Metallica (Pro)
Stern, 2013Recently I bought a new machine from Stern (Metallica). The four balls the game came with appear very dull as if there is a coating on them of some sort. The balls in the other Stern machines I have previously had don't have this issue and are very shiny. Any ideas why this is?
Stern Balls, I don't even open the bag they come in. I drop them right in the trash.
In go some Super Shiney's, Ball Baron or Silverjet's, depending on the magnet situation
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Oh god.
Here comes the "stern balls build quality" thread.
Hey my pin’s not level, what did they do to the leg levelers?
Quoted from EricHadley:In go some Super Shiney's
MMMMMM shiny balls!
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Oh god.
Here comes the "stern balls build quality" thread.
Lol
Quoted from newpinbin:I have bought online but the usually start to rust in less then a month. Never had an issue with Stern's before.
Buy from someone reputable. Just replace them if they are scratched. Stern probably used a diff supply for your MET.
Does anyone remember Ken's mirror glazed premium polished pinballs? "Jewelry for your machine".
https://web.archive.org/web/20060101022735/http://mrgameroom.homestead.com/Kens.html
Quoted from schudel5:Does anyone remember Ken's mirror glazed premium polished pinballs? "Jewelry for your machine".
https://web.archive.org/web/20060101022735/http://mrgameroom.homestead.com/Kens.html
Yes I remember those and still have a few.
Stern has a tough enough time building a machine that doesn't come apart at the seams and you expect them to get the balls right?
Quoted from EricHadley:Stern Balls, I don't even open the bag they come in. I drop them right in the trash.
In go some Super Shiney's, Ball Baron or Silverjet's, depending on the magnet situation
I do the exact same thing
Quoted from 0geist0:Well, they have the balls to sell machines with unfinished code.
Unpolished...seems about right.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Oh god.
Here comes the "stern balls build quality" thread.
Here is some gasoline for the fire.
One of these pinballs is not like the others, one of these pinballs is not quite the same. 
Agreed, lower left. Is that a brand new Stern ball?
I see no issues with the 4 ball supplied with my Spider-Man.
Quoted from Swainer80:From my (former) NIB GB Prem. That was after cleaning waxing and polishing all of them. They still looked like crap. For reference the others were the cheapies from Pinball life.
Quoted from heni1977:What about waxing your balls?
I mean we wax our playfields, why not the balls? Serious question pardon the pun!
This is from the last time I shopped my Tron. New balls waxy and fast.
I once noticed new balls I bought rusted very fast. I found out that you shouldn't touch the balls with your hands because oils and stuff from your hands cause them to rust sooner. Now, when I take balls out of a game for maintenance or something I give the balls a good wipe before I put them back into the machine. Haven't seen a rusty ball I bought myself since. So to conclude, don't touch your balls with your hands.
Quoted from Pmuis:I once noticed new balls I bought rusted very fast. I found out that you shouldn't touch the balls with your hands because oils and stuff from your hands cause them to rust sooner. Now, when I take balls out of a game for maintenance or something I give the balls a good wipe before I put them back into the machine. Haven't seen a rusty ball I bought myself since. So to conclude, don't touch your balls with your hands.
Why does this have to be so difficult...its just balls!
Quoted from Pmuis:I once noticed new balls I bought rusted very fast. I found out that you shouldn't touch the balls with your hands because oils and stuff from your hands cause them to rust sooner. Now, when I take balls out of a game for maintenance or something I give the balls a good wipe before I put them back into the machine. Haven't seen a rusty ball I bought myself since. So to conclude, don't touch your balls with your hands.
Oils in your skin can corrode metal, but this takes a huge amount of time and it won't affect the ball across its whole surface; only where you've touched it. If the balls are rusting all over and over a short period of time, then it is more likely to be caused by the environment or the way the balls were manufactured.
Quoted from arolden:Oils in your skin can corrode metal, but this takes a huge amount of time and it won't affect the ball across its whole surface; only where you've touched it. If the balls are rusting all over and over a short period of time, then it is more likely to be caused by the environment or the way the balls were manufactured.
It can depend on the person. Also, ofcourse this isn't within weeks. But maybe after a year. And with rust I don't mean rusted through, just effected. When you hold multiple balls in your hand and roll around you likely touched most of the ball.
Quoted from newpinbin:Why does this have to be so difficult...its just balls!
It's not difficult, you don't have to clean them with alcohol of something. Just wipe hem off with your shirt or something before putting them back in the game. No need for a special ballrag
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