Hello,

Sorry if this isnt posted in the correct location and also if it is a very "newb" question but that is what I am at this point!

I bought TWD table over the past weekend (NIB) and have been playing it of course, and this morning I noticed that there are some scratches on the playfield, mainly between the slingshots. I am assuming that this is normal wear and just scratches to the wax but i wanted to see what you guys think? The scratches are very thin, and really are only noticeable at certain low angles with lights on it. I am able to see them when the table is off due to a light in my ceiling which is over the machine.

Again, sorry if this is a dumb question. I am just paranoid about my new machine hahaha.

No, I did not replace the Stern Balls. Really, that could cause this even being less than a week old?

Uggh very annoying but thanks for the info. I assume these very fine scratches will come out no problem. Ive read a little on waxing and polishing... Dont think I will do it yet but..

Oh, can you guys give me some suggestions for the best balls for a table with magnets?

Thanks again.

Very good! Thanks so much for the information, very helpful to me and calms my nerves hahaha.

Thanks to everyone else as well. This is a very welcoming forum!

I bought it from Automated Services. They are very close to where I live... But ive played it a weeks time before I noticed it..

Yes, I am not sure if they were there when it first came. Noticed after a few days of good play time. I can be a bit OCD with things so im just going to not worry so much and enjoy the table.

I still just cant believe someone would have to wax their playfield from a brand new game. That just seems crazy to me. The table is a slick as it can be it seems!

I did and I do not see where it says to wax the playfield. I understand it will need to be waxed but as mentioned, just surprised I would need to do it right away.

Edit - There is no mention of waxing the playfield in the game manual..

No, you do not need to do that stuff to a new car. Although people believe you need to do those things to a car, you do not as it is unnecessary. Car detailing is something I am familiar with. I also see a lot of people who believe they need to polish their car often also and this is a mistake as well...

If the pinball crowd is anything like car enthusiasts, then there will be people who are paranoid about certain things more so than others. Im not saying anyone is wrong, but im not really seeing how a very thin layer of wax is really going to protect it that much more from a heavy silver ball bouncing all over a playfield. I understand the theory of it but not completely convinced that waxing is going to completely prevent these things from happening.

If there any chance that the fine scratches I see are simply scratches to the wax layer?

True enough.. If these things are coated like cars, then I will just have to get used to scratches, nicks and dents as these things happen and repair when maintenance time comes around. Seems as if it is impossible to completely avoid them from happening. Hell, you wax a car to try and protect it from the elements. It would never ever hold up against a pinball running over it constantly.

Hey,

I dont even know if I would be able to capture them in an image. I can tell you they remind me exactly of swirl marks that you would find in a car and also that there are not a whole lot of them but just something that I noticed. You cant see them looking directly at the table. I can only see them with a glare at a low angle, just like very minor swirls on a car.

This is what I was assuming and thanks for the reply. Some people on this forum make it out to sound as if any scratches are rare and that means that the owner must not be doing something right.

Since the comparison seems to always go back to cars, I take every precaution necessary with my cars. My friends think im absolutely ridiculous with how I am to them. And yet, I still manage to find swirl type marks here and there... Basically to say, some things really are just about impossible to prevent from happening unless it is never used.

Yea, well I bought the machine NIB and he knocked the pricing down, free shipping and delivery and included setup in my house as well because I told him I knew I could get it cheaper out of state due to not paying taxes. I wasnt really aware that you could haggle them down too much for the new machines. Used ones obviously you can...

But the info is good to know for the future, thanks!

Also, I got a response from Stern regarding the question of if their new machines are waxed:

"A light coat of wax is applied before shipping. This is done mostly to clean the playfield. If your start to see scratches or ball marks I would clean it using playfield wax"

Not sure how to take it exactly lol. But lets just say I will most likely do a quick wax soon...

Question about the waxing, Ive done cars obviously but I bought the Treasure Cove wax (yes I know, should have gotten a paste) but is this stuff going to dust everywhere when buffing off? And if so, whats the best way to get that off? Just vacuum?

Lol whoops. That was the one step I didnt read. Definitely good info! For cars I typically prefer sealants over waxes (personal preference) and they tend to shed a lot of dust. Anyways, thanks once again. Always great info and learning a lot. I feel i was a bit in the dark about pinball maintenance but like anything, hard work pays off in the long run...