Database Develop

Alternative Back Cover

The polished cover mod didn't really appeal to me or the device as far as finger prints went and the original looks well, too matte. So I tried something a little different. It's basically the standard appearance with the matte coating sanded off as well as some of the grey removed. The result is a satin (not glossy) light grey which complements the rubber backing very nicely (think Mac OS X v10.4's Brushed metal window appearance).

I'm curious - what exactly is it made of? I would be concerned that it might rust with the finish being off of it.

JWhipple said:
I'm curious - what exactly is it made of? I would be concerned that it might rust with the finish being off of it.
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I think that as long as he keeps his phone away from water then rust would never even be a consideration.
Do you get your phone wet often?

Hey guys,
dont know what kind of backcover you have but mine is defintly made of stainless steel or some other kind of alloy. Its no alluminium and its no "normal" steel cause its not going to rust
so dont worry

John: I think he just means from general moisture contact. i.e a slightly moist benchtop, or general moisture in the air. Especially if your palm sweats as it contains small traces of sodium which without a doubt speed up corrosion.
Everyone else: Its definitely steel or a mild alloy of steel as RayDog said. The coating has been scratching off for some time especially at the edges. If it was going to rust it would have started after 1 year of having the device. It cannot be aluminium as it is far too difficult to scratch and Al. is a soft metal. I was etching at the back with a blunt stanley knife and only the coating scratched off.

Had mine rubbed down for about 4 months now and I have no signs of oxidation.

I think a rusted battery cover would look sweet and fit in with my rusting vw golf hood.

fastwanabe said:
I think a rusted battery cover would look sweet and fit in with my rusting vw golf hood.
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hahaha we really need to ask xda for a like button

I like this! How did you do it?
The enamel on my cover is starting to come off. I thought it was just metal, but that was until it started peeling. I also prefer the brushed look instead of the chrome.
Is your cover basically just with all the enamel sanded off or something? What about the HTC logo etc?

Spigen Valentinus Case - Vintage Brown

Hello All,
I bought the Spigen Valentinus case for the note 2 Link To Amazon a little while back and wanted to wait to do a review just to spend some time with it. The case is made of "Genuine Leather" and from what I can tell that statement is true. The color I chose was vintage brown it is a nubuck leather nice and soft. I am one of those who use the wallet side of the case and can say that I can comfortably fit 2 cards in each slot (4 slots total). Along with having 4 card slots that is an opening for cash or whatever else you may need to store, in my case train tickets I unfortunately do not have a second camera on hand so the following gallery of shots only show the case and the wallet being used (as I took the pics with the phone lol). I will update this thread once I get time to take pics with the phone in case.
The part in which holds the phone is tight so there is no risk of the phone falling out and does not wiggle while in the holder. I can easily access the volume rocker and screen on/off switch, usb and headphone jack are also easily accessible. One issue I do have with the case, and this could be completely my doing is that with the cards in the wallet, the bottom part of the wallet side pushes right up against the phone while in pockets hitting the home button to turn the phone on. Another issue I can see is that the cards rub against the screen of the phone, not an issue in my case because I have a Spigen Ultra Crystal protector on and also keep a small microfiber cloth laid over the screen when its in its case.
Other than those small issues the case looks great, feels great and functions well too. The snap to hold the case closed is tight as well so it wont come undone without you wanting it to. Cut outs for the rear speaker and camera as nice and accurate. The case does add a bit of bulk to the phone as expected with a wallet style case. I have debated on applying leather conditioner or mink oil to the case to darken the color up a bit and give it a bit of water proofing. As of now the best comparison I can think of for the leather would be a timberland boot. Here
Anyways, Enjoy the gallery. Here

Hello again
Just a quick update... no I still have not had time to get out the digi cam to snap pics of the phone in the case but I do have updated pictures of the case. So when I first bought the case it was a light nubuck color kind of like a nude/ unfinished leather. Well after a couple weeks of use and some mink oil, I can happily say that the leather is a more caramel color or perhaps a baseball mitt kind of shade, I seriously love the new color.
New Gallery Here

I'm getting this case in a week or two. Still debating between vintage brown and light brown. So the case darkens naturally? If that's the case then that would be really nice! Is it the kind of leather that gets dirty easily or can you just wipe out dirt and grime? (is it glossy like the light brown version)

prinzhernan said:
I'm getting this case in a week or two. Still debating between vintage brown and light brown. So the case darkens naturally? If that's the case then that would be really nice! Is it the kind of leather that gets dirty easily or can you just wipe out dirt and grime? (is it glossy like the light brown version)
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Hey! You're from Manila too and I see you in the Philippines thread for the Note 2. How are you getting the case? Having it shipped or do you have a local source?

