Don’t overdo the cleaning process as it *could* remove more artwork.

You could go with the option of a playfield protector (Beehive pinball) if you have either a budget limit and/or availability of a new reproduction playfield.

I find Sterns can often be a bit more delicate than other manufacturers, so I'd be careful.

If you can't get some real clear (or don't have some spare playfields to practice on) I wouldn't risk the rattle can.

Yeah, don't use magic eraser or alcohol on it

Yes. Like any painting more thinner coats is better.

ME is no joke man, for me it's not usually worth it trying to get swirl marks out or whatever. It's most valuable in the shooter arch for the thick ball trail.

Early in my collecting "career" I owned a Stern Lighting which probably used a similar playfield process to your Meteor... I used some of the Treasure cove product (mid 2K's???) that were available at the time (which I had used to great success on a CV), and used under plastics (thankfully) and it removed artwork on my Lightning... I wound up sticking with Novus 3 & 2, using #3 first in a circular motion by hand. If I were trying it today, I might use a power buffer now that I have experience doing it, but know you *can* burn the paint using this method if you don't have practice... At any rate, by hand, I got some good results "cleaning" my Lightning with the Novus #3...

Here, you indicate your game has some planking??? I would be careful to distinguish "cleaning" from "wear" on your playfield... You can clean up dirt, but you can't "clean" wear... Just be carful you don't blow through the lacquered artwork, and stick to non-abrasives would be my suggestion given you say there is some planking... Pics might help some of the more experienced playfield restorers weigh in, but I would try to distinguish "dirt" from "wear" based on what you have posted...

For me it’s in for a penny, in for a pound.

If I’m going to use any abrasive cleaning methods, I won’t be happy if it removes the topcoat and the playfield begins to wear rapidly.

So I would either use a playfield protector or clear the playfield. But if I’m clearing it I would have to touch it up first.

I normally use heavy duty magic eraser cut into cubes and Simple Green. Circular motion as well as back and forth motion constantly changing direction to clean out all the dirt from ball swirls.

For Freefall, there was so much ground in dirt that the manual process would’ve been too tedious and time consuming. So I used these magic eraser pads for your drill.

They have the regular foam, not the heavy duty foam so they won’t easily cut into the playfield surface. That said, I wouldn’t use these if the playfield is planking and the artwork is flaking.

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This playfield was so bad, this is how it looked AFTER cleaning! Look at the original color under the pop bumper ring. It really needed the magic eraser treatment.

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After a few minutes the results looked promising.

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I probably spent an hour cleaning up the blue. I can only imagine how long it would’ve taken to clean it manually.

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Here’s how it turned out after my amateur touch ups and final clear.

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I like your results. I would be very happy with that. Nice work.
-Mike