Hey guys,

where do you buy freeze spray for removing Mylar? Also, I know people have beaten the topic to death, but is it the best way?

Quoted from sentinelking

Hey guys,

where do you buy freeze spray for removing Mylar? Also, I know people have beaten the topic to death, but is it the best way?

Costco... Dust-Off air cans in the computer area. Packs of 6 for 24$. Flip them upside-down and you have freeze spray.

It looks like most people just use the compressed air cans you can but from Staples for cleaning keyboards/computers. Then just hold the can upside down and spray on the mylar and as it freezes it peels off easily.

Then there's the issue of what to use to safely remove the glue that is left behind afterward. Goo Gone is one product. Must be careful with things like methyl hydrate or xylene as they might remove the finish from the playfield.

Always a risk involved, so you only do it if you need to.

Quoted from sentinelking

Hey guys,

but is it the best way?

I've had better luck with heat (on older 80's games).  But some people swear by the cold spray.  Try both and see what works best in your current situation.

I concur with Sparky's comments. Costco is the best deal going.

Freeze spray, in my experience, takes mylar off extremely easily. It's the glue left behind that poses the most significant issue to overcome. Removing mylar adhesive freaking **suuuuuuuuuucks**.

I will never again remove full playfield mylar unless it is absolutely 100% necessary. I'd sooner buy a new playfield than have to endure the adhesive removal on an entire PF.

Cool! (no pun intended).

I was having a go at it yesterday and I was surprised at how well it is stuck to the playfield

Quoted from sentinelking

Hey guys,

I know people have beaten the topic to death, but is it the best way?

I've used freeze spray and it took the paint off with the mylar. Afterwards used a hairdryer and this worked perfect...But the adhesive still is the worst problem. It eats up many hours just to remove it ona small section of the playfield.
I removed the mylar on my FH playfield with nothing, just pulled slowly and everything came off nicely.

Stupid Question maybe but....

For cleaning up glue, have you guys ever used trisodium phosphate?

Quoted from sentinelking

Stupid Question maybe but....

For cleaning up glue, have you guys ever used trisodium phosphate?

Don't even think about it... way too aggressive. It will attack the finish.

Quoted from ALJO

I've used freeze spray and it took the paint off with the mylar.

It is because you pulled on it too hard. You have to let the freeze spray do it's work. I use on average 2-3 cans per playfield. I have even used up to 12 cans on one single playfield.

1- spray an area the size of your hand
2- wait 20 seconds
3- freeze it again
4- use a razor blade to lift a small corner
5- if the section doesn't come off VERY easily, freeze again, and again, and again until it lets go. DON'T PULL! Just lift ever so slightly.

I do all my playfields that way, and I have had zero paint lifting. You just have to take your time. Be patient.

for the record, a true can of freeze spray works 10 times better than an upside-down can of compressed air.. at least, it did for me.  The freeze spray seemed to be a lot colder and much more consistent, so it removed a lot less of the original playfield than the compressed air.  A whole can of it also goes a lot further.

I picked it up at Sayal, but any electronics store should have it.

I've only done one PF..... agree that it's a terrible job.

I used Isopropyl Alcohol to remove glue.  Just do it in bursts so you don't breath too much in, but it works very well with a little elbow grease.  Doesn't affect paint, and it's 99% so it evaporates, no water left.