cheap way to protect the iPod

[Ipodman]

Hello
when you purchase the iPod, it is in a transparent foil, on which are some sentences in different languages on.

Now I cut the Scrollrad, the jack headset-phone and the Firewireport out with a razor-blade. But caution thereby!

I removed the writing on the foil with alcohol and a cloth.
Then I sealed this foil with Tesa-film in the back.

Ready!
It looks genuinly good and helps to protect the iPod!

[Jester]

Could you provide pictures? This sounds like a very interesting way to protect your iPod.

[Ipodman]

Hi,

when I am at home, I will put my Ipod in front of my DigiCam.

That would be in about 3 Hours.

So hold on!

[dcbell]

... for a person with the manual dexterity of a monkey wearing boxing gloves, razor blades and alcohol near my soon to be dilvered iPod sounds like a recipe i should avoid ...

... pics would be good - look forward to seeing your surgery ...

[mongoos150]

I did just that and it seemed to work great until I took out of my pocket tonight getting home-one day old, never out of the wrap (only for a minute while I cut out the holes for sound/docking port)and the screen is full of tiny scratches. Folks, this thing is impossible to keep pristine.

[CanaMacPod]

Originally posted by mongoos150
I did just that and it seemed to work great until I took out of my pocket tonight getting home-one day old, never out of the wrap (only for a minute while I cut out the holes for sound/docking port)and the screen is full of tiny scratches. Folks, this thing is impossible to keep pristine.

Full of scratches?
That's awful.
What a piece of crap.

[mongoos150]

I just found an even better way to keep the iPod is great shape. The saran wrap works very well but there are still air bubbles and you can still tell that there is something on the outside of the 'pod. I find that clear masking tape is a godsend! I put some on and you seriously can't tell it is there (because its like half a millimeter thick). Absolutely clear, it keeps everything protected. To clarify, I put the tape all over the back and on the top half of the front. I pulled it off after having it on for a while (very hard to pull off!!!) and there is no residue either. Try it!

[Ipodman]

I don?t understand what you mean.

You wrap your Pod with Tesa-Tape, or what do you do.Can you explain it a bit more precise!

Or post some photos.

Thanks!

iPodMan

[Kenny]

I dont recommend putting any tape.

And no, if you pull off the tape after a day or two you wont see any residue (if you're lucky). But leave that tape on for a couple of weeks, or let the sun on the iPod, and there will be residue).

[mongoos150]

Originally posted by Ipodman
I don?t understand what you mean.

You wrap your Pod with Tesa-Tape, or what do you do.Can you explain it a bit more precise!

Or post some photos.

Thanks!

iPodMan

I'm actually talking about putting clear masking tape on the screen and all over the back. clear masking tape is about 2 inches think (and as long as you want) so one piece can cover the entire thing. I took a picture but you cannot tell anything it there. And as for leaving a residue I highly doubt there would be one, I have put masking tape on other devices (my Sony Clie for example) and it has been there for about a year. No residue. I wouldn't ever be taking the tape off, though.

[dcbell]

The clear masking tape idea sounds good, maybe a winner. BUT with any kind of tape (and this incl. the sticky pda coverings some people have suggested) don't you end up getting wrinkles at corners or alternatively end up with just front and back protection leaving sides exposed?

One apparent advantage of saran wrap/cling film (depending on location) is superior pliability allowing stretching over corners and the potential for a snugger fit, preventing wrinkling at corners.

... just a thought, and mongoos150's practical experience carries more weight than my theorising ...

[Bob]

iPod Self Design Body Mask (http://www.techreactions.com/ipod/index.htm) for the first 2 generations of iPod is a 'skin' that can be printed on.
There is a template here (http://www.techreactions.com/ipod/instruction.htm) for the old iPod should you have shaky hands. You may be able to adjust the template for the new iPod shape.
Whether this type of 'skin' allows use of the controls on the new iPod I can't say - but they may bring out a new mask for the new iPods.

[m.r.m.]

bob, the links seem to be broken. at least i can?t access them, but since you?re off roasting your tummy in the sun, it doesn?t really matter.

[Bob]

Hmmmmm, very strange. I double checked when I posted the links and they were working. I even followed the link from the page on iPoding.co.uk and it worked.
I saved the GIF image of the iPod template - I will post it on my page and link to that should anyone wish to download it.

iPod Mk1/2 body mask template (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/MadPict/images/template.gif)

The server may just be down - the links were fine.

