Hi all, I'm new to owning a pinball machine. I just ordered some nice shiny pinballs to replace the lightly scratched ones that came with my machine. I read that you should clean the factory oil off of new pinballs before installing them in a pin. Is warm soapy water and a thorough drying good enough, or do I need to do something more? I read some people use brake cleaner, is that really necessary? Seems a bit like overkill, and I'd rather not have to buy another cleaning/maintenance product that I'll only use for my pinball hobby. What do you all use on new pinballs?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

#2 4 years ago

MJS

schudel5

Pinside member

20y 166K 6,394 27

Polish the oil off with a dry cotton rag and install. Some people wax the pinballs after cleaning the oil off, but whatever.

#3 4 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,796

I use a little alcohol on a rag to clean them off.

#4 4 years ago

RCN

homegameroom

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 61,650 366

If they seem to be covered in oil, a little naptha on a clean rag or car wax (something with distillates in it to cut the oil) would work too. Maybe an ammonium cleaner like Windex. Just be sure they are clean and not sticky or oily when you install them.

Don't use any of the above mentioned stuff on your pinball machine though! (Well, maybe Naptha, but wax it afterwards).

#5 4 years ago

MJW

DakotaMike

Mike's Pinball Repair

Clermont, FL

4y 95,550 2,111 1 26

Alright, thanks everyone for the advice. I've been looking through vids' guides, and when he said he cleaned his new pinballs with brake cleaner before using them, it raised my eyebrows. I think I'll probably just use a rag, and maybe a little naptha. I don't think I've got any rubbing alcohol.

#6 4 years ago

MJW

DakotaMike

Mike's Pinball Repair

Clermont, FL

4y 95,550 2,111 1 26

Also, while we're at it. Does anybody know why it says vid1900 is located in Yemen? I wouldn't think pinball was very popular there.

#7 4 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,796

OP
Quoted from DakotaMike:
Does anybody know why it says vid1900 is located in Yemen? I wouldn't think pinball was very popular there.

It's a good place to get away from all the Michael Jackson fans that want his autograph as well, I'd imagine.

#8 4 years ago

BLR

Breger1

Pinside member

Clinton, MO

6y 42,800 311 9 12

OP
Quoted from DakotaMike:
Also, while we're at it. Does anybody know why it says vid1900 is located in Yemen? I wouldn't think pinball was very popular there.

I think it's a joke, because he's gone MIA lately

#9 4 years ago

EVN

EvanDickson

Pinside member

Charlottetown, PE

10y 91,550 2,679 5 49

Quoted from Breger1:
I think it's a joke, because he's gone MIA lately

It said Yemen years before he went MIA. I think he traveled for work maybe. Or maybe when he set up his profile, he was watching the Friends episode where Chandler flew to Yemen.

#10 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,060 19 30 1

I think he got a mail order groom form there once.

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