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Magic Erasers and Rubbing Alcohol - alternative to alcohol?


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I bought some Magic Erasers a while back and would like to use them to clean

my Gottlieb World Fair (EM) pinball playfield. But I'm having a hell of a

time here in Australia finding anything like Rubbing Alcohol, as this is what they seem to recomend on RGP and other websites.

 

Anyone have any alternatives I can use, other than Rubbing Alcohol? Novus 2, WhiteSpirits etc?

 

Each time I ask at a Chemist or a Supermarket I get funny looks, they must think I'm going to mix it with Coke or Orange Juice and drink it!

 

 

Pinballer

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Closest thing to rubbing alcohol are medi-swabs (pre-injection swabs) obtained from any chemist. They might be too small and fiddly for your application, although the're great for cleaning edge connectors, VCR heads etc, can't use metho, it leaves a residue, sorry I digress.
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Rubbing alchohol is Iso Propyl Alchohol.

Can be difficult to buy over the counter, like you said most people give you a dumb look.

If you know anyone that works in a hospital or surgery, they should be able to source it for you.

You could also try "Iso Wipes"(premoistened pull off towells, like baby wipes), we have these at work, and I use them to clean PFs.

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I had the funny looks and a lecture when I initially was looking for rubbing alcohol. Apparently, 100% alochol is not sold directly to the public.

 

What I use is "Isocol" - It is 70% alcohol. It is in a green plastic container with a crocodile on the front label.

 

I use it with Magic Erasers all the time for playfields. It's also good to clean up stepper units on EMs..

 

It is available in chemists and supermarkets.

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Medi swabs contain Isopropyl alcohol too, but I like the idea of having something bigger such as the Iso-swipes just mentioned.:)

 

Well in our hospital, we have the small alcohol wipes, but we also have larger ones which measure 15cm square in the ICU which I manage. They come in handy for all sorts of things....:D

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Thanks for the info, really appreciate your comments.

 

Pigsie, do you know what percentage the stuff Bunnings sell is, is it just the 70% stuff and the rest water, or is it the pure stuff?

 

Apparently the 70% stuff isn't as good and the water content can absorb into the ply of the playfield and damage it over time.

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I had the funny looks and a lecture when I initially was looking for rubbing alcohol. Apparently, 100% alochol is not sold directly to the public.

 

What I use is "Isocol" - It is 70% alcohol. It is in a green plastic container with a crocodile on the front label.

 

I use it with Magic Erasers all the time for playfields. It's also good to clean up stepper units on EMs..

 

It is available in chemists and supermarkets.

 

I've got the same stuff which I got from a chemist.

 

Just a warning on using isopropyl alcohol on playfields. Test it in an inconspicuous place first! I'd been using shellite with magic eraser with no problem then one day I couldn't be bothered going to the other side of the house to get the shellite so I figured I'd try out the rubbing alcohol. To my horror it made the playfield paint very soft and left a streak where the top coat had come off!

 

Always test new chemicals before using them, even if somebody else has said it worked fine for them. Your playfield might have slightly different paint or be sealed differently. Luckily for me it happened in an area I was planning on replacing with a decal anyway, you might not have that fortune.

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Here in the healthcare industry we use 70%. Just looked at the bottle and there is no other content listed. Therefore I must assume it is remainder water. :unsure

Pretty sure water as such does not need to be listed as a constituent.

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Here in the healthcare industry we use 70%. Just looked at the bottle and there is no other content listed. Therefore I must assume it is remainder water. :unsure

Pretty sure water as such does not need to be listed as a constituent.

 

Cool, in that case take a big swig and let us know if you're still standing :evil

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Mate the smell is bad, the colour (purple) is not natural, and I'm sure the taste is F#@%ing awful...:D

 

methinks there's more than alcohol and water then if its purple. :D

 

Perhaps they dont need to state all of the incredients by regulation because its not a food/drink (consumable) item.

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Thanks for the info, really appreciate your comments.

 

Pigsie, do you know what percentage the stuff Bunnings sell is, is it just the 70% stuff and the rest water, or is it the pure stuff?

 

Apparently the 70% stuff isn't as good and the water content can absorb into the ply of the playfield and damage it over time.

 

the stuff at bunnings is not watered down, i use it at work all the time.

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the stuff at bunnings is not watered down, i use it at work all the time.

 

 

Yep, it's Diggers brand (Very aussie) comes in 125ml spray bottles too. Say's on the container in front of me 100% ISOPROPANOL..

 

and the liquid is clear looking....

 

now where's that orange juice..:lol :lol

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I had the funny looks and a lecture when I initially was looking for rubbing alcohol. Apparently, 100% alochol is not sold directly to the public.

 

What I use is "Isocol" - It is 70% alcohol. It is in a green plastic container with a crocodile on the front label.

 

Beware the Isocol in the green bottle.......Iam sure it contains moistuiser??/ I will check this arvo.

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Beware the Isocol in the green bottle.......Iam sure it contains moistuiser??/ I will check this arvo.

 

This explains why my EM playfields look 10 years younger :lol

 

Seriously, I'll check tonight - I've used it on all my playfields (10-15) and never had a problem.

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Yep, it's Diggers brand (Very aussie) comes in 125ml spray bottles too. Say's on the container in front of me 100% ISOPROPANOL..

 

and the liquid is clear looking....

 

now where's that orange juice..:lol :lol

 

I've got the same stuff, exactly what DKong said. Cool little spray bottle. Bunnings sells it. Can't remember the price I paid for it, though.

 

Dick Smith's does sell something similar from memory.

 

I've found Novus with a soft cloth is the best for cleaning playfields.

 

I only use the Magic Eraser and Isopropyl Alcohol to remove the in ground dirt left behind in the swirl marks on a playfield.

The ones that mainly look like little half moons. Be very careful with the Magic Eraser as it can be abrasive if you get too aggresive.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Dan :cool:

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Thanks again for the info. I'll look into what my local Dick Smith carries and pickup a bottle of Eucalyptus oil.

 

Has anyone else used Eucalyptus oil for cleaning EM playfields?

 

I'm real nervous about cleaning this playfield, I don't want to damage the artwork at all. I think I'll try all the products in a non visable area and see which works best.

 

Thanks again!

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