Paint rubbed OFF my iP4!?

[sandman42]

Sorry I meant stainless steel

But you are wrong about the sandpaper

Apple uses a Media Blasted Finish

Not a brushed finish

Sanding could cause the finish to get shinier, but more than likely it will just look like you sanded the area in one direction = bad idea

I think you're right about the aluminum bodied products (though I think it's actually a tumbled media finish/deburr), but the finish on the iPhone 4 is too directional to be blasted or tumbled. This is the kind of brushed finish the iPhone has. The pic you posted looks like a turned finish, not brushed.

I agree that sanding won't completely restore the finish. I did use that method to remove a pretty good scratch from the side of an iPhone 4. The result was much less noticeable than the scratch, but not quite the same as the original finish. If the result looks too polished, the grit is too fine.

 

[iBryton]

Put the case back on - that way you don't have to see it

Quick question though - what case do you use that gave you that mark?

I usually use this Griffin Reveal Etch

 

[Blue Fox]

Certain metals can be finished in a high-polish, and in that case, will look like chrome. Perhaps your case was rubbing the corners and this is what happened.

This. I live in a very dusty environment, and I get dirt in between my case and band. The stainless steel band on my iPhone 4 is highly polished in some areas due to the constant friction of the dust that was in between the case and the metal. Nothing to be alarmed over, it's just a phone.

 

[iBryton]

As of 1/2/2011, I've been noticing in the corners that there are more "little spots" in every corner. Couple of the spots are showing that "chrome" look to it.

IF it is not chrome, its very black/shiny or some of the spots seem lighter than the finish.

 

[Infraggable Kru]

I think you're right about the aluminum bodied products (though I think it's actually a tumbled media finish/deburr), but the finish on the iPhone 4 is too directional to be blasted or tumbled. This is the kind of brushed finish the iPhone has. The pic you posted looks like a turned finish, not brushed.

I agree that sanding won't completely restore the finish. I did use that method to remove a pretty good scratch from the side of an iPhone 4. The result was much less noticeable than the scratch, but not quite the same as the original finish. If the result looks too polished, the grit is too fine.

Actually I believe we are both right. I took out my magnifying glass to take a look at the finish. It's a brushed metal that has been blasted on top

Apple is using a special "nitrogen-based salt bath" to make the surface more scratch resistant, perhaps this is what gives it the media blasted finish or maybe its already media blasted, we don't really know

Looking at the apple metals I have

Iphone 4 = stainless steel, looks media blasted, almost none to very faint signs of "directional strokes"
Apple keyboard = Aluminum = looks more blasted than brushed, but some directional strokes are evident
Apple cinema display = Aluminum = looks blasted, but the vertical directional strokes are much more present

So there you have it we were both right


BUT YOU SHOULD NEVER SAND STAINLESS STEEL !!!

It kills the anti-corrosive properties, and you just removed the special coating that apple added to your iPhone 4 finish
Why do you think they tell you never to use a green scotch pad/steel wool on Stainless Steel Pots

 

[Aatos.1]

i wouldn't worry about it, its just a phone.

+1

 

[puttputt]

Can you still dial a number and talk to someone far far away?

 

[iBryton]

Hah I guess that my title is misleading