Keeping your pinball machine looking its best: a conversation with greg mockenhaupt
If you're anything like me, the moment a new pinball machine arrives in your home, you immediately start thinking about how to keep it looking as stunning as it does on day one. Whether you've just unboxed a shiny new Stern or you're the proud owner of a beloved classic, protecting your investment matters. That's why I was so excited to sit down with Greg Mockenhaupt, the founder of Pinhedz, to talk about how this exceptional line of cleaning and protection products came to be and why it should have a permanent spot in every pinball owner's maintenance kit.
from car dealership to pinball revolution
Like many great ideas, the story of Pinhedz started with a simple outing and a curious mind. Greg shared that it all began when he decided to take his son to see some truly high-end cars up close. As a car enthusiast and serious pinball nut, Greg wanted to give his son the experience of seeing a Ferrari or Lamborghini in person, so they headed out to a high-end dealership to take it all in. What he didn't expect was to walk away with an idea that would change the way pinball machines are maintained.
- While at the dealership, Greg had the opportunity to learn more about the products used to protect and preserve those beautiful, expensive cars. He discovered that the automotive industry has largely shifted away from traditional waxes toward synthetic-based protection products. Greg explained that this shift makes perfect sense for cars, as synthetics bond differently to automotive surfaces and are engineered for the specific demands that vehicles face. However, as Greg started connecting the dots back to his love of pinball, he realized something important: what works beautifully on a car is not necessarily what's best for your pinball machine.
Car cleaning and waxing products are typically synthetic based for the unique protection needs of cars
Why car products don't belong on your pinball machine
This is a point Greg feels strongly about, and honestly, after speaking with him, so do I. Many pinball enthusiasts reach for whatever cleaning or polishing product they have on hand, and popular automotive products often end up on playfields. Greg pointed out that products like Novus 3, for example, are formulated specifically for automobile plastics. While they may seem like a reasonable choice, they are simply not appropriate for use on your game. The protective needs of a car and the protective needs of a pinball playfield are fundamentally different, and using the wrong product can do more harm than good over time.
Stern's Guardians of the Galaxy while clear coated is still likely to develop playfield wear without the protection of wax
What a pinball playfield truly needs is a physical barrier, a layer of real protection that stands between the steel ball and the artwork and clearcoat beneath it. Synthetics designed for cars just don't deliver that in the way a pinball machine requires.
The power of real, high-quality ingredients
After recognizing this gap, Greg spent months rigorously testing formulations on a wide variety of pinball machines before arriving at what would become the Pinhedz product line. Greg shared that one of the things he is most proud of is the commitment to using high-quality, non-synthetic materials in the formulation. At the heart of the Pinhedz wax is true carnauba wax, one of the most respected and time-honored protective waxes available. This is the real deal, not a synthetic substitute, and it's what gives Pinhedz products their ability to create that genuine physical barrier that pinball machines need.
This isn't a corner-cutting operation. Greg built Pinhedz from the ground up with the goal of creating a truly premium product, and the ingredients reflect that commitment.
How pinhedz products actually work
So lets get down to the practical side of things because that's what matters.
Protection from Ball Damage
Greg emphasized that waxing your playfield isn't just about making it look pretty. It's about protecting it from real, physical damage. The areas of your playfield that see the most repetitive ball movement, your return lanes, your orbits, the main ball path, are the areas most vulnerable to wear. A proper wax layer creates that buffer between the ball and the playfield surface, helping preserve the artwork and finish underneath for the long haul.
The Premium Pinhedz series includes true carnauba wax for protection from ball damage
The Cleaner: Removing Ball Trails and Grime
The Pinhedz cleaner includes a buffing compound designed to gently lift ball trails and dirt from the playfield surface. Greg walked me through the process, and it's straightforward. You apply the cleaner and buff it into the dirty areas, working until the grime begins to lift and disappear. You then allow it to dry, and once dry, you remove the excess. The result, as you can see demonstrated in the video, is a dramatic transformation. Ball trails that looked like they might be permanent simply vanish, and the playfield comes back to life.
The Wax: A Protective Layer
Once your playfield is clean, it's time to protect it. Greg shared that the key with the wax application is keeping it thin. You apply a thin, even layer across the playfield, give it a light buff, and then allow it to dry fully before removing the excess. This thin layer is what creates that physical barrier and gives the playfield that beautiful, protected shine.
UV Cabinet protector can also be used to clean and recondition rubbers
Pinhedz Creamy Carnauba is a high-quality wax without synthetic ingredients
The UV Protector: Double Duty
For the cabinet exterior, Pinhedz offers the UV Cabinet Protector, which Greg described as sharing the same core formulation as the spray and wipe, but with the addition of UV protection specifically for use on the cabinet exterior. It's applied in exactly the same easy manner, spray onto a microfiber cloth and wipe on, making it simple to keep your cabinet looking protected and vibrant while guarding against the fading that UV exposure can cause over time.
Also included in the bundle
A high end microfiber along with metal polish are also included in the Pinhedz Premium Bundle.
The HD Glass: Safely Cleaning Treated Glass
If your machine has that beautiful high-definition disappearing glass, you already know how quickly a fingerprint can ruin the effect. Greg designed the Pinhedz HD Glass Cleaner specifically for use on treated glass surfaces like these. The key, as Greg pointed out, isn't just that it cleans effectively. It's that it cleans safely. Using the wrong cleaner on treated glass can compromise that incredible invisible quality, and that's simply not a risk worth taking.
The black ops series: Quick and easy MAINTENANCE
The bundle also includes a microfiber towel for application
And I have to mention, Greg shared with a smile, that the spray and wipe smells absolutely wonderful. It's a small thing, but when you're spending time working on your machine, it's a nice bonus.
For those times when you want to freshen things up without doing a full clean and wax, the Pinhedz Black Ops series is your best friend. Greg explained that the spray and wipe cleaner in this line is incredibly versatile. Simply spray it onto a microfiber cloth and wipe away surface dirt from the playfield. It's also fantastic for reconditioning rubbers, those classic-style rubbers that come with most machines can get grimy quickly, and the spray and wipe breathes new life back into them, extending how long they last before you need to replace them.
A product trusted by industry
Here's something that really speaks to the quality of Pinhedz, and it's something Greg shared that genuinely impressed me. Pinhedz products have earned the trust of game manufacturers themselves, and have been used in the preparation of new playfields. When the people building the machines are reaching for your product, that tells you everything you need to know about the quality and reliability of what's in the bottle.
is it worth the cost?
I'll be honest with you, as I always am. Pinhedz is a premium product, and it does come at a few extra dollars compared to some alternatives on the market. But Greg and I are aligned on this: you get what you pay for. When you've invested thousands of dollars in a pinball machine, using the right products to protect it is not the place to cut corners. The formulation, the quality of ingredients like true carnauba wax, the specificity of design for pinball machines, and the trust placed in these products by manufacturers themselves all add up to something that is absolutely worth the investment.
my final thoughts
Speaking with Greg was a genuine pleasure, and it reinforced why I believe in Pinhedz products so wholeheartedly. This is a brand that was born from passion, built on real research and testing, and formulated with the kind of quality ingredients that your machine deserves. Whether you go with the full Premium Set for a complete clean, polish, and protect routine, the Black Ops Set for convenient quick maintenance, or the HD Glass Cleaner to keep that disappearing glass doing its thing, you are giving your machine the care it deserves.
Your pinball machine is a showpiece. Treat it like one.
Have questions about Pinhedz products or want to share your own cleaning tips? Drop them in the comments below, and check out the Pinhedz demo video for a closer look at these products in action.