The case is kind of suede when you first get it. It will darken naturally over time hence why they called it vintage. I sped up the process a little by conditioning the leather with mink oil. This will repel water and dirt. The case is not shiny maybe after an initial coat of mink oil but the leather will absorb the oil.
Im now on a secind application of mink oil I will probably do another soon which should darken it more. You can probably use another leather conditioner to get it to the color you want.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

Dying a white incipio case.

So,
I had a white Incipio case for my G2. I work in a machine shop and constantly have oily hands. My white case looked like crap, with brown staining from oily hands and oily pants pockets.
I went to the grocery store and bought a package of black, RIT fabric dye for $2.49. This dye is designed for dying fabric, including synthetic (plastic) fibers. I figured why wouldn't it dye my synthetic phone case?
I put the black dye powder in a disposable pan and poured in 2 cups of almost boiling water. This is a much stronger mix than the package recommends. I degreased and cleaned my case with isopropyl alcohol. Stirred it with a plastic spoon and dropped the back of the case in. In about 20 seconds the case was jet black. Took it out and rinsed it with cold water while wiping it with a clean sponge to get any dye off the surface. It worked great. RIT also comes in many other colors. If you want to try a different color than black I'd recommend a weaker mix, so you can control the color intensity better. I think most colors dyed at this strength would be so saturated they would look almost black if left in the dye for too long. Do a quick dip and rinse, if you want it bolder, dip and rinse again You can always add more color but cant take it off.
I think the soft touch coating absorbs color very easily, whether it's from your pocket or a pan of dye. I would think any phone with a soft touch surface would dye easily. A non soft surface would probably also take the dye, but would take longer to deepen in color, hotter water works better for plastic. The clear plastic spoon I used is now tinted, but not jet black. Good luck, Too bad I already decided on black. Now I want to try a fade. I think the black back with the gray silicone looks pretty stealthy. An olive drab green would look cool with the gray too. The case looks and feels the same as it did before. It's just black now. It worked amazingly well.

Niceee
Sent from my LG-D801 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Great job!

Thanks for the idea! I've been wanting a nice red case for my Verizon G2 and couldn't find anything.
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Gonna try this. I got the exact same case and after a whole it just begins to look ugly.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless LG G2

Durability report OP?

back in the 80's and 90's when radio control cars (competitive kits, not Tyco stuff) where made of white nylon we used to dye the parts with this same dye. there's was absolutely no adverse effects.

Wonder if this eventually will start to dye my pockets after a while?
I have a royal blue incipio case. Not sure how color blending would do.
Sent from my VS980 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

demonr6 said:
Durability report OP?
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Still looks great. No fading, wear, or bleeding onto pockets.

bsheedy said:
Thanks for the idea! I've been wanting a nice red case for my Verizon G2 and couldn't find anything.
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Nice results. What strength did you mix the dye, and how long did you let the case soak?

30br said:
Nice results. What strength did you mix the dye, and how long did you let the case soak?
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If you go to Rit Dye's website they have a section with different formulas depending on the color you want. I started out using Cool Red #146 and made adjustments till I got color I liked, so I don't have an exact formula. As for amount of soak time I just kept checking every 20 seconds or so.

Cool! I shall try this.

HELP! micro scratches on silver bezel.

