Black iPhone 5 scuff repair thread

Phightinphils · Oct 10, 2012

I think Apple should do something like they did with the iPhone 4 Free Case Program for this. Not sure what they could do but I spent $400 on a phone and I've had it for one week. Already has 2 small knicks in the bezel. My Griffin Reveal case wont arrive soon enough!!!!

madsci954 · Oct 10, 2012

http://www.cultofmac.com/195296/sto...5-and-engrave-it-with-frickin-lasers-instead/

I think this idea is cooler

mjpearce023 · Oct 10, 2012

bbplayer5 said:
Tried this.. .didnt stick to the phones antenna band at all. Went on well, dried, then rubbed right off

Well that doesn't sound promising. I think cleaning it with Alcohol first as mentioned earlier in this tread would help it adhere better. Then again it may not help at all but its probably worth a shot. If there is any grease on the phone from your hands then I can see the paint/marker sliding off easier.

----------

madsci954 said:
http://www.cultofmac.com/195296/sto...5-and-engrave-it-with-frickin-lasers-instead/

I think this idea is cooler

The one with the girl on the back looks pretty cool but the other ones were pretty ugly. It looks a lot better on the white version I think. It would kill resale value a little to much for me to try it.

dasx · Oct 11, 2012

madsci954 said:
http://www.cultofmac.com/195296/sto...5-and-engrave-it-with-frickin-lasers-instead/

I think this idea is cooler

Awesome! Although a transparent case is mandatory here... You don't wanna mess such a nice layout.

Brian N · Oct 15, 2012

I posted this in the other thread. Seems like it would do good in this one as well.

Brian N said:
Anyone else think of trying "Birchwood Casey Aluma Black Touch Up"? Costs about $10 for a bottle.

It is used to touch up Anodized Surfaces on guns. It actually chemically reacts (selenious acid) with the exposed aluminum scratch and makes it black again. From gun reviewers it seems to work pretty well. And doesn't affect the rest of the anodized finish. I wonder how well it will work for our black anodized iphone's.

Again this is different than a Sharpie or even the Birchwood touch up pens (which is paint) that come in matte and gloss black as well. This actually changes the surface of the metal.

My only concern is how it would react to the plastic antenna points if those areas near it were scratched. It comes in a plastic container so maybe it will be fine? I would also probably use painters tape to mask other "vulnerable" areas. If replacement backs weren't so much money I would experiment on it.

Thoughts...?

mjpearce023 · Oct 16, 2012

My birchwood touch up pen in glossy black came in so I gave it a shot. I wanted to do it on the smallest of the 3 scuffs that came on my phone so sorry if its hard to see.

Step 1: put some alcohol on a paper towel and wiped the scuff good to get it clean.

Step 2: shook up pen and dabbed some paint on a paper plate.

Step 3: dipped plastic toothpick in paint and lightly dabbed it on the phone.

Step 4: checked scuff and there was still a lighter area showing threw.

Step 5: put more paint on plate and applied some more to the phone with the toothpick

That was it. It was easy and came out looking great. Tomorrow I will put my incipio frequency case on and take it off to see how it holds up. Below are some pics. The scuff is right below the power button. I really can't see anything on there now so I think it worked really well. I will update on weather or not it sticks. I wouldn't try the glossy on the flat areas but it seems to match the chamfered edge really well. I'm not doing the other 2 scuffs yet because I'm still thinking about exchanging it.

mjpearce023 · Oct 16, 2012

Here is the scuff right below the power button. Yes it's very small.

mjpearce023 · Oct 16, 2012

Here is the first after pic. Can't see it at all in most light

mjpearce023 · Oct 16, 2012

With light shining directly on it you can see a slightly lighter color but you really have to look for it.

Brettka7 · Oct 16, 2012

My phone got dinged hitting the rail in my car between the seat and center console. I used the pen, looks better than silver but a lot blacker than the bluish grayish "slate." don't know if it will last yet.

marcobrien · Oct 17, 2012

My replacement is due to arrive from Apple tomorrow. Hopefully no chips/scratches/dead pixels. If not, gonna have to go for a white one (which is not ideal)..

marcobrien · Oct 18, 2012

Replacement iPhone 5 just arrived from Apple. So far, so good. No dings, chips or dead pixels. Hopefully this is a keeper as I don't really want a white one..

mjpearce023 · Oct 18, 2012

marcobrien said:
Replacement iPhone 5 just arrived from Apple. So far, so good. No dings, chips or dead pixels. Hopefully this is a keeper as I don't really want a white one..

Congrats, it looks great!

