurchn:So you guys are successfully flame polishing the top side of printed plastics? I’ve only done clear ramps before but was researching doing plastics and came across this thread.
To answer my own question - Yes you can do printed plastics. Just do NOT do the side with the decal on it.
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