When the end times arrive, at least your iPod will survive.

 

WHAT YOU NEED
> Any iPod (preferably one not yet scratched)
> At least a foot of 3M Scotchgard 8mil Paint Protection Film, 12-inch width ($6.50 per foot, www.xpel.com/products/bulk.asp)
> Liquid dishwashing soap and water
> X-Acto knife or similar sharp blade
> Credit card or similar impromptu squeegee
> First-generation iPod nano cover template

 

Everyone knows how scratch-prone iPods are - first-generation nanos in particular. The solution: Encase your precious 'Pod in 8mil-thick polypropylethylene - aka 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Film. Got more cash than free time? You can buy a similar invisibleShield, custom cut for any iPod, from ShieldZone ($19.95 to $24.95, www.shieldzone.com). But if you follow our directions, you'll have enough material (and know-how) to protect your cell phone, PDA, PSP, and other scratchables.

 

WARNING: This how-to involves intentionally applying water and harsh abrasives to the surface of your iPod - so do we need to tell you to be very, very careful? Well, we're gonna anyway: Be very, very careful.

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1: Get the Goods

 

Shortly after we tried (and fell in love with) ShieldZone's invisibleShield, we figured there must be a way to make our own - for other iPods, digital-camera LCDs, our Treo, PSP, and even the car. (People use thicker grades of Scotchgard to protect their fancy sports cars and even helicopter blades.) We tracked down one vendor who sells 3M's Paint Protection Film in as small as 1-by-1-foot pieces, enough to cover any iPod twice if you're careful. Order at least a foot of X-PEL's 12-inches-wide 8mil Paint Protection Film ($6.50 per foot, www.xpel.com/products/bulk.asp). You may want to get more for your friends' iPods, your car, your little brother, or anything else you want to encapsulate.

 

Nab our first-generation nano template by clicking here.

 

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Step 2: Trim the Template

 

Grab our first-generation nano template, open it in Preview (/Applications), and print it on plain 8.5-by-11-inch paper (in the Print dialog, uncheck Scale To Fit if you need to). Cut along the outer lines to trim the template, then trace the pattern onto the Scotchgard with a ball-point pen. Lay the Scotchgard on a phone book or other surface that you can cut into and use a new X-Acto blade to carefully cut the pattern out of the Scotchgard. Take your time and use a ruler or other hard edge for a guide on the straight cuts; we found it nearly impossible to cut a smooth circle around the clickwheel and made a series of little cuts instead - lots of little cuts.

 

Our template is only a guide - modify it to suit your tastes (or other iPods).

 

Step 3: Scrub-a-Dub, Redub

 

Thoroughly clean the iPod with a microfiber cloth, chamois, or other soft cloth. Stash the iPod somewhere clean while you prepare a solution of 1/2 cup of water and three drops of liquid dishwashing soap. Now thoroughly wash your hands - if you're a mechanic or gardener, use a scrub brush to get all the gunk out of your fingerprints. Scotchgard can suck grime out of the cleanest-looking fingers, so wash again - and still be careful handling the film.

 

Clean your 'Pod first, then wash your hands - twice.

 

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Step 4: Slap It On, Jack

 

Wet your fingertips in the soapy water and carefully peel the backing off of the cut film - try to keep your fingers off the sticky side, and avoid stretching the film. Dip the entire piece in the soapy water and hold it up for a moment to let excess water drip off while you ponder this Zen riddle: More water makes positioning the film easier, but also increases the risk of water damage inside the iPod. If you fear some water got in, let the iPod sit for a day to dry out before you turn it on. With minimal soapy water between the film and the iPod, you can easily slide the film around and position it just right. Inspect all of the covered surfaces for air bubbles, and use your thumbs to press excess water toward the edges - this will help affix the film in place before you apply the credit-card squeegee, which tends to grab and move the film if it's too wet. Once the film sticks tightly enough to the iPod that you can't slide it out of place using your thumb, use a credit card to squeegee out the remaining water - use firm, even pressure, and squeegeeistically scrape out toward the film's edges. Finally, massage the covering a little more with your thumbs to smooth out any remaining unevenness.

 

Do your best to keep water out of your clickwheel, dock, and earbud ports.

 

Step 5: Abort! Abort!

 

Air bubbles (and finger grime) are the bane of Scotchgard. If you don't remove an air bubble before the water dries, you'll never get it out. If you see an air bubble, get a drop of water under the film if you can, and gently peel the film back (careful not to stretch it!), drip on some more water, and reapply the film. If you discover an air bubble after the film dries, try poking it with the tip of your X-Acto blade to release the trapped air, then flatten the busted bubble with your thumb.

 

It's good to have some extra Scotchgard.

 

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BONUS HOW-TO: Clean a Severely Scratched iPod

 

We Brasso-buffed the heck out of this scratched furst-generation iPod nano with excellent results.

 

WHAT YOU NEED
> Badly scratched iPod
> Brasso ($4.29, www.amazon.com)

 

Unless your iPod is still in its box, it's probably got a scratch or 12 that you'd rather not preserve forever beneath Scotchgard. Several companies sell acrylic polish and scratch removers specifically for iPods, but to remove really (really) bad scratches, you'll need to step up to an industrial-strength solution: Brasso brass polisher. Most of the acrylic de‑scratchers fill in scratches with a clear compound, but Brasso actually grinds down the iPod's surface to remove scratches. Needless to say, use extreme caution.

 

Step 1: A Little Dab'll Do Ya

 

Use a super-soft cloth, such as one that came with your eyeglasses or camera lens; we found several sizes of chamois ($5.44 to $24.99) and even a microfiber cloth ($4.99) at our local Kragen Auto store. Whatever you do, don't use a paper towel or T-shirt. Fold the cloth over on itself a couple of times for padding, and smear a small amount of Brasso on the cloth. Rub the iPod in a circular motion using extremely light pressure. We rubbed our most beat-up iPod for well over an hour before the scratches disappeared. Try to keep Brasso out of the gaps around the clickwheel, dock connector, and headphone orifices.

 

Tip: Take little dabs from a spoonful of Brasso.

 

Step 2: Buff 'Er? I Barely Know 'Er!

 

When you think the scratches might be gone, stop rubbing - you can always apply more Brasso if scratches remain. Use a clean part of the rubbing cloth to wipe off any Brasso residue, and then use another clean part of the cloth to further buff the iPod without abrasion. If you're patient, the results can be quite impressive. More importantly, if you're not patient, and you stop too soon or don't completely buff off the Brasso, your iPod might come out looking worse than when you started. We warned ya.

 

Don't skimp on the polishing cloth - you'll want to finish up with a clean patch.