One of the most satisfying restoration processes when fixing up an old vintage pinball machine is shining up old metal parts. Old metal parts get rusty, crusty and oxidated.
A few hours in a tumbler or shining them up using metal polish is very satisfying work.
Check out the before and after photos of the tilt ball found in my recently picked-up Stern Meteor pinball machine.
The tilt ball is found inside the cabinet on the left side and is designed to roll forward if someone lifts the front of the pinball machine. It rolls forward on a track and hits a switch triggering a tilt.
Shopping list for tumbling metal pinball parts:
- Vibrating tumbler for shining up metal parts – https://amzn.to/3hKzAP6
- Tumbler media – Crushed walnut shells for rough cleaning – Crushed corn cob for polishing to a beautiful shine.
- Tumbler additive – Flitz tumbler additive https://amzn.to/39GlawK
- Evaporust – https://amzn.to/334KOtE
- Hand rubbing with a metal polish such as Mothers – Mag & Aluminum Polish https://amzn.to/3gRiK14