On a home use new game you shouldnt need much for the first couple years.

Congrats on your first pin!

Since you are buying a new Stern, little will go wrong. But you'll need some basics like a screwdriver set, a nut driver set, a ratchet set, some cleaning supplies (Novus1/2).

I used to wax my games when I only had a couple but stopped doing that when my collection grew.

Pinball Life has a switch gap adjuster which is useful:

https://www.pinballlife.com/ultimate-leaf-adjuster-tool.html

Basically cleaning will be mostly all you'll need to do with a new game like that.

I still have the first game I ever bought, a Tron Pro in 2012, and I think I might have cleaned/rebuilt the flippers once in the past 8 years for that game. Pinball Life sells flipper rebuild kits, but I wouldn't even feel the need to stock that.

Crescent wrenches, 5/16, 1/4 and 3/8. 5/16 most used on my MMR trolls. Sockets for anything else.

You won't need to stock up on anything yet. You will, however, need to get rid of other things in your house to make room for your second machine... and third.... and fourth...

I recently picked up my first as well, so I have my pre-delivery shopping list handy. As preventative maintenance, I waxed the playfield, installed high quality balls, and mylared a couple of high wear areas before the first game.

Magnetic nut driver set
https://www.titanpinball.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=74

Ninja balls
https://ballbaron.com/product/ninja-super-shiny-chrome-pinball-g10/

Blitz Wax
https://www.pinballlife.com/blitz-carnauba-paste-wax-12-ounce-jar.html

Novus 1
https://www.pinballlife.com/novus-1-plastic-clean-and-shine-8oz-bottle.html

Microfiber Towels
https://www.pinballlife.com/ultra-plush-microfiber-towel.html

Slingshot Protective Playfield Mylar
These are a good size for applying to the shooter lane and outhole. You'll need an x-acto knife for trimming.
https://www.pinballlife.com/slingshot-protective-playfield-mylar.html

If you're getting a new Stern I would recommend purchasing extra coil stops.
They look like this: https://www.pinballlife.com/flipper-coil-stop-for-sternsega.html

You also need lots of add on led strip lights, glue or velcro on plastic figures, some sort of topper, a cup holder, powder coating, a cover for your glass, also more expensive glass....I’m sure I’m forgetting something.

Other than Novus 1 and wax, nut drivers and a good soldering pencil (and solder) will be the two things you use the most. A small extendable magnet is also handy to retrieve all the nuts and screws you'll drop into the machine, no matter how careful you are.

Was literally just going to post about the magnet. Life saver. I also really like a good headlamp rather than trying to hold a flashlight. The other posts covered the rest pretty well. Allen wrenches for flipper mechs is the only other thing that stands out. A good ratchet set and screwdrivers will get you pretty far.

Biggest thing you will need for fixing/maintaining games...patience.

Purple Sparkle

Don't forget one of these, will save you from a lot of swearing later.

https://www.amazon.com/VASTOOLS-Telescopic-Magnetic-Pickup-Extendable/dp/B073PBR5PL/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

61DJ824kr-L._AC_SL1200_ (resized).jpg

Switch gap adjuster is the biggest tool that is not a "usual tool" that you need to buy. DO NOT USE NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS!

The first thing you need is what you already have... an account at pinside.com!

Sure, problems will show up every now and then, but just ask here for help.

Replace the balls every so often. Some machines beat the balls up more than others. Once the balls are damaged they return the favor. Replacement time of course varies on how much play the machine gets.

Maybe not the best time to be buying for alot of people but the klein 6 inch magnetic nut driver set is available for 56.10 with free shipping, set is usually closer to 80

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Klein-Tools-647M-Magnetic-Nut-Driver-Set-6-Inch-Shafts-7-Pc/15753142

You can't go wrong with the Klein magnetic nut driver set. An inexpensive set of precision screwdrivers will also come in handy, as well as a pair of long needle nose pliers.

Forget where I found this, but here's the master list

The Master List:

Power Tools
-----------
Shop Vac
Cordless Drill
Assorted Wood/Metal Bits
Dremel Tool
6" Bench Grinder
Berry Mfg Parts Polisher

