iPod + iTunes for Windows and Mac in a Snap (2nd Edition)

2017-07-07 02:10:07

101. Turn a Scratched iPod into a Brushed-Metal iPod

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Just jump right in!

SEE ALSO

100 Restore Your iPod to Factory Settings

Not every problem you might have with your iPod has to do with the vagaries of software. It's just as much a concern for most iPod users to make sure that their hip little white music player keeps looking like new. Although Apple's sense of style can hardly be faulted for looks, it does perhaps leave something to be desired in the day-to-day practicality of maintaining those looks. Naturally, this means keeping that shiny stainless- steel back plate mirror-smooth and free of scratches.

The sad fact is that it's all but impossible to keep the back of your iPod looking pristine forever. But the good news is that, with a common kitchen scouring sponge or a piece of steel wool, a little bit of elbow grease and patience, and the fortitude to perform a little bit of seemingly destructive surgery on your beloved iPod, you can make it look just as good as when it was new, if in a slightly different way. All you have to do is give it a brushed-metal finish, and suddenly your iPod will not only be free of scratches, it'll be more resistant to new ones and to sweaty fingerprints as well. Performing this cosmetic surgery doesn't even void your warranty!

WEB RESOURCE

http:// members .optusnet.com.au/brushedipod/

Adam Podnar was one of the first to popularize the "brushed iPod" solution, and since then many iPod owners have embraced it as a compelling alternative look for their iPods.

TIP

To experiment with different abrasive materials and brushing techniques before tackling your iPod, test the materials on the bottom of a shiny cookie sheet.

101. Turn a Scratched iPod into a Brushed-Metal iPod

Mask the iPod's Front with Tape

Using electrical tape, mask the plastic front face of the iPod, aligning the edge of the tape carefully with the boundary between the plastic face and the metal back.

Place the iPod Against a Guide Rail

Place the iPod face down against a piece of wood or other firm surface.

Brush the iPod with an Abrasive Material

Using the rigid guide to keep your hand moving steadily in parallel strokes, brush briskly up and down the back face of the iPod with the rough side of a kitchen sponge, a piece of steel wool, some fine-grained sandpaper, or a foam sanding block. Experiment with pressure and technique until you see brushed lines appearing the way you want them to look. If you accidentally scrape sideways across the iPod's face, just brush in properly aligned motions over the mistake, and it'll soon be covered up.

NOTE

The iPod logo and other text is engraved in the metal and is not harmed by this process.

The longer you brush, the better your iPod's surface will eventually look. Keep at it, sanding the short sides with more care until they match the back, and before long you'll have an iPod that not only looks as good as new, but that has a look all its own that none of your iPod-carrying friends will have!

NOTE

Be sure to wash your hands after you're done brushing the iPod's surface. You'll have created a thin film of microscopic metal shavings on your skin, which is never a good thing to ingest.

101. Turn a Scratched iPod into a Brushed-Metal iPod

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