Buff out scratches, new look to iPhone

[JeffBobula]

Ok, I was just talking about this in the "Applesauce remover" thread, and figured I'd post my own. My phone was heavily scratched on the chrome, so I took a 3M Brite Scrub and some electrical tape, and buffed them out, giving the iPhone a brand new, classy look after seeing the thread on another forum.

Here is the other forum where I was first noted to this trick:
http://www.macrumors.com/iPhone/2007/07/23/iphone-with-brushed-metal-trim/http://www.macrumors.com/iPhone/2007...ed-metal-trim/

I went to Target, paid $7.
Got home, spent 20 min with my scratched chrome iPhone...

...20 minutes and a little bit of sweat later, I had an iPhone that looked twice as sexy, and brand new!

Id try this if you don't like the "bling" look of the chrome rim of the phone, or if yours got scratched to hell from the lint in your pocket or from whatever case you used.

I use a bodyguardz on the front screen and now with the buffed chrome trick, won't need to put another case on it, and just enjoy it how it is, without having to worry about future scratches.

If anyone would like to see pics of my phone now, let me know and I can post them tonight.

Lemme know if you try it!

 

[ps49556n]

Can you post some close up pictures?

 

[JeffBobula]

Sure, I'll do it when I get home tonight. (2 hours Pacific)

 

[rocco]

Post the pics

 

[paa79594]

 

[asuandy]

pics please! also, did you just rub the pad on the phone in one direction or did you "scrub" the chrome?

 

[mullman]

I have a small side businesss of restoring vintage motorcycles, so I am quite familiar with metal work, polishing, brushing, ect.

I just used a 3M Scotch-Brite pad and worked around the polished steel bezel (def NOT chrome) of my iPhone. Very pleased with how it looks (brushed) and now the anal-retentive side of me can finally relax about the fingerprints!

Kudos to the OP

 

[Keith Ellwood]

I have a small side businesss of restoring vintage motorcycles, so I am quite familiar with metal work, polishing, brushing, ect.

I just used a 3M Scotch-Brite pad and worked around the polished steel bezel (def NOT chrome) of my iPhone. Very pleased with how it looks (brushed) and now the anal-retentive side of me can finally relax about the fingerprints!

Kudos to the OP

pictures! ha, so it isn't shiny any more?

 

[spyz88]

Its cool but GOD FORBID you scratch the iPhone screen. I guess its real good if you already have scratches. Wait now that I think about it. Will the iPhone screen get scratched even if you do it. Remember the key test?

 

[minivini]

I'd be curious to see how it looks in a few weeks. If there's any sort of clear coat on that chrome finish, it'll oxidise after buffing it out - then it'll look worse than it did scratched. Let us know, and if it doesn't oxidise, I'll definitely have to get some of that stuff! Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[mullman]

Its cool but GOD FORBID you scratch the iPhone screen. I guess its real good if you already have scratches. Wait now that I think about it. Will the iPhone screen get scratched even if you do it. Remember the key test?

That is why you affix a template to protect the screen during the process. Use common sense...

 

[mullman]

I'd be curious to see how it looks in a few weeks. If there's any sort of clear coat on that chrome finish, it'll oxidise after buffing it out - then it'll look worse than it did scratched. Let us know, and if it doesn't oxidise, I'll definitely have to get some of that stuff! Thanks for the suggestion!

A gentle wipe-off every day will take care of this.
For something that is/will be handled regularly this is a non-issue.

I have several steel watches with brush-finished bracelets (not polished) and none of them have oxidized. In fact, between services, to remove surface scratches on the bracelets I buff vigorously with a 3M pad, then with 0000 steel wool. 10 mins of work and they look brand new. One is approaching 20 years old.

 

[JeffBobula]

Yeah, thats what the electrical tape is for, so your screen doesn't get scratched. But if you have a protective film over it already, its not bad at all.

Sorry about not posting the pics guys! I took them last night but well...uh, was intoxicated during the process so I didn't upload them to the site. Im at work now, and if I don't see the Bourne Ultimatum immediatley afterwards, I'll post the pics then.

You can check out simliar pics from that other guy through the link I posted.

Sorry again about the delay!

 

[Hecubus]

You can check out simliar pics from that other guy through the link I posted.

Exactly, and it looks damn nice too. I really do dislike the chrome piece to the iphone--too bling-like. Stylistically, for me at least, it really detracts from the elegant design and look in general of the iPhone. This method you used offers a significant and positive change to the appearance of the phone--almost as if it should have been that way in the first place.

I may be a little to timid to try this myself, but it's definitely a much improved look.

 

[litmus101]

Scratches Happen

"SCRATCHES HAPPEN" , No Matter what case you get, it's a design flaw of the camera , well not really a flaw but the nature of the beast. When you have a HUGE open face on the phone then dust is gonna get in no matter what you do. And then it scratches , unless you work in a dust free zone you are gonna SCRATCH the iPhone. Its only a thing and you can buy more things.
Thanks for giving me hope in restoring my ability too walk the earth guilt free of my scratches.

cheers

 

[SiLeNtKiLLa]

This post is pointless AFTER poster states he will post them later.

 

[arok413]

i tried this, but i got scared. i was in walmart and used one of the sponges, i did only 3 swipes and was already scared because it looked scratched. is it supposed to looked scratched when you start with the 1st couple of swipes? all your basically doing is scratching it until it looks good right lol

 

[Skipper]

no you rub all the chrome off. under if you have a duller metal, but with the scotch brite pad, it will look like the classic brushed metal look. Im gonna have to do this tonight!

 

[tobey]

My bezel was scratched and I found this thread, so I decided to give it a try. I'm mechanically inclined and have worked with finishing metal a lot when working on cars, so this seemed like a good idea.

And it was (for me anyway).

It took me about 30 minutes total, and it's super easy. Do it at your own risk though, you screw it up and it's your fault, not the internets. Just make sure you make a clean mask line with the electrical tape and protect your plastic and screen.

I didn't rub a lot, so I wasn't removing the top chrome finish, only roughing it up. I probably did 20 - 30 passes over each of the 4 sides. The corners are a little harder to mask / rub, but just make sure you rub in a straight line and everything will look good. You could even rub in circles to give it an orbital finish. I'd post pics, but it's hard to really see the difference in a picture.

Looks like new again - I may have to go caseless now that I know the bezel is easy to touch up. I wonder if the bezel is plastic or metal, and if it is metal, what kind is it?

 

[x999x]

Don't bother posting a picture, it would ruin the continuity of the thread and kill it. Have a look at the replies to the original post here, and you'll understand why you can't post a picture.

Anway, good to know this works.