I've been working on this for a while, and it's finally ready. Pictured below is a replacement back for an Ipod touch that looks like it has been gold plated. In fact it has been put through a process knows as PVD and coated with an ultra hard material called titanium nitride. The PVD process is done at several hundred degrees and in vacuum and bonds this ultra hard material onto the surface of the metal. The result is an amazing looking finish that won't scratch.

This would probably go on eBay for quite a bit.

All you have to do now is put some "spinners" on it! LOL. Just kidding.


Looks kinda cool!!

Wow! thats nice. Can you do other colours or is that the only thing you can do with 'PVD'?

Looks beautiful, Are u going to sell it? it would be cool for modding purpose!

LOL, I'm an engineer at a DRAM and NAND company and we use PVD on wafers...

You did a great job. Anyway to match the front screen even though the glass is there?

I can do ultra hard coatings in black and gold. I've been looking into selling them to fund an iPhone related project. I was thinking of charging $60 for them.

Do you have a picture of one done in black? I'd love to see it.

Not done any in black yet, but if the demand is there I will get some done. I went with gold first as I thought it would appeal to the blingsters.

That is awesome selling them for $60 is a sweet deal if i had an ipod touch i would get one in black.

Thats pretty cool, and im also interested on the one with black plating.

I would probably grab one in black.

I will look at doing some in black then. I can get all capacity casebacks 8GB/16GB/32GB

I'd spend $60 on a black one with instructions and tools needed to do the replacement.

Do a black one and post a picture.

Front and back for $60 I would do in black.

What part of the front? The process takes place at 350 degrees, so any plastic parts will not survive deposition.

If you can do a black plated one and show the results, I would very much consider purchasing one from you.

I'd need quite a few confirmed orders before I could do a run. The finish would look shiny because it would take on the finish of the underlying surface.

amazing job

Incidentally, 5 minutes attacking it with a hardened steel screwdriver left not mark whatsoever

Thats awesome, im sure you would sell quite a lot of those.

i might be interested in a black back, if i knew how to replace it in the first place.

you said confirmed orders before you make a black one ? unfortunately something like this sight unseen isn't going to sell much without a screenshot i don't think. you would at least need 1 made for a screenshot

It's very simple. Use the opening tool to remove the existing back. Remove 2 screws in to take off antenna cover and transplant to new caseback, Remove 2 screws to take off antenna interface and move to new back cover. Then just push it into place until all the clips lock.

The whole thing but not the Screen? Guessing thats asking too much?

Are you the guy from Dragon's Den?

The front is glass, obvious you would not want that coated as you would not be able to use your iPod. The plastic bits would melt. The back can survive 350 degress because it is stainless steel.




No, he does gold plating. This is far more high tech.

Dude, you just made yourself a millionaire...

Seriously, this is a great idea. I want to be the first to say congratulations! Post a picture of yourself so I can say "I KNOW THAT GUY!!!"

yes please do!

I agree with C-Squarez! This is amazing, you can make tons of money doing this!!

I would definitely buy one in black, maybe even gold!! I will see, it will come with instructions and stuff right?

Maybe a Neowin members discount .

Great idea!

reminded me of this guy
http://www.genmay.com/showthread.php?t=775108
he plated his iPhone with TiAlN. looks damn sexy, too

Black would be way better. Gold is a bit pretentious .

Yes, he does the bezel and the logo on the back with TiAlN. The back cover itself it s black anodized after market part. I will be offering iPhone bezels too soon, but they are a bit difficult to fit so not sure how popular they would be.

A site specific discount would depend on the volume of sales. if I could shift 1000 units here I could go to $50 shipped for black or gold.

problem is i have no idea what the "Opening Tool " looks like or is gotten from. why would be good if included the tool ( like the Replacement Case's for the 360 included all the tools needed )

The tool is included

Thats really sweet man, I'd definitely be interested in one. One thing I'd like to see is the proof of its ability to prevent scratches because that doesn't look very scratch proof from the pictures.

Do some google searches on 'titanium nitride'.

Well sir, if its not overly complicated to do, you can put me down for an order. I'd probably go for the black over the gold, but can't decide until I see it. But I'm interested in one either way. I can't stand how apples metal back scratches so badly.

Btw, got any shots of them actually on an ipod? I'm curious how the finished product looks.

You don't happen to be that guy off of Dragon's Den who gold plated everything?

Believe his company was called The Midas Touch.

^ Answered that in the second page I think, now I should probably stop checking the thread and get back to work.

No shots on iPod at the moment as I sold my touch with one of the gold backs on to a friend. Am holding off buying another in case they bring a 64gb out in the next few weeks.

Dude thats sweet...I'll most definately order one in black if you make 'em. My stock one is getting all scratched up.

Think you could ask your friend to take a few pictures? and I can't blame you I got my 16GB a month before they released the 32. Btw, I'm going to be picking up the next generation iPhone, assuming the back isn't plastic think you might do one for those?

Because the backs on the iphones are anodised aluminium they cannot be pvd treated. I would have to get custom backs made in stainless

So, any takers for the golden ones?

Btw, I also do iPod nano replacement backs for $30

I actually sold one on Ebay and the results were very poor. I'm actually having trouble giving them away, nevermind selling the damn things. I did think they would be very popular, but it's all been a bit of a disaster.

Gold is a little pretentious and yesteryear.

Black or Silver replacement sounds good.