iPhone w/ Brush Metal Trim

[MeekB2G]

I was one of the unlucky people that purchase the 'Incase' for my iPhone & the metal trim got all scratched due to lint etc. Since I was tired of looking @ the scratches I decided to give my iPhone a brushed metal look instead of leaving it with the scratched chrome. Check out my before & after pics ad let me know what you think. I did one side first then took pics. I'm actually working on the apple symbol on that back right now.

[lilnyc]

Very niiice

I take my Belkin clear case off once a week to clean the iPhone, but it looks like mine is also scratched on the sides

What did you use to give it the brushed metal look?

[ITASOR]

Looks good! I would be scared it's going to corrode or something if you rubbed a coating off.

[iBookG4user]

That looks pretty good, don't think I'd do it to my iPhone though. Nice job though.

[UMHurricanes34]

I love it, how'd you do it?

[MeekB2G]

I used a scotch-brite sponge (rough side) and electric tape to cover the edges of the screen & backing. Took me about 30 min. to do the entire trim. If you plane to do it take your time & be careful. Good Luck to those who are willing to give it a try.

[swordfish5736]

Originally Posted by MeekB2G

I used a scotch-brite sponge (rough side) and electric tape to cover the edges of the screen & backing. Took me about 30 min. to do the entire trim. If you plane to do it take your time & be careful. Good Luck to those who are willing to give it a try.

did you take any pics of the process? I want to do something like this

[MeekB2G]

Originally Posted by CRIIM44

did you take any pics of the process? I want to do something like this

Sorry,but i didn't. I should have takin pictures step by step but i didn't think about it at the time. I will put somthing together right now to give you a basic idea on how i did it.

[lilnyc]

Originally Posted by MeekB2G

I used a scotch-brite sponge (rough side) and electric tape to cover the edges of the screen & backing. Took me about 30 min. to do the entire trim. If you plane to do it take your time & be careful. Good Luck to those who are willing to give it a try.

Hmm. I don't think I'm confident enough to give it a try, but your thread brought my attention to the damage that can happen with the wrong case, so I changed cases today. Thanks!

[speedballs]

That actually looks fantastic.
A how-to would be very nice.

[jecapaga]

wow that looks pretty nice. post some more pics please. so is the bezel actually metal of some sort all the way through or is it plastic with a chrome coating? I would be worried about scratching too deeply and taking the finish completely off.

[Daremo]

I like the look of that better then the chrome actually. Nice job! Now I know what I will do when my chrome scratches up!

[puckhead193]

which case is this that causes it to scratch?

[lilnyc]

Originally Posted by puckhead193

which case is this that causes it to scratch?

I can't speak for anyone else, and I hate to blame a case, but I've used this one :

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=374513

I carefully cleaned it before snapping it onto my iPhone, and I have taken real good care of my phone (I haven't tossed it into random cluttered bags/pockets). But after reading this thread, I removed it and sure enough, I also have scratches. I'm going with my DLO Hip Case

http://dlo.com/store/MiniStoreiPhone...showpage&cart=

[MeekB2G]

OK, I'm not very good and creating How-To's but I'm gonna try anyway. I've already finished the job but I did the process over to show you how I started and how I taped over the screen and back to do this.

Supplies: Electric Tape, Scotch Brite Sponge & (of course) an iPhone

1st: you want to use the electric tape and cover the edge of the screen as close as possible the chrome trim. Repeat for the back also..

2nd: use the Scotch Brite sponge and lightly rub one way & reverse.. Ex. Whichever side you start on first (I did one side @ a time) you want the sponge to meet the two corners. Keep going back n' forth till you get the look you want..

3rd: Because of the tape the corners we're probly covered like mine and you still have a chrome finish on them. This is were you have to be very careful and take your time. Cause you will have to do this freehand unless you have a way to cover the edge of your screen to brush the rest of the chrome. Once you've accomplished that your done.

The pics attached I have tape on the longside of the phone. You would repeat that same tape scheme on the top and bottom of the phone.

