I do the same. Novus 2 lightly and then wax. I use Pro Yellow Wax. Contains no fillers and doesn't leave any residue when removing.

http://www.prowax.com/waxes/W-41_Yellow_Wax_Paste.html W-41_9_09.jpg

Alexlevy,

That is a wonderful resource for people who are both new and OLD to pinball! Turns out... Mine wasn't pure Carnauba when I checked it! looks like I'll be buying the good stuff... Today! Thanks!

-Aaron
Iowa Pinball Club

I used mothers 3 for a little while but, it made the house smell like shit (bubble gum/suntan lotion). Gave me a headache and it lingers for days. The paste worked ok, but it's thin. The liquid is just a mess. I stay away from novus 2,3. I experimented with different waxes over the years, and found Collinite to be the best so far. This is all I use.

0017119_300.jpg

This is the post on RGP I found recommending Pro Yellow Wax.

"I use a wax made by a company called PRO yellow wax. Its pure carnuba.
I have been detailing cars for many years and I have found that this stuff
is the best wax I've ever run into. Chris is right. Mothers smells GREAT,
and its a good wax, but Pro is better. Wax is rated by the heat level at
which it begins to break down. Mothers and Meguiars are both excellent
products. They are rated at around 120. Simply put, when the surface
reaches 120 degrees, the wax will begin to break down. Pro Yellow wax is
rated at 170. Your playfield will not reach 120. If it does, you should
seriously consider switching to another set of bulbs, but that is just an
example of the quality of this wax. It's not super expensive either - about
15 bucks. It can be used on almost anything. I use it for cars (a LOT of
them), pinballs and my supplier uses it on his wooden furniture. The other
nice thing about a pure carnuba wax is you can build it up. Because there
are no cleaners and its 100% pure, you can put several coats of wax on the
playfield. I have heard guys tell me they use Meguiars cleaner/wax and they
have "4 coats of wax on this baby..." I dont have the heart to tell them
they have one coat of wax, 4 times. You see, with a cleaner wax, when you
wax, you also clean the surface. As you go around your project for the
second time, you're stripping off the product you just applied during the
first coat....

I have a firend who has about 25 years experience with pinballs and has
always been a car guy. He and his wife (who is also into both hobbies) were
over playing pinball not long ago. They asked what I was using to wax the
playfield because "...The playfields are really fast...". I told them and
provided them with some product which they have not yet used. I imagine
they will be asking for more.

One can will last you for about a million years. I go through about
3 cans/year and I clean about 125 cars/year (and 10 pinballs). "

Great thread guys...when you say use Novus 2 "lightly"...what exactly does that mean

Just picked up some of this p21s..thx

Use Novus 2 with a terry cloth towel going back and forth on the pf. Even though I tend to go in more of a circular pattern than back and forth, I try to mix it up. Just don't apply a lot of pressure to the rag. Don't press down hard. Just let the novus do the work, not your body weight.

I wish I had a cleaning regiment; I have to do it all myself.

Thanks for all the tips; now I know I've been using the wrong wax.

Good to see that others have found how good automobile detailing products work on pins! I've been detailing cars for a long time so I know what I like, what works, how it works, and what doesn't.

The P21S car wax is a good product, but I wouldn't bother using it on a PF because it just isn't durable enough in my opinion.

The Collinite products are great. I personally use the Collinite 845 fleet wax. Very durable, and does not leave any residue behind at all, wipes away perfectly clean. Just apply very thin.

The thing I don't like about Novus 2 to clean a playfield is that it is so messy. I use Optimum's Polyseal, or Klasse All in One to clean a playfield. Even though they are also liquids, they don't seem to leave as much residue behind to get in the cracks of star posts etc compared to Novus 2. The Polyseal has some mild abrasives in it so it can also be used to gently polish the PF with a buffer.

This is the buffer I use to polish a PF safely:

http://www.autogeek.net/griots-orbital-polisher.html

One other point: I know a lot is made of using "100% Carnauba wax" only on a PF. I can understand why there is the recommendation for the non-clearcoated playfields, but it doesn't make sense for the ones that have a clear coat on them. There is nothing wrong with polymers being used. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Most waxes that are a blend of carnauba with polymers will work better and last longer than the ones that only have carnauba.

I never thought to use a clay bar but that is an awesome idea. thanks!

Is novus 2 and carnuba wax okay to use on mylar?

Okay, so what I've learned from this thread is that I won't be spending 50$ on a can of wax...lol.. wowzers. I'm going to give the Yellow Wax a shot on my STTNG. Don't want the one above where the wax is flaking off from ball impacts from the cannons/borg ship!

I'm all for durability, but don't want to be picking off wax flakes.

Great thread and very informative. I have been doing light cleaning with NOVUS 1 of late but wanted to dig deeper into my maintenance and getting a nicer shine. Is a terry cloth recommended for all these different cleaning procedures to wax and shine? Or are those automotive heavy duty paper towels ok too?

Also I have an older EM game with a PF that's it great shape but has some swirl marks and dulling colors....is ME with the alcohol recommended or would this CLAY BAR stuff be a safer route to clean this up a bit?

Keep the tips coming....love this stuff!

Carnauba wax in 100% form is as solid as a rock. You can't spread it.

Any wax that claims to be 100% carnauba isn't. It has to be 'cut' with something so it can be spread. Solvents, other softer waxes, etc.

I use Chemical Guys WAC_301 XXX Hard Core Pure White Carnauba Paste Wax and Advanced Polymers - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UWQFKY/ref=wms_ohs_product

never thought of using the Brillianize on the playfield, use it on the glass and backglass though. interesting.....