Solution to get rid of scratch mark on PB

Nsoler..

I am with you on this.. My girlfriends aluminum powerbook is also scratched and I am relieved to have read what you wrote regarding the billet compound.. In order to save me hours looking for a similar product, can you let us know the brand.. I would prefer not to experiment on the PowerBook.. Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

A scratch is just a scratch, it doesn't make the machine run any worse. Don't stress over it... the wearing of your computer is inevitable, no matter how good you treat it.

"A scratch is just a scratch, it doesn't make the machine run any worse. Don't stress over it... the wearing of your computer is inevitable, no matter how good you treat it."

That's true. By the same token, however, the aluminum case is just aluminum and it can be gently polished and/or refinished like any other aluminum surface if someone is bothered enough by a scratch. No need to get all worked up about it, one way or another.

I don't like watching my computers grow up. So far my battery has one scratch, underside casing has 3 (2 light) scratches and one small chip near the curves beside the hinge, one light scratch on the backside of the screen, and one on the left palm rest from my watch. It is inevitable. I try to keep my computer as well kept as poosible with a cleaning every now and then (I try for one a month no less). Damp cloth on the metal, and this gray cloth that came with a 20" iMac G4 for the screen. As long as I think my computer is happy I'm ok. Another part of watching a computer grow up is the line get upgraded. When the (not so) new PowerBooks came out i wasn't worried about an 11% boost in processor speed or Dual link DVI (even though that would be awesome). I accepted I have a good computer that will last a long time. My advice is to deal with it like you are making a mark on history (too bad you really arent :P ).

Alex

Nice to "see" you Karth. By the way, I think Dean is hanging out in the iMac G5 folder (well, not literally).

Back on topic: The potential problem with using a polishing process on the anodized aluminum surface is that you could be removing some of the protective layer, and thus making it more sensitive to the corrosion or pitting issue. (Note - this is a serious comment, not trying to spark us back to the corrosion discussion, which has been done to death)

Karth - please post back when you get your repaired PB back - will be interesting to hear how they fixed your scratches and dings.

s

Got my Powerbook back today. Mailed it last Thursday, got it back on Wednesday with new hard drive, new display assembly and new "LCD diffuser."

Unfortunately, they do not have a magic fix for scratches. The scratches are all still present, except for those on the bottom case. The latter are gone, as the bottom case was replaced.

The secret is now out on the magic dent repair formula.

All in all I am quite amazed at the speed and quality with which Apple was able to perform multiple repairs.

And that was WITHOUT Applecare!

I don't care what any of you guys say, I'm stressed.
Really, I am.

Would you prefer to post this issue as a new topic or discuss it here?

Tuttle

b Caution to all who may wish to try this!

I took this advice and got me some billet polish to try this out. I cautiously tried it on an inconspicuous spot first (a scratch on my battery case). Unfortunately, the only thing that the polish accomplished was to mar the anodized finish. It did absolutely NOTHING to the scratch.

Therefore, after independent testing, I cannot recommend this approach. I believe that the many other threads that have all concluded that there is no safe scratch remover for the anodized aluminum finish of the PowerBook must be assumed accurate until reliably proven otherwise.

To discuss it further would be way too stressful.

This sounds like the psychiatrist built into the recent Macs. If you want the Terminal command to access it I'd be happy to give it to you.

I took this advice...

Hehehe.

Sorry....

Tuttle

BTW, Karth, I gave you 5 +s for trying that, though!

Tuttle

Wow if my computer could also be my psychiatrist I would have no reason to leave the house. Only kidding.

-Folie

Back off man,
I'm a scientist!

Based upon the results of my experiment, I can state with utmost authority that the recommendation to use billet polish on an Aluminum PowerBook is absolute bunk. Rubbish. Malarchy.

Also, the stuff is not cheap. It cost me $12.95 for a tiny can of that stuff. Anybody wanna buy some barely used billet polish? It, er, works great- yeah, that's the ticket!

Karth Vahlnar
I Archmagus of Aqualuna