I wish I hadn't taken off my case to check. I found some very small micro scratches around the bezel. Can only see under bright light at specific angles but knowing they are there really messes with my ocd. I've only had the phone for a few days. I'm sure that any note 8 held under lighting would have the same scratches right? I'm wondering if my case caused them. It's the unicorn beetle pro and it has a hard plastic piece you attach to the front/sides before popping it into the hard rubber/plastic shell. It's very secure. They could have been there as soon as I got. The phone... I didn't inspect the bezel under a direct light like I did today. Doesn't move in it whatsoever... My s7 edge didn't have this issue because the bezels on it aren't shiny like this phone. Is there any possible way to lightly polish them out? They are seriously tiny. Can't feel them with a fingernail or anything. Any idea if the bezel is stainless steel on the orchid gray model or is it just painted plastic? Or should I return it and get a different one... Still in 14 day window.

Nokia 3310 ?
Sent from my Galaxy Note8 using XDA Labs

I have the gray model... nothing here... it don't looks like painted plastic. Also y just use the case which came with the phone.

DeMi-GoD said:
I wish I hadn't taken off my case to check. I found some very small micro scratches around the bezel. Can only see under bright light at specific angles but knowing they are there really messes with my ocd. I've only had the phone for a few days. I'm sure that any note 8 held under lighting would have the same scratches right? I'm wondering if my case caused them. It's the unicorn beetle pro and it has a hard plastic piece you attach to the front/sides before popping it into the hard rubber/plastic shell. It's very secure. They could have been there as soon as I got. The phone... I didn't inspect the bezel under a direct light like I did today. Doesn't move in it whatsoever... My s7 edge didn't have this issue because the bezels on it aren't shiny like this phone. Is there any possible way to lightly polish them out? They are seriously tiny. Can't feel them with a fingernail or anything. Any idea if the bezel is stainless steel on the orchid gray model or is it just painted plastic? Or should I return it and get a different one... Still in 14 day window.
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That's why I never use a case that has hard inner shell or frame. Sorry to hear about that.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Which color is more likely to show micro scratches? The shiny silver bezel or the black? I know I read somewhere about the black bezel paint coming off. Also I don't see how the case would of caused this. It doesn't move around in the plastic shell whatsoever once you snap it on. I know I could find the Sam kind of micro scratches on every phone under the right lighting though.

DeMi-GoD said:
Which color is more likely to show micro scratches? The shiny silver bezel or the black? I know I read somewhere about the black bezel paint coming off. Also I don't see how the case would of caused this. It doesn't move around in the plastic shell whatsoever once you snap it on. I know I could find the Sam kind of micro scratches on every phone under the right lighting though.
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My black one has them too. I bought mine used, but it was only a month old. The previous owner kept in a case and a screen protector from day one.
Well, dust between the back of the phone and the case caused some scratches at the bottom of the back glass. And the bottom of the metal frame has scratches that look like they are from taking the case on and off. I just put a clear protective skin on the back and frame and you cant see the scratches.
The worst is the screen. He used a TGSP with the dot matrix pattern. These notoriously allow dust in under the TGSP. Well one speck of dust in the middle of the screen actually etched a spot into the glass. Its tiny and only visible under bright direct light. But it's there. I switched to a full adhesive TGSP and you cant see it at all.
I'm OCD about my phones too. I wish mine was 100% mint. But on the other hand, I only paid $540 for it (sold my S8+ for $585), and I can relax a little knowing its NOT perfect, if that makes sense.

Mr. Orange 645 said:
My black one has them too. I bought mine used, but it was only a month old. The previous owner kept in a case and a screen protector from day one.
Well, dust between the back of the phone and the case caused some scratches at the bottom of the back glass. And the bottom of the metal frame has scratches that look like they are from taking the case on and off. I just put a clear protective skin on the back and frame and you cant see the scratches.
The worst is the screen. He used a TGSP with the dot matrix pattern. These notoriously allow dust in under the TGSP. Well one speck of dust in the middle of the screen actually etched a spot into the glass. Its tiny and only visible under bright direct light. But it's there. I switched to a full adhesive TGSP and you cant see it at all.
I'm OCD about my phones too. I wish mine was 100% mint. But on the other hand, I only paid $540 for it (sold my S8+ for $585), and I can relax a little knowing its NOT perfect, if that makes sense.
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Man it's such bs. When I look at it in normal light in my room I see nothing.. Looks perfect... But when I use the camera flash from my s7 edge and shine it I see little lines everywhere along the bezels.... I can't imagine any note 8 without these? On the other hand my s7 edge has none bcuz it isn't a shiny finish like the note 8... Is the black bezel trim shiny like the orchid gray? I'm considering ordering that one.

