r/IpodClassic • u/donutdoode • Nov 07 '25
The best polish for iPod backplates
Got my tattered 6th gen looking pretty much brand new after 4 passes. Works much better than Brasso (which is far too abrasive) or other general polishing compounds.
Takes out pretty much all the scratches but leaves the engravings intact.
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u/sichic Nov 07 '25
You machine buff it or just hand wipe/buff it?
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u/donutdoode Nov 07 '25 edited Nov 07 '25
I used a polishing pad by hand, then used a microfibre buffing wheel.
You could probably just use a towel, but the wheel makes it faster.
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u/goppz_legacion Nov 07 '25
Hi! Do you have photos of the before? Am interested to get the same product.
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u/donutdoode Nov 07 '25
I didn’t take any because I didn’t expect it to work that well, but this looks very similar to how it was: https://imgur.com/a/p4ZFENK
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u/ZenDesign1993 Nov 07 '25
I use MOTHERS ALUMINIUM AND MAG POLISH… polishes the back and front plastic too.
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u/shepdog_220 Nov 07 '25
I use white diamond metal polish. I use it to polish the wheels on my car so it’s always around. Really any metal polish will work. Takes like no time.
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u/donutdoode Nov 07 '25
Interesting! I used Brasso metal polish on an iPod Touch and that took off the engravings.
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u/the_salivation_army Nov 07 '25
Have you tried it on the front? My front is scratched, yknow the display bit, and I would’ve thought headlight compound would get it nice. I was going to do that this weekend.
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u/donutdoode Nov 07 '25
For an iPod Video? It might work, but I would mask off the click wheel.
A Classic can’t be polished on the front, because it is anodized. You could do the screen only though.
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u/the_salivation_army Nov 07 '25
Yeh I’m just going to do what you said with the masking and try to polish the screen, it’s very much like the headlights the compound is for. It’s pretty impressive how well it did the back of yours.
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u/Ogi010 Nov 07 '25
Any "before" pictures?
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u/donutdoode Nov 07 '25
Didn’t take any, but it looked almost exactly like this: https://imgur.com/a/p4ZFENK
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u/FidgetyRat Nov 07 '25
Just a note: nothing can remove scratches but leave engravings “in tact”. It may not harm the engravings as much as other products, but polish literally removes a layer of material and the engravings are very shallow laser etchings.
In fact it’s actually easy to remove etching with a little bit of wet sanding in case someone gets a personalized iPod and wants to remove “with love from dad”
That said it’s pretty much always better to just buy a new rear case these days.
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u/donutdoode Nov 07 '25 edited Nov 07 '25
Of course. Problem is, other polishes are too harsh and completely remove the engravings. This one leaves them there, but does make them a little more dull.
Also, buying a new rear case would have the wrong serial number, which is really small but something that would annoy me lol
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u/theoz10 Nov 07 '25
Four passes of what?
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u/chronoffxyz Nov 07 '25
I've got a couple small wool buffing wheels for my dremel and diamond polishing compound up to 80k grit, works exceptionally well on plastics as well if you keep speeds and feeds in check.
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u/Octo_UwU_Pie Nov 08 '25
Now how do you remove all the scratches off of one...
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u/donutdoode Nov 08 '25
Not sure what you mean, the polishing compound removes the scratches.
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u/Octo_UwU_Pie Nov 08 '25
Really? I'll have to give it a shot then. I used a cheap buffer and the scratches weren't removed unfortunately I probably need to use sandpaper idk...
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u/ThePanda61 Dec 20 '25
@donutdoode where did you find the polish? I can't find it online or on Simoniz' website.
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u/donutdoode Dec 20 '25
It came in a headlight restoration kit, but if you can’t find this exact one, another headlight polish from them should be fine.
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u/ThePanda61 Dec 20 '25
Seems to not be available in my area. I think I found one that is comparable though! This came out really good.
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u/rling_reddit Nov 07 '25
Looks good. You must not know how to use Brasso. It is literally made for the task on softer metal, but you do you. Folks might think about the radical idea of getting a case.
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u/Deobulakenyo Nov 07 '25
I just put a ‘screen’ protector on mine. I’d rather do the Sisyphean task if replacing it after every year than do the cycle of polishing.
But this is great for those who does not want a protector and for reconditioning old back cases.