Pin Tool Box
------------
Tool Box with at least 3 levels and a part sorter on top is
recommended!
Quarters
9V Battery (to test bulbs)
Alligator Clips
Digital Multi-Meter
Hammer
Small Socket Set
Nut Driver Set
1/4" Deep Socket
Large Flat Screwdriver
Small Flat Screwdriver
Large Phillips Screwdriver
Small Phillips Screwdriver
Screw/Small Part Retriever
35W Soldering Pencil
Soldering Stand
.050 Gauge Solder
Logic Probe
Black Electrical Tape
Jumper Wires w/Alligator Clips
Scissors
Slip-Joint Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Cable Cutters
Wire Stripper 16-22awg
Razor Scraper
Exacto Knife
Tooth Brush
Flash Light
Clamp-On Shop Light
10' Extension Cord
Putty Knife
Detailing Brush
Index Cards (contact cleaning)
Paint Markers (assorted colors)
Super Glue
Tape Measure
Allen Wrenches (separate small wrenches are better than an all-in-
one)
Small Level
3/4 Round 6" Long Dowel (for pounding inserts back into PF)
Bulb Removal Tool
Light Socket Cleaning Stick
Tweezers
Small Artist Brushes
Contact Adjustment Tool
Flexstone Files
Hard Contact File
Bamboo Skewers/Tooth Picks (for loose posts)
Wood Glue
Circuit Board Removal Tool
Wrist Grounding Strap
Cable Ties
Red and Black 18 and 20 Gauge Project Wire
Male/Female Crimp-on Quick Disconnects
Molex Pin Crimper Tool
Molex Trifurcon Pin Extraction Tool
Molex .093 Extractor Tool
Magic Sliders (for moving machines on carpet)

Cleaning and Painting Supplies
------------------------------
Pin Skates (for moving game around shop)
Rags
Mean Green or Simple Green cleaners
Glass Cleaner
Goo Gone
Goof Off
Naptha
Freeze Spray
Canned Air
Novus 1, 2 and 3
Kit Carnuaba Paste Car Wax
Isoprophyl Alcohol
Steel Wool
Scotch Brite Pads
600, 1500 and 2000 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper (check the automotive
section of your local mega-store)
Sanding Block
Walnut Shell Polishing Media (for Berry polisher)
High Density Foam Weather Stripping (for lockbar gasket and behind
standup targets)
Krylon Triple Thick Clear Spray Paint (for sealing damaged
backglasses)
Semi-Gloss Black Spray Paint (coin doors)
Semi-Gloss White Spray Paint (underside of damaged/touched up/repro
plastics)
Krylon Semi-Gloss Ivory Spray Paint (for older cabinet touch-ups)
Semi-Gloss Black Latex Enamel (for newer black cabinets and works
great on those black Gottlieb side-rails too)
1" Foam Paint Brushes
Wood Filler (water base)
Nevr-Dull Metal Polish

Common Parts
------------
Leg Bolts
Leg Levelers
Balls (10)
23/64" Mini-Post Rubber (40)
27/64" Mini-Post Rubber (40)
3/16" White Rubber (10)
5/16" White Rubber (50)
3/4" White Rubber (10)
1" White Rubber (10)
1 1/4" White Rubber (10)
1 1/2" White Rubber (10)
2" White Rubber (10)
2 1/2" White Rubber (10)
3" White Rubber (10)
4" White Rubber (10)
Black Rubber Post Sleeves (10)
Yellow Rubber Post Sleeves (10)
1/2" x 1 1/2" Red Flipper Rubber (10)
3/8" x 1 1/2" Red Flipper Rubber (10)
1/2" x 1 1/2" Black Flipper Rubber (10)
3/8" x 1 1/2" Black Flipper Rubber (10)
Black Shooter Tips (10)
White Shooter Tips (10)
#47 Lamps (200)
#555 Lamps (200)
#67 Lamps (20)
#455 Lamps (20)
#906 Lamps (20)
Bally Coil Sleeve Assortment (10)
Gottlieb Coil Sleeve Assortment (10)
Williams Coil Sleeve Assortment (10)
Gottlieb Speed Nuts (30)
Nylon Post Nuts (30)
Rubber Post Nuts (30)
Williams Shooter Sleeves (5)
Gottlieb Shooter Sleeves (5)
Assorted Inner Shooter Springs (10)
Outer Shooter Barrel Springs (10)
Locks (5) 7/8" for coin door
Heat Shrink Tubing
Assorted Wood Screws
Assorted Machine Screws
Assorted Nuts
Medium Leaf Switch Blades (10)
Heavy Leaf Switch Blades (10)
Gold Flash Switch Contacts (30)
Hardface Switch Contacts (30)
Molex .093 Male/Female Pins (100)
Molex .156 Trifurcon Pins (100)
Slo-Blo Fuses (5 each of 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, 3, 4, 5,
6 1/4, 7, 8, 10 amp values)
Fast-Blo Fuses (5 each of 1/2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 20 amp
values)

Board Repair Bench Tools and Supplies
-------------------------------------
Tenma Temperature Controlled Soldering Station
Digital Multi-Meter
Panavise Circuit Board Holder
Swiveling Magnification Lamp
Small Magnifying Flashlight
Radio Shack Resistor Value Card
Close Quarter Nippers/Cutter
Precision Needle Nose Pliers
Adjustable Wire Stripper (10-30 awg)
Tip Tinner Compound
Soldapult Desoldering Tool
Toothbrush
Acetone
1 lb .031 gauge rosin core solder
30 awg wrap wire (board trace repair and jumpers)
Machine Pin Sockets
An assortment of all of the common transistors, diodes, resistors,
capacitors, bridge rectifiers, etc. that are listed in Clay's repair
guides)