Filed under: iPod Family, How-tos
Clean up your iPod nano's scratches with Brasso
Todd Dailey has a nice little how-to up on his blog, showing you how to restore the shine to your iPod nano with a $4 can of Brasso. He has step-by-step pictures and then end results looks so amazingly good that he adds this note: "Holy. Crap. I feel the need to assure you that these are actual unretouched photos of the final clean nano. The same one that I showed in the 'dirty' pictures above. As you can see, the Brasso got rid of every single scratch. My nano looks completely, totally brand new. Again, believe it or not these are actual 'after' pictures! Im very, very impressed. If you dont get these results, get back to work on the nano with the Brasso. Im confident that with enough time you can remove any shallow scratch."
Of course, if you don't want to spend the $4 on the Brasso, you could always just flip the hold switch on the nano and rub your nano obsessively with your thumb as you listen. The natural oils of your hand combined with the friction from your skin will eventually rub out some of the minor scratches. That's the method I've been employing anyway.
[via MAKE]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TheDoode said 2:46PM on 9-28-2005
C.K.
Given that youre currently in the #3 spot as a blogger here, I cant believe you didnt already know about this. The Brasso tip has been a well known solution for iPodders around the world for a few years now.
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Joe Stillwell said 2:55PM on 9-28-2005
I have also had good luck with 3M Microfinishing glaze. I don't remember what the cost is but it works great on the iPod and swirl marks on your car.
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C.K. Sample, III said 3:03PM on 9-28-2005
TheDoode, just because I already know about something or not, doesn't mean it isn't bloggable. There are a lot of people that don't know these things.
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cyberdork said 3:30PM on 9-28-2005
Enough with the nano scratches already!!!
Geeeeez!!!
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Mister Stimulation said 3:50PM on 9-28-2005
So -- will this work on regular Ipods too?
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C.K. Sample, III said 3:57PM on 9-28-2005
Mister Stimulation,
Yes.
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Chris K said 4:19PM on 9-28-2005
It's just gonna scratch again. Abrasive cleaners will eventually wear down your iPod's finish. I would suggest not using them unless absolutely necessary.
I've had my 4G 40GB for almost a year now and it has a bunch of surface scratches. Strangely, the music still sounds just as good. :)
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Dee said 7:28PM on 9-28-2005
Thanks a lot , I just did my ipod 4 G and shuffle,it works just great!I guess it will also work on ibook!
:)
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John Laur said 11:47PM on 9-28-2005
Instead of brasso which is quite abrasive, try using a plastic specifically for plastics such as a treatement with Novus #3, then #2. Keep it clean with Novus #1. I haven't ever tried it on my iPod, but it works great on the plastics in my pinball machine and my other portables like my cell phone and PSP.
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Mark said 8:33AM on 9-29-2005
I have resorted to storing my nano in a plasick snack ziplock baggie :(
PLEASE! someone make a case that's under $29.99 so that a poor newlywed can protect the GIFT that was given to him!
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Mr.Clicky said 8:42AM on 9-29-2005
"... you could always just flip the hold switch on the nano and rub your nano obsessively with your thumb as you listen. The natural oils of your hand combined with the friction from your skin will eventually rub out some of the minor scratches. That's the method I've been employing anyway."
Isn't that also known as wanking?
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Ogre said 12:01PM on 9-29-2005
I too would like to throw my support behind Novus #2 & #1. #3 is really only meant for deep grooves and acts as somewhat of a filler. #2 will take out surface scratches and imperfections very well and #1 just maintains a fine shine and protective layer. I too have spent alot of time using the entire Novus line on old pinball parts and it works some serious miracles...
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David said 12:23PM on 9-29-2005
Probably the best way to preserve the original sheen of the Nano would be to just leave it in the box.
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Eric said 3:17PM on 10-05-2005
hey yall just wanted to say some stuff about the ipod nano and how to avoid getting scratches on it. I got mine from Best Buy on the Saturday it came out. My screen isn't craking and my ipod is virtually scratchless, well except for some very very very small scratches that are not even deep on the back side, which is imminent. Here are some ways to avoid scratches:
1) DON'T PEEL THE STICKER TYPE PAPER THAT COMES ON THE IPOD FROM THE BEGINNING, LEAVE IT ON THERE TILL YOU GET A CASE
2) BUY THE WHITE IPOD NANO, THE SCRATCHES AND FINGERPRINTS ARE LESS VISIBLE, TRUST ME
3) LEAVE YOUR NANO AT HOME UNTIL YOU GET A CASE AND PLEASE DON'T STICK IT INTO YOUR POCKET- YEAH I KNOW STEVEY BOY DID IT, BUT THE CAMERA WASN'T ZOOMED IN ALL THE WAY
4) HAVE COMMON SENSE PLZ AND TREAT YOUR NANO LIKE A KING
5) BUY A MICROFIBER CLEANSING CLOTH, GO TO ANY SUNGLASS STORE AND BUY THE CLOTH THEY SELL FOR CLEANING GLASSES COST LIKE 2 BUCKS, CAN USE IT AND REUSE IT FOR ANYTHING CLEANING, DOES NOT SCRATCH!!!
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Chad said 8:32PM on 10-21-2005
http://www.toolblast.com/ipodnano
I made my own tutorial on how to make a casing/cover to protect your iPod for free. It worked for me, maybe it'll work for you!
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Greg said 12:13AM on 12-13-2005
Eric, thanks for telling me about the eyeglass cloth being a microfiver cleansing cloth. I didn't know that, and now I do. I just purchased to eye glasses, and they came with a case and one of those cloths they put in. You just saved me the trouble of looking for one in the store!
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