[m.r.m.]

hmm, weird.

i just noticed i?m a day early with my tummy roasting statement. not to say it won?t prove true tomorrow. ;)

[Bob]

The flight is Tuesday, but staying Monday night in hotel to save hassle with traffic, so never mind ;)

[iamaustin]

I think for a 400 - 500 dollar product, one would not want to be cheap when it comes to protecting it. However, for a temporary solution it would seem that PDA screen protectors are the best choice. They are a good fit, some are perfectly clear, and do not leave any residue at all.

Saran wrap seems to leave some kind of residue on my ipod, it was milky white, but came off with a damp cloth. Also it was very hard getting the saran wrap neatly onto the ipod.

Tape will leave residue on the ipod that is sticky and hard to remove.

[Kenny]

Originally posted by iamaustin
Saran wrap seems to leave some kind of residue on my ipod, it was milky white, but came off with a damp cloth.


There was probably some moisture between the saranwrap and the iPod when you put it on.

[CanaMacPod]

So Saran wrap is still a good temporary way to protect iPod?

[mongoos150]

Originally posted by CanaWinPod
So Saran wrap is still a good temporary way to protect iPod?

Yes, but I would even more recommend masking tape (as above). The only difference is that the tape doesn't require replacing weekly or whatever as the saran wrap does (because it is so frail) and with the tape you cannot tell it is there (even more so than saran wrap, which you can tell is there).

[NVS]

While browsing old case reviews last night, anticipating when the cases for the new iPods will come out. I saw that JR Hill Company created a new case called The Wrap (http://www.jrhillandcompany.com/foripods/wrap.html) . At that time browsing late at night, I though it was pretty cool, and for $10 total shipped was pretty cheap. Well you have to also take into account that on the day before I just got my first scratch on the back of my new 15 gig iPod, a pretty long one too, and I just spent a hour sticking PDA screen protectors on my iPod and trying to make it look good on those round corners, and not succeeding. So I went ahead and ordered one.

But looking back today I feel like a big idiot. I could have gone to Home Depo, bought a piece of clear vinyl and cut my own case out. I can probably make some improvements too. Like make it wrap around the top and make cutouts for the hold button and connectors. For $10 I could have probably bought a big sheet too, enough to experiment and probably make a lot more than one. Maybe they sell colored vinyl and I just got a new photo printer. I can probably print some designs on it too.

What do you guys think? It looks like a very simple project. I think Home Depo is open 24 hours, if I didn?t have work tomorrow I would probably go.

If you do decide to try to make one, post lots of pictures, and share you designs.


I don?t mean to steal business from that company, but their idea is pretty simple and there is room for improvement. Since we are not selling it ourselves, I can?t see how what we are doing is wrong. Its like women seeing a dress in the store they like and going home and making it themselves.

[Bob]

This has been brought up here (http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=462) with links to templates for the G1 and G2 iPods - as the G3 iPods are a slightly different shape they may need some trimming but they may help your quest!

I am also moving this to the "Cases" section.

[NVS]

Thanks. The touch wheel and buttons on the new iPods are sensitive enough that they dont need direct skin contact to work. They will function just fine under a piece of plastic. That should make the design simpler, and make it harder for dust to get in.

[ae77]

I've been using saran wrap to cover my iPod. it doesn't look too good because i cant' make it flat. But at least it keeps away the finger prints. Your vinyl should be better looking and also more scratch-resistant.

[Duo]

LOL, neat idea, never thought of that.

Duo

[NVS]

Found a place online that sells clear static cling vinyl for pretty cheap.
http://www.d_i_c_k_blick.com/zz272/01/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=2794

Take out the underscores ( _ ) in the url.

[Impulse29]

I'll try the home depot thing with the vinyl... I'm going there anyway, and i've made iPod cases in the past... so it won't be anything hard... Does anyone have a suggestion on how to close the corners? (put two pieces of vinyl together?) I want it to remain clear.

[Impulse29]

has anyone ever tried making a hot breath on the iPod, then putting on the vinyl, or saran wrap? It removes the air bubbles, and makes it stick better...

by hot breath, i mean what you do to glasses when they are dirty...

[m.r.m.]

i merged both threads to create some confusion. think of the repetitions as a teaching aid! :D

[iLounger]

iPodlounge review of the Body Mask (http://ipodlounge.com/reviews_more.php?id=31_0_6_0_M).

[ae77]

Originally posted by iPodlounger
iPodlounge review of the Body Mask (http://ipodlounge.com/reviews_more.php?id=31_0_6_0_M).

It looks funky :)