How do you unclog an air hockey table? You need to switch the fan continuously to clear the air holes.
As a result, any trash, dust, or other particles firmly lodged inside the holes will be easier to remove. After doing this, you can use a drill bit or toothpick to probe and clean the holes.
Dead zones or puck lag are caused by clogged holes, in which constantly banging pucks against the table surface may also cause them to chip.
Here’s How You Unclog an Air Hockey Table
1. Vacuum It
Turning on the fans will allow them to remove any dust and grime in the holes in the air hockey tables, preventing airflow restriction. This is the first thing you should do when doing your cleaning.
Throughout this procedure, the blowers should be left on. To avoid the nozzle injuring the air hockey table, vacuum as you hold the hose on top of the playing surface.
Remember to vacuum the legs to remove dust and cobwebs and pay extra attention to the air openings to eliminate dirt and dust particles.
2. Scrub It Down
After vacuuming, clean the table’s surface by wiping it with a dry, soft cloth, such as microfiber, to eliminate any remaining particles. The blowers should be turned on while doing this.
Then, use rubbing alcohol to dampen the cloth and scrub away any leftover food, fingerprints, or other stains. Avoid using soap or a rough cloth that can cause the surface to scrape or block the air openings.
The legs and sides should be cleaned with dishwashing soap and warm water in the following step, but not the inside rails because some people say that a bit of dust can be advantageous for bank shots due to the greater puck bounce.
You will have to decide whether or not to clean the inner rails. Alcohol-based cleansers, ammonia-free window cleaners, and dish detergents are suggested for cleaning air hockey tables.
3. Take Proper Care of Your Blower and Pucks
The pucks are probably the issue if you have used quality table wax and cleaners to remove the dust, filth, and dirt from the playing surface.
You should check pucks for abrasion and scratches and lightly sand them with sanding paper. You should handle mallets similarly, except when they come with a felt bottom.
A blower’s performance as a key factor in performance should be optimal for the effortless glide of pucks.
Use a vacuum or an air blower to clean it. You’ll need to remove the nuts to reach the blower on the underside of the surface.
4. Polishing and Waxing Your Air Hockey Table
Polishing and waxing an air hockey is important:
i) It polishes the air hockey table’s damaged surfaces, removing their rough edges.
ii) It offers additional defense against potential damage.
Guidelines to Stick To for the Best Outcome
- You must use wax made especially for cleaning air hockey tables. Doing this will prevent any additional harm caused by harsh chemicals in an unregulated cleaner.
- Use a little wax because using more may cause more air holes to become clogged, reducing the amount of air that can move through them. Additionally, the roughened spots on the table’s surface can be efficiently smoothed off by applying a small layer of wax.
- Use a dry, clean cloth to wash off the surfaces after waxing and polishing the air hockey table. By buffing the covers, you will get a shiny, glossy surface.
Even though many air hockey table owners will opt out of this step, it is still vital for maintaining the lifespan of your table.
A good wax can complete your thorough cleaning by giving your table a brand-new look and feel.
Why Should I Clean My Air Hockey Table?
#1. You’ll Protect Your Table Against Blockage
Your play will be hindered by a dirty surface, which could harm your air hockey table.
The passageways through which the pressured air supplied by blower motors passes are blocked by dust, grime, and debris.
Whenever there are dead areas, this can cause a gliding puck to slow down or come to a stop. Because the puck jumps off the air hockey table, it could also make it difficult for you to make precise shots.
#2. Prevent the Table From Further Chipping
Additionally, the playing surface may become chipped and scratched from a puck that frequently bangs against the table.
Cleaning the playing field before and after playing will help to prevent this. To ensure the pucks slide, deep clean it once every two months and perform weekly maintenance.
A properly cleaned air hockey table delivers maximum longevity and performance.
Conclusion
You may easily and quickly clean your table’s fans and air holes. However, if you don’t know how to unclog air hockey, you should expect a tedious and time-consuming process.
You will have to perform a thorough cleaning, which typically refers to washing the surfaces and polishing your table and its legs to clear out clogged holes and fans.
The air openings and fans must remove all dirt, muck, and debris.
