I'm so grumpy with myself and I don't even know how it happened - I'll blame my kids - but I just noticed a small ding in the metal on the front edge of the lid right where you put your fingers to open it. It's slightly rough when I run my finger over it. I know this is on me, but does anybody have any suggestions for smoothing it out? My Air is gold, so I can't just go to town with sandpaper. Managed to keep my 2012 Pro in perfect cosmetic shape for almost a decade, and I did this a week in to ownership!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I got a ding on the front edge of my week-old Air - any suggestions how to smooth it out?
- Thread starter DrTwoFish
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Anything you do will probably make it worse be rubbing off the finish. All I could suggest is taping closely around in. Then buffing with a super fine sandpaper. Something in the 3000+ grit range. Which takes off a tiny amount and is used for polishing. Because it is so fine.
Agreed, I dropped my 12" MacBook on a concrete floor. Resulted in a corner with a sharp edge. I ground off the rough stuff with a Dremel.
I wouldn't use the Dremel. It's way too fast and aggressive. I'd use a very fine abrasive by hand.
probably best to leave it alone, cause if you start sanding/grinding, the anodizing will come off and well, it'll look worse.
You could always take the low road, and tell Apple it came that way and send it back, given you've only had it a week 
Seriously, I would just leave it be, and I'm anal about my devices, so I understand your disappointment. There's a potential for more damage, as others have said. The thought of putting even the finest grain sandpaper to a MBA makes me cringe.
Seriously, I would just leave it be, and I'm anal about my devices, so I understand your disappointment. There's a potential for more damage, as others have said. The thought of putting even the finest grain sandpaper to a MBA makes me cringe.
You're right...as my mom always said, imperfections let the devil out! ?You could always take the low road, and tell Apple it came that way and send it back, given you've only had it a week
Seriously, I would just leave it be, and I'm anal about my devices, so I understand your disappointment. There's a potential for more damage, as others have said. The thought of putting even the finest grain sandpaper to a MBA makes me cringe.
that sucks. I say sand the mojo down. then play around with some paints. It really depends on how bad the damage is, (pics?) and how much sanding will make it "look bad" vs. it actually feeling bad when you open the lid.
I just purchased a M1 MBA today and my case for it arrives tomorrow (amazon). I hope I can keep it in mint condition until the case arrives... Damn aluminum... I have to handle this laptop as if it were an empty soda can, not to dent, scratch, or gouge it.
I've owned mostly plastic laptops (especially from 2008-2016) and I was never extremely rough on them. But I never had to think twice about damaging the exterior. I would shove them in my backpack (no cases or sleeves) I'd use them on all surfaces. I would basically treat them as books.
Ever since owning aluminum laptops. (first one was a 2-in-1 Dell Inspiron) that can be superficially damaged. I've gotten extremely careful with my laptops (almost to the point of paranoia).
Now I throw a plastic case on them and treat them as a middle child between aluminum and plastic.
I just purchased a M1 MBA today and my case for it arrives tomorrow (amazon). I hope I can keep it in mint condition until the case arrives... Damn aluminum... I have to handle this laptop as if it were an empty soda can, not to dent, scratch, or gouge it.
I've owned mostly plastic laptops (especially from 2008-2016) and I was never extremely rough on them. But I never had to think twice about damaging the exterior. I would shove them in my backpack (no cases or sleeves) I'd use them on all surfaces. I would basically treat them as books.
Ever since owning aluminum laptops. (first one was a 2-in-1 Dell Inspiron) that can be superficially damaged. I've gotten extremely careful with my laptops (almost to the point of paranoia).
Now I throw a plastic case on them and treat them as a middle child between aluminum and plastic.
Last edited: