sorry for the long post, but this is my "actual user recount," for you! hehe
first of all, Brasso is mostly intended for metal objects. if you're using it on the back of the iPod, you can mostly expect that it will make your iPod very shiny, but it won't eliminate scratches, despite some folks claims.
if you're using it on the front of the iPod, Brasso supposedly works on plastic watch parts, like the clear face piece.
i tried Brasso on my own 5G/60GB black iPod, with no success. i figured, it only cost me $3 bucks, so it was worth a shot.
next, i spent about $5 at a local auto parts store and bought a bottle of Mother's California Gold Scratch Remover. it works on cars, bikes, and fiberglass boats. i thought, "why not on an iPod?"
using the product with a natural chamoise (shammy) cloth, i saw no results from the first application. then i read that you need to "re-apply several times and use some serious elbow grease."
so, i re-applied about six times, gently-tho-firmly wiping the product in.
my iPod had a deep gouge right across the screen. after six applications and about twenty-five minutes, the deep gouge was completely gone. however, there were a plethora of tiny, fine swirl scratches left behind. my attitude was, "better to have these fine, barely noticable scratches than the deep gouge."
i also purchased Power Support's Crystal Films ($14), a protective cling-skin designed specifically for the 5G iPod. when i applied the skin to the iPod screen, it magically became like brand new again! not even a hint of a fine, swirl or blemish or anything!
i swear by the Mother's Gold product and i swear by Power Support's films. and the whole bundle cost me under $20 and about an hour of my life.
here's a link to my (crappy) before and after shots:
http://static.flickr.com/37/11011271546f5e1dcb6o.jpg
i truly hope this helps! good luck
