Waxing pins makes them play waaaaay too fast...what to do?

Hey all, title is pretty self-explanatory. I've noticed that after I wax my newer pins with carnauba wax , they play way too fast. Like so crazy fast that it's not fun, and plastics are at risk of getting broken, ect. Is there any way to overcome that?

My old 1980 Black Knight was great with wax, but my new Sterns are awful with it. Even some of my B/W games like Johnny Mnenomic or Mousin' Around are scary fast with wax. I've literally chipped plastics on those games after waxing, to the point where I had to clean the wax off. I left it on some high-wear areas like shooter-lane exits and top rollovers, but that's it.

The only reason I want to wax is to protect the pf, but I don't want to damage plastics and mechs because of the post-wax speed boost, and I don't want the games to play like crap. Is there anything I can do about it?

Right now, I'm operating under the precept that the pf clears on newer Sterns are robust enough that it's not worth the downsides of waxing. As long as I clean the pf regularly, and make sure the balls are in good shape, should I be fine on my newer games? Looking for some advice. At home I don't put enough games on my pins to really worry about it, but I might be doing a little routing soon, so it's of slightly more concern to me now. But again, I'd suspect rough/scratched pinballs are the main cause of pf damage, as well as a lack of mylar over high-wear areas such as ball-drops. What does everyone else think?

#2 3 years ago

CAM

Jediturtle

Pinside member

Plymouth, WI

12y 109K 4,482 14 66

OP
Quoted from DakotaMike:
Hey all, title is pretty self-explanatory. I've noticed that after I wax my newer pins with carnauba wax , they play way too fast. Like so crazy fast that it's not fun, and plastics are at risk of getting broken, ect. Is there any way to overcome that?
My old 1980 Black Knight was great with wax, but my new Sterns are awful with it. Even some of my B/W games like Johnny Mnenomic or Mousin' Around are scary fast with wax. I've literally chipped plastics on those games after waxing, to the point where I had to clean the wax off. I left it on some high-wear areas like shooter-lane exits and top rollovers, but that's it.
The only reason I want to wax is to protect the pf, but I don't want to damage plastics and mechs because of the post-wax speed boost, and I don't want the games to play like crap. Is there anything I can do about it?
Right now, I'm operating under the precept that the pf clears on newer Sterns are robust enough that it's not worth the downsides of waxing. As long as I clean the pf regularly, and make sure the balls are in good shape, should I be fine on my newer games? Looking for some advice. At home I don't put enough games on my pins to really worry about it, but I might be doing a little routing soon, so it's of slightly more concern to me now. But again, I'd suspect rough/scratched pinballs are the main cause of pf damage, as well as a lack of mylar over high-wear areas such as ball-drops. What does everyone else think?

You are right that modern games don't really NEED to be waxed the way older ones did. As long as you keep it clean with healthy balls, you should be fine in a home environment. Wax will give a bit more protection, but I'm pretty sure it mostly just helps keep them clean longer. If you do wax (which is best), the crazy fast play will stop after a couple dozen games though, and it will be back to normal.

#3 3 years ago

MJW

DakotaMike

Quoted from Jediturtle:
If you do wax (which is best), the crazy fast play will stop after a couple dozen games though, and it will be back to normal.

I've often wondered though, once those initial games are done and the ball speed slows back down, is there even any wax left on the pf? I would think the ball speed slows because the wax has been worn away; otherwise, what's happening during the break-in period?

Plus, I'd even speculate that owners that wax their pins regularly do more routine cleaning, and more frequent pinball-condition inspections, than other owners; and that could correlate to less pf wear regardless of the presence of wax or not.

#4 3 years ago

LEV

CrazyLevi

Crazy Levi's Pinball

New York, NY

10y 148K 33,539

The wax doesn’t last and neither does the speed.

Personally I think waxing is a waste of time.

#5 3 years ago

MDM

Black_Knight

Vertigo

Blue Ridge, GA

9y 115K 3,065 109 33

Play better.

#6 3 years ago

MJS

schudel5

Pinside member

20y 166K 6,394 27

Don't push the flipper buttons so hard.

#7 3 years ago

ERW

chuckwurt

Don’t wax on a new game except after a really long time and sparingly. But really, novus 2 when it’s dirty and that’s really it.

Older games I will wax a couple times a year. Helps bring the shine back to those old playfields and speeds em up.