Wait so you got a skin that goes over the actual Bezels of the phone?

Idk what to do... The bezel looks perfect under normal light... Can't see any lines "scratches" or anything, but when I take a photo of it with flash on, wherever the actual flash hits I can see these lines. Is this normal or what.

DeMi-GoD said:
Idk what to do... The bezel looks perfect under normal light... Can't see any lines "scratches" or anything, but when I take a photo of it with flash on, wherever the actual flash hits I can see these lines. Is this normal or what.
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If it were me, I wouldn't worry about it. And I'm pretty OCD. But only you will know if you're happy with it or not.

I just don't get how all these micro scratches have appeared. Definitely not the case... They are in areas where the case doesn't even contact the phone. I really want to know if all orchid Grey note 8s will have the same "scratches" under flash. I have a hard time even calling these scratches. And it truly does bug me because I spent a lot of time researching cases etc to maintain a perfect phone.

Send it back ASAP. Your mental well being is far more important than that. LOL
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Someone else told me it was normal and just the brushed aluminum

should I return? pics included

I've only had my phone a few days. I've had it in a case the entire time. A unicorn beetle pro. It has a plastic piece/screen protector that you attach to the front and it kind of grips the sides. The phone nor the case moves at all. Then you put that into the hard shell. I highly doubt the case scratched my phone at all. The bezel area has a lot of these micro scratches. I can't see it in normal lighting.... Doesn't show up in normal pic... But if I turn on the flash it does. Is this to be expected on every shiny bezel? I'm trying to figure out if I should return it and get a black one.. Thinking the black bezel isn't shiny like this and wouldn't show? Can anyone else with a Grey orchid take a picture of the bottle.. Bezel with flash on and see if you have these same lines?

DeMi-GoD said:
I've only had my phone a few days. I've had it in a case the entire time. A unicorn beetle pro. It has a plastic piece/screen protector that you attach to the front and it kind of grips the sides. The phone nor the case moves at all. Then you put that into the hard shell. I highly doubt the case scratched my phone at all. The bezel area has a lot of these micro scratches. I can't see it in normal lighting.... Doesn't show up in normal pic... But if I turn on the flash it does. Is this to be expected on every shiny bezel? I'm trying to figure out if I should return it and get a black one.. Thinking the black bezel isn't shiny like this and wouldn't show? Can anyone else with a Grey orchid take a picture of the bottle.. Bezel with flash on and see if you have these same lines?
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When I get home will do.

Nick216ohio said:
When I get home will do.
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Thank you bro.

I had exactly same with my previous Gold Note 8 which was in a UAG Plasma since day one, I think that's just the way it is...scratching easily. I will not check my current Black Note 8, don't want my OCD to kick in )
I remember the Note 4 with the chamfered aluminium it had... I had it in otterbox commuter since I took it out from box and after a while when I took it out to show it off to someone, it looked like I rubbed it against sand paper
PS: I think the S6/S7 had the best frames, that matte aluminium never scratched!

Dean-xXx said:
I had exactly same with my previous Gold Note 8 which was in a UAG Plasma since day one, I think that's just the way it is...scratching easily. I will not check my current Black Note 8, don't want my OCD to kick in )
I remember the Note 4 with the chamfered aluminium it had... I had it in otterbox commuter since I took it out from box and after a while when I took it out to show it off to someone, it looked like I rubbed it against sand paper
PS: I think the S6/S7 had the best frames, that matte aluminium never scratched!
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You're absolutely right. I was gonna say that my s7 edge with the dark gray non shiny bezel has no issues like this because it isn't shiny. BTW I called a Verizon store and sent the pics to him. I was trying to get him to check the other notes. He said every single one will have those lines he said it was the brushed metal effect or something.

If they were actual scratches they'd be seen easily in normal light. Now I'm really just wondering if the black would hide these lines better. I did see a thread about the black paint peeling which worries me.

I felt like my wife's orchid grey S8+ his scratches and fingerprints better than my black one did.

Your phone is fine. It's just the brushed metal. All of them will do it if the light hits at the right angle.