Can the pinball plastics be straightened, and what to clean the play field with?

[Amachanic]

I have 2 general question on Pinball machines.. Can the plastic piece be straighten on a pinball machine. I have a Williams High speed machine I'm working on, and I've found quit a few of the playing field plastics to be warped. I'd like to try to straighten but don't want to damage or break them.. Can you use a hair dryer or heat gun to reform them? I'd also like a few opinions on whats the best thing to clean the playing field with? I had one person tell me to use a Mr Clean Eraser and rubbing alcohol? This seem to do a decent job, but it still seem to leave a little of the ground in black behind..

Thanks Gary

[Fourbyracer]

Hello.  I have a High Speed and here are some things I have found:  Mr. Clean eraser does work.  For paint, be carefull because it doesnt take long to rub thru the paint.  In other words, be very gentle with it or you will see wood!  On Mylar, you have much more leeway as far as rubbing time but badly abused mylar is very hard to bring back to factory brilliant.  I have had good luck with the old standby--Novus 2 for both.  Use it like a polishing compound or cleaner and it is much less abrasive than the Mr. Clean.  After you get it as shiny as possible, use a good paste wax to finish the playfield.  I have also found that Lysol 4 in 1 cleaner (comes in a squirt bottle) works amazingly well on dirty rubber bumpers.  It pretty much melts the dirt off which is really nice!  If you havent tried that specific product before, spend the $3 and get some to clean the bumpers and flippers--I think you will be surprised.   I too have many warped plastics.  It is pretty standard for pinballs but I have not been brave enough to try and straighten them out with heat.  Good luck!

[slotsteve]

Having sold close to 1000 pinballs thur auctions , to clean playfields use good car wax it won,t mess up your p/f and it works well , novus is just a wax with some cleaner in it that will remove paint, scrubbing pads also will take off paint, and clear coat, fixing  bent plastic  warm water, good luck enjoy your pin

[Mr. Dinoman]

I have used the heat gun trick on a few of my pins, just be very careful not to over heat!...Lay the plastic on something flat and heat the top side, evenly, then put a heavy book or something and let it cool down...Just be careful!...Good luck...

[spalmer]

A heat gun does work to straighten plastic but heed other warnings be carefull.  Novus 2 or Millwax does a great job cleaning playfields.