This isn't the best of tutorials cause I suck @ these types of things. Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have if you want to try this. Goodluck!

[MeekB2G]

Originally Posted by puckhead193

which case is this that causes it to scratch?

I was using the Rubber Incase.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nplm=TN563LL/A

[Maui19]

Originally Posted by MeekB2G

I was using the Rubber Incase.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nplm=TN563LL/A

I love that case. I have the black one and it makes the phone look really good. Personally, I don't care what happens to the chrome underneath since I keep the case on all the time.

[kdarling]

Originally Posted by MeekB2G

OK, I'm not very good and creating How-To's but I'm gonna try anyway.

Your instructions are very good. And the finish looks a LOT more costly and posh than the chrome.

Wonder if it needs a clear coat, though? Any experts on the topic?

[MeekB2G]

Originally Posted by kdarling

Your instructions are very good. And the finish looks a LOT more costly and posh than the chrome.

Wonder if it needs a clear coat, though? Any experts on the topic?

Clear coats would be pretty nice. I will have to look into that. Thanks for the idea 'kdarling'

[dominatrix]

would be nice a video on youtube..

[jessica.]

You have nice hands. No I'm kidding...well I am not but anyway...

Originally Posted by dominatrix

would be nice a video on youtube..

LMFAO I'm sorry but this just really made me laugh! Hey while you're at it, can you go ahead and give me a step by step process of the purchase of the tape and the scrubber? Did you use the whole scrubber or just a corner? What corner specifically gave you the best results?


I think it looks great and it is a nice alternative to the f'ed up job the damn case seems to do.

[ninethirty]

Can we see any pics of the phone dead on to see what it looks like from the front? I'm very tempted to do this but I'm posiitive I'll screw it up... also, using the electrical tape on the screen and back of the phone did not leave any sticky residue? I'm just so scared to damage the screen but my chrome also has a lot of scratches on it and personally I think the chrome was an awful design decision...

Originally Posted by MeekB2G

OK, I'm not very good and creating How-To's but I'm gonna try anyway. I've already finished the job but I did the process over to show you how I started and how I taped over the screen and back to do this.

Supplies: Electric Tape, Scotch Brite Sponge & (of course) an iPhone

1st: you want to use the electric tape and cover the edge of the screen as close as possible the chrome trim. Repeat for the back also..

2nd: use the Scotch Brite sponge and lightly rub one way & reverse.. Ex. Whichever side you start on first (I did one side @ a time) you want the sponge to meet the two corners. Keep going back n' forth till you get the look you want..

3rd: Because of the tape the corners we're probly covered like mine and you still have a chrome finish on them. This is were you have to be very careful and take your time. Cause you will have to do this freehand unless you have a way to cover the edge of your screen to brush the rest of the chrome. Once you've accomplished that your done.

The pics attached I have tape on the longside of the phone. You would repeat that same tape scheme on the top and bottom of the phone.

This isn't the best of tutorials cause I suck @ these types of things. Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have if you want to try this. Goodluck!

[MattyMac]

Looks very good...however, I would never do that to my iPhone. I like to keep everything original, especially with apple products and their remarkable resale value.

[MeekB2G]

Originally Posted by ninethirty

Can we see any pics of the phone dead on to see what it looks like from the front? I'm very tempted to do this but I'm posiitive I'll screw it up... also, using the electrical tape on the screen and back of the phone did not leave any sticky residue? I'm just so scared to damage the screen but my chrome also has a lot of scratches on it and personally I think the chrome was an awful design decision...

Here are pictures of the front, back, top and bottom close-up so you can get a better look. I also have a screen protector on their that is actually coming off. (Thats what the bubble is on the top left of the screen) The electric tape didn't leave any residue what so ever, but it did take off my screen protector when I was taking it off. No worries though i'll just go buy another one. I'm sure you'll be OK, just take your time and don't rush yourself.

[lilnyc]

Originally Posted by MattyMac

Looks very good...however, I would never do that to my iPhone. I like to keep everything original, especially with apple products and their remarkable resale value.

I'd think it has more re-sale value with his finish than with scratches though, no?