Pinball Playfield Mylar removal using a heat gun or hair dryer
This is a demonstration of a technique to safely remove protective plastic Mylar patch from your pinball machine. Plastic Mylar patches are primarily installed around pop bumpers, around slingshots, in front of scoop holes or any other high traffic area and they are designed to protect the machine playfield from wearing out. Usualy you would want to remove your machine's Mylar if it's worn, if you need to touch-up playfield surface underneath it, if it started to "peel off", if it's misty and discolored etc... The technique itself is not very difficult, if you have a steady hand, a bendable chisel tool (4-5 dollars at Home Depot), a hair dryer or a heat gun and some patience and good hand-eye coordination you will do okay. Remember to move slowly and steadily.
After you remove the Mylar patch there will be some leftover glue on the playfield surface. Use a cotton rag (or a paper towel) and Naphtha (available at any hardware store such as Ace Hardware for 8$-9$ per gallon container, and wipe off all and any excess glue). If glue is not getting off, heat it a little with the heat gun or hair dryer to soften it, then wipe off with a Naptha soaked rag (do not pour Naptha directly onto playfield, put it on the rag first then wipe.
After that, polish and clean with Novus 2 and then follow with some automotive wax (Carnauba, Turtle Wax) available at Auto Zone, Pep Boys or any other automotive parts store. Buff to a nice shine and you're done.
This technique is demonstrated on a 1994 Data East™ Guns N Roses pinball machine. If you are not confident in your repair abilities and if you have never done this before, I do NOT RECOMMEND Mylar removal on any machine prior to 1991/1992. If you have Mylar patch over playfield inserts, I would leave that alone too, unless you absolutely know what you are doing, if you are experienced in that type of repair and/or the damage is extensive.
IMPORTANT! Please use due care and precaution while using this technique. Use at your own risk. If you do not have any repair or refurbishing experiencee and/or knowledge, do not work on pinball machine playfields. This webpage is for informational purposes only. I will not be held liable or responsible for any damage that occurs to your pinball machine or any bodily injury or any kind of damage by use or misuse of this technique.
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