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[DIY] Polishing iPhone 4 Stainless Steel Band

SchuettS said:
Which is why I wrote... use nevr dull if the finish is too rough. There is an easy way and a hard way to do everything. Just because something doesn't take as long or require less steps does not mean you can't get the same results. But anyways your phone turned out nice.. carry on.
Click to expand...

Well when I run out I'll give it a shot when I run out of my current stock, I'm open to always trying new products. I own polished aluminum wheels so I've tried about 30+ products from every major company. I don't know why but 3M rubbing compound is always the product I come back to. it's the only product that always polishes without leaving additional sanding marks.

who knows you might have found that magic single step product
 
btw this is strictly talking about hand applied polishes, the best metal polishes are still a buffing wheel + polishing sticks, rouges
 
to OP can you get Brasso Wadding where you like its a cheap and cheerful product for mid to final polishing stages... works great on wheels, i refurb polished split rims for self harming reasons.
 
I just came across this thread today and was really wanting to try to polish my i4. So I went out, got all the supplies on your list, I ended up using my dremel to save on a little work (it's the American way to try to do something easier). I just finished and it turned out Awesome. It looks like I'm looking into a mirror. Thanks for the instructions and giving me the inspiration.
 
Sorry for bumping an older post, its the only one that I could find with this info in it

I think I'm in need of a little help. I'm not getting anywhere close to the desired results and I'm not sure why. I've looked for more in depth guides and such around but I've been coming up with nothing. My before and afters are looking pretty much the same and I'm sure I'm screwing up one if not all of the steps. If anyone could let me know if you see something I'm doing wrong it would be a huge help!

I have the exact sand paper as stated, 2500 and 3000. I just kept a bowl of water and dabbed the paper in it and lightly sanded around the edges of the phone (I took it apart to not damage anything else). I went back over it with 3000. My end product looked like
IMG_0001.JPG


Then tonight I went to use the rubbing compound and polish stuff. I went around the phone at least 4 times with the rubbing compound and a microfiber cloth, doing little circles with a little bit of compound cleaning up excess and adding more if needed

With the polish I tried to do as per instructions but it said to apply to metal until black residue then spread the residue around then clean off with a clean cloth. I never could get black residue to produce :confused: anyhow my end product for the same portion of the phone looks as follows
IMG_0005.JPG


So as can be seen not much of a difference at all. Any suggestions or hints as to what I may be doing wrong?

Thanks!
 
I was afraid to really bare down with the sand paper, wasn't sure if I was supposed to. Also I am using 2500/3000 do I need to go with 2000 instead? And how much pressure is needed?
 
AMAZING! I have always thought about doing this! I saw some scratches on my metal band that made the metal shiny and said hmm how can I do this to the WHOLE thing?

You sir are a legend. I will definitely be trying this. Thanks :D

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Oh wow... I just read and noticed it was you Shenaniganz08! Do you remember me? The king of mods!
 
Got my 4s done today, been searching to see if it's possible and came across this excellent write up, there's something very wrong with sanding a 1 week 5 day old iPhone 4s 64gb but I'm very happy with the results :-

photo-1.jpg


photo.jpg
 
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nice bit of work, i'm doing my at the moment and i seem to be having problems around the volume buttons. i can't get it to match it to the rest of the bezel. any idea's without taking it apart!!!!:)

here is photo as you can see about 2mm around the volume buttons.
please bear in mind i haven't apply compound or polish yet
img2296r.jpg
img2296r.jpg
 
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Is everyone taking the iPhone apart for this or using masking tape? What about the area around buttons?
 
Does anyone know if doing this will void the iphone 4S's warranty and Applecare+?

BTW OP how do you prevent all these compounds from seeping through the ports, bottons, and speakers?
 
funkysy said:
nice bit of work, i'm doing my at the moment and i seem to be having problems around the volume buttons. i can't get it to match it to the rest of the bezel. any idea's without taking it apart!!!!:)

here is photo as you can see about 2mm around the volume buttons.
please bear in mind i haven't apply compound or polish yet
ImageImage
Click to expand...

Fold the wet/dry small and you can get round the buttons or a thin piece of flat wood to wrap the wet/dry round.

I used a sanding block to put the wet/dry round to do the majority of the work and you can also do the buttons this way as it won't round the edges off the buttons.

If put very minimal water on the wet/dry and pat it off on some kitchen roll to take the excess off so the papers just damp, you can get a near on mirror finish with the 3000 grade.

When it comes to the compound I used Autosol metal polish, put a small dot on your polishing cloth and then rub it with your finger so any excess polish rubs into the fibres of your cloth then start polishing your phone and you shouldn't get any excess polish in speakers / buttons, it takes time and aching fingers.

As for warranty it shouldn't affect it, you've only polished the edges up and as long as you don't get any water/polish into the phone you haven't damaged the phone, only thing is you may have to hand your phone over to get a new one so all the hard work would have to be done again.
 
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Jimbo.k said:
Got my 4s done today, been searching to see if it's possible and came across this excellent write up, there's something very wrong with sanding a 1 week 5 day old iPhone 4s 64gb but I'm very happy with the results :-

Image

Image
Click to expand...

have to say, that looks awesome.
 
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Oh brave attacking your new 4s!

I've done a few 4's now, my original one which later failed (speaker failed) and my current one which is workin great.

Few comments to add..

1 - I had my polished 4 swapped at apple, no questions asked of its shiny band!

2 - the mirror finish shows finger prints real easy so it's worth every so often giving it a wipe over wit a micofiber cloth.

3 - I polished mine up less than carefully an it's given the buttons a rounded edge, I prefer this but if you like the square edges then use a small bit of sand paper to polish around them carefully.

Good luck :)
 
MyRomeo said:
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2 - the mirror finish shows finger prints real easy so it's worth every so often giving it a wipe over wit a micofiber cloth.
Click to expand...

Your not wrong there, you look at it and think its gone dull but a quick wipe over and it back gleaming again.

Another quick point is it makes it even more slip / slide about in your hand, don't think it would look so good dancing about on the floor !!
 
here a follow up on what i did
things i used.
3000 grit wet & dry
dremel tool with buff and polish wheel
and on this I've used auto glym metal polish.
(will try zeppelin polish next time)

img0001je.jpg

img0002qi.jpg

as i was going to change the screen, i took the volume buttons out and sanding and buff the bezel finally polish
img0003xs.jpg

img0004sq.jpg

then i gold plated and converter the phone from cracked black iPhone to white and 24ct gold bezel.
img0007gn.jpg

img0008tdm.jpg

as this was my first attempt at polishing, i think i still need the some more testing with other compounds and polish to get a total mirror finish,
any advise would be much grateful :D
 
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Looking good, did you gold plate your original surround that you polished or did you replace the surround completely with an new gold plated one ?

I used autosol metal polish which I've found to be one of the best metal polishes going.
images
 
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I used 2500 wet n dry then autosol metal polish on a microfiber cloth, took a whilst but good finish.

I keep meaning to touch it up with the dremel but haven't got round to it yet!

Maybe tomorrow! Will get some photos when i get a chance too
 
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