New Life Games Tech Forums

Cleaning Reel Strips-----
Reel strips manufactured by IGT prior To 2001 are sealed with a protective coating.
Beginning in 2001, IGT began manufacturing digitally reproduced reel strips.
This process provides superior colors for reel symbols but DOES NOT allow for protective coating.
 Because these strips ARE NOT SEALED, the dust,and smoke in the air, and oils from human hands
may cause stains and/or discoloration.
Ammonia-based window cleaners, such as windex, 409, etc, DAMAGE the emulsion on the surface.
Of the Newer  reel strips.
These Cleaners Can Also Cause them To discolor and result in the need for replacement.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO MAXIMISE THE LIFE AND READABILITY OF DIGITALLY REPRODUCED REEL STRIPS:

1. Wet a SOFT CLOTH with tap water until damp, but not dripping.
(cloth is preferable over paper towels, paper towels can scratch the surface.)
2. Gently wipe the dirty reel strips with the damp cloth to remove dirt and stains from the surface.

NOTE: It is NORMAL for reel strips to turn milky in color, when exposed to water.
3. Allow reel strips to air dry. (The milky appearance will disappear when completely dry)
Note: Make sure to power off the machine, if you are cleaning the reel strips in the machine.
remove the reel basket for easier access.

NEW STYLE STRIPS VS OLDER STYLE STRIPS

Pre-2001:
Background color is “flat”
Color dots in reel symbols are
often visible to the naked eye
Post-2001:
Background color has a
pearlescent quality
Color dots in reel symbols are not
visible to the naked eye

Thanks for all the info.,
please keep it coming.
I.F.F.V.68

Great info.  :259- on that
Ford

Word of WARNING  Dave means well I'm sure, but before you go and put any liquid on your strips test them first.  Myself I just spit on a finger and rub the strip at one of the ends where it won't show. If it starts to get sticky STOP. 

 :212-

There are early S2000 strips that were not sealed properly due to manufacturing issues that will not survive ANY exposure to water. NEVER take a damp cloth to a set of S2000 strips before testing them on the white space of a corner first.

Of course, a drop of water on a cloth may be substituted for Buzz's "Finger-O'-Spit^®"  :96- :30- :203-  :208- :208- :208-

Since we are talking about cleaning strips, for the older coated ones, Flitz polish works well at getting grime that other cleaners won't get off, and it doesn't damage the strips. Of course as mentioned above, be sure to test it first. The best place to test is where the old reel tape was, as it will get that off quickly too.

For the S+ strips, Goo Gone (a form or orange oil) also does a great job of removing all of the grime and gum residue.

(Should I mention testing again? Nah, everyone already knows.  :72- :72- :72-)