#8 3 years ago

CAM

Jediturtle

Pinside member

Plymouth, WI

12y 109K 4,482 14 66

Quoted from chuckwurt:
Don’t wax on a new game except after a really long time and sparingly. But really, novus 2 when it’s dirty and that’s really it.
Older games I will wax a couple times a year. Helps bring the shine back to those old playfields and speeds em up.

Novus 2 is even overkill in most cases. Unless you have dirt really ground in or nasty ball trails, Novus 1 should be plenty. Never use anything more aggressive than necessary. If #1 doesn't do the trick, then bust out the #2.

#9 3 years ago

ERW

chuckwurt

I wait for ball trails. Novus 2 because I know it will work, then done

#10 3 years ago

RAR

beelzeboob

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 182K 20,712 1

No such thing as too fast.

#11 3 years ago

ERW

chuckwurt

Quoted from beelzeboob:
No such thing as too fast.

How about waxing STH, hitting the drops, they brick, and the ball flies OVER the flippers to the drain? That’s when I’m like, okay no wax.

#12 3 years ago

RAR

beelzeboob

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 182K 20,712 1

Quoted from chuckwurt:
How about waxing STH, hitting the drops, they brick, and the ball flies OVER the flippers to the drain? That’s when I’m like, okay no wax.

Oh shit. Is THAT why that happens???

#13 3 years ago

MCB

EricHadley

Inactive member

8y 110K 4,839

Quoted from beelzeboob:
Oh shit. Is THAT why that happens???

Oh! That’s what happened to my STH! I always wax a new game. WHIZZZ WHAMMM BANG WHISHHHHHH BLAM

#14 3 years ago

RAT

Medisinyl

Medisinyl Mods

Gainesville, FL

9y 142K 3,160 16 34

I'm generally not bothered with it, but I find with Maiden, that after waxing, the ball no longer auto-plunges into the loop, and it takes a long time to go back to normal (doesn't load multiball, and some rejects can lead to a drain).

#15 3 years ago

DNY

Knackers

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 46,050 124 12

Just cleaned my IM pro with Novus 2 for the first time and replaced the balls. Bloody hell I see what you mean, the balls are flying.

2 months later

#16 3 years ago

MAT

Matthew2015

Pinside member

9y 65,050 581 8

what kind of carnauba wax did you use , DakotaMike?

#17 3 years ago

JEC

Jecco74

Pinside+ Pro!

3y 81,100 834 3

I like to clean and wax often. When cleaning I check for loose post, screws and other playfield parts. I usually find something loose while doing this. I like the fast play after waxing. I hope that I am protecting the playfield by doing this. I want my machines to last forever for me and the next owner.

1 week later

#18 3 years ago

MJW

DakotaMike

Quoted from Matthew2015:
what kind of carnauba wax did you use , DakotaMike?

Uh, I think the P21 carnuba stuff.

#19 3 years ago

RSE

Bamaro

Pinside member

Jacksonville, MD

14y 26,900 105 1 8

If you want a carnauba wax, Mothers Step 3 Pure Brazilian liquid is equal to any and readily available in automotive stores and reasonably priced.

OIP (resized).jpg

#20 3 years ago

RST

PinRob

Pinside member

11y 103K 3,765 39

Quoted from Bamaro:
If you want a carnauba wax, Mothers Step 3 Pure Brazilian liquid is equal to any and readily available in automotive stores and reasonably priced.[quoted image]

Don’t use the liquid, they contain petroleum distillates. Use the paste in a tin

6E695D4E-3A5C-4DA1-9B41-74BE93F95F54 (resized).jpeg

#21 3 years ago

MJW

DakotaMike

Quoted from PinRob:
Don’t use the liquid, they contain petroleum distillates. Use the paste in a tin
[quoted image]

Oh yeah, when I do wax, that's the type of stuff I use. Gotta swirl that rag around the tin until the wax softens enough. Yep, yep.

1 week later

#22 3 years ago

RSE

Bamaro

Pinside member

Jacksonville, MD

14y 26,900 105 1 8

Quoted from PinRob:
Don’t use the liquid, they contain petroleum distillates. Use the paste in a tin
[quoted image]

What petroleum distillate are you concerned about. The ingredients in the liquid and paste are identical. Just some small differences in amounts to account for the thickness.

petroleum-distillates (resized).jpg

#23 3 years ago

HAT

Pinballer67

Pinside member

6y 73,300 499

Drink more coffee...

#24 3 years ago

???

nicoy3k

Pinside member

Acton, MA

3y 66,050 3,025 1 14

Don’t wax

1 month later

#25 3 years ago

ERW

chuckwurt