I am happy to report that the birchwood paint is sticking really well to the phone. I have taken my incipio case on and off a couple times and paint has not rubbed off. I think I am just going to repair the other 2 spots and keep my iPhone instead of trying for a second replacement.

drew0020 · Oct 18, 2012

Thanks for the update. The black iPhone 5 really does look great. Just wish there weren't these chipping issues. I could not deal with it over time especually during the first couple months of ownership.

mjpearce023 · Oct 18, 2012

drew0020 said:
Thanks for the update. The black iPhone 5 really does look great. Just wish there weren't these chipping issues. I could not deal with it over time especually during the first couple months of ownership.

All of the scuffs were there when I got it. Ive used a case 90% of the time but it hasn't scuffed the aluminum despite changing out cases quite a bit. It doesn't scuff as easy as I thought it would. I could just get mine replaced but everything is perfect except for the scuffs so I figured I would just repair them and be done with it. I have heard quite a few people say that there black 5 is still perfect without using a case so I think some phones scuff easier than others.

marcobrien · Oct 18, 2012

My first one had chips on the front edge out of the box & grew worse over the first few days (all on the same front edge adjacent to the screen). So far this 2nd replacement has no marks at all & hasn't developed any yet.

Hopefully the reports of Apple tightening Foxconn's quality control are true.

Will keep you updated..

mjpearce023 · Oct 22, 2012

I got the eBay knock off of the Poetic atmosphere case and after struggling to get it off it seems to have taken the Birchwood paint off the phone. I think it would work ok on a naked phone but it seems like some cases may take it off. It was still fine after using a switch easy tones case and the Incipio frequency case. Luckily I went to the store this weekend and was able to get a replacement that is pretty much perfect. Hopefully I wont have to use the pen again until time to sell.

besweeet2 · Nov 8, 2012

I know it's been a while since somebody's posted in this thread, but I went to my local Bass Pro Shops and bought one of the Birchwood Casey Super Black touch-up pens in gloss black (for the chamfered edge). It was $10, which is twice as much as online, but I don't like waiting

.

I don't know if I'm using too much of the paint or not. I put a few drops onto a piece of paper, dabbed a toothpick into it a little bit, and started covering up some scuffs on the edge of my iPhone 5. One can easily tell that I used the paint on the edge, so I'm wondering if I used too much or not... I guess I could clean it off and try again, but I'm not positive about this method.

soldierblue · Nov 8, 2012

I agree, I put just a tiny bit on. I saw it was way too dark and wiped it all off.

besweeet2 · Nov 8, 2012

soldierblue said:
I agree, I put just a tiny bit on. I saw it was way too dark and wiped it all off.

It was a waste of $10. Might come in handy for other things, though. Will get another (final) replacement tomorrow.

soldierblue · Nov 8, 2012

besweeet2 said:
It was a waste of $10. Might come in handy for other things, though. Will get another (final) replacement tomorrow.

Mine didn't come this way. It scuffed after I dropped it six inches onto a particle board desk. Took a 2mm long chip out of the glossy edge. It's BS.

cosmic68 · Nov 9, 2012

besweeet2 said:
I know it's been a while since somebody's posted in this thread, but I went to my local Bass Pro Shops and bought one of the Birchwood Casey Super Black touch-up pens in gloss black (for the chamfered edge). It was $10, which is twice as much as online, but I don't like waiting .

I don't know if I'm using too much of the paint or not. I put a few drops onto a piece of paper, dabbed a toothpick into it a little bit, and started covering up some scuffs on the edge of my iPhone 5. One can easily tell that I used the paint on the edge, so I'm wondering if I used too much or not... I guess I could clean it off and try again, but I'm not positive about this method.

Thats a shame to hear-I was hoping this ^ would be the answer. Why don't you try again and post some pics?

besweeet2 · Nov 9, 2012

cosmic68 said:
Thats a shame to hear-I was hoping this ^ would be the answer. Why don't you try again and post some pics?

I would, but I'm getting my second replacement today.

JBryan84 · Nov 16, 2012

I bought my black iPhone 5 on release day, today just noticed a huge nick on left side of antenna band. What's the chances the Apple store Genius will replace my phone when I go in tomorrow? I do not have apple care. I did not cause the damage, never dropped phone and its always been in pocket with a microfiber cloth. Let me know your opinions please.

besweeet2 · Nov 16, 2012

JBryan84 said:
I bought my black iPhone 5 on release day, today just noticed a huge nick on left side of antenna band. What's the chances the Apple store Genius will replace my phone when I go in tomorrow? I do not have apple care. I did not cause the damage, never dropped phone and its always been in pocket with a microfiber cloth. Let me know your opinions please.

Just tell them that it's had that scuff since launch day and that you wanted to wait until some better replacement models were produced.

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