Apple offers the option of having engraving of a personal message on any of its iPod music players. While great for birthday and holiday gifts, the messages can become scratched and hard to read, negating their intended purpose and cluttering the clean, stylish lines of the music player. Return your iPod to its original well-polished state by removing engraved messages.

Use a hairdryer or similar to melt the glue that holds the silver back plate of the iPod in place. Use the low heat setting to avoid melting the plastic face of the iPod.

  • Apple offers the option of having engraving of a personal message on any of its iPod music players.
  • Use the low heat setting to avoid melting the plastic face of the iPod.

Use a sharp knife or wedge to remove the back plate of the iPod. Wedge the knife between the plastic face and the silver back of the iPod and pull gently. If the back plate does not come off easily, heat the edges once more with the hairdryer.

Set the face plate and innards of the iPod in a safe place away from your work area.

Fill a bowl with water and soak a piece of 400-grit waterproof sandpaper. Wet-sand the back plate of the iPod lightly with the sandpaper until the engraving disappears. Sand the back plate evenly, not just over the engraving.

Wet-sand the back plate of the iPod lightly and evenly with 600-grit waterproof sandpaper.

Wet-sand the back plate of the iPod lightly with 800-grit waterproof sandpaper until even.

  • Set the face plate and innards of the iPod in a safe place away from your work area.
  • Wet-sand the back plate of the iPod lightly with 800-grit waterproof sandpaper until even.

Wet-sand the back plate of the iPod with 1000-grit waterproof sandpaper. Press harder with the 1000-grit sandpaper and sand in straight vertical lines to get a nice "brushed metal" finish.

Use a clean dry rag or paper towel to wipe the surface and inside of the back plate until clear of sand. Clean the back plate with any household cleaner. Allow the plate to dry completely.

Use a small amount of super glue to reattach the back plate to the iPod.

WARNING

Removing the engraving on your iPod will void any warranty currently active. It is best to wait until Apple no longer covers your iPod for damages before removing any engravings.