Ok this is random/sad/wtf but other day I noticed I had a dodgy scratch on the front facia of my GP2X it looked like the typical oil / finger mark shiney stains that the black material is used to showing up but it was shiney. So i tried rubbing the thing out but it wouldn't go away.

This annoyed me as I like to keep my things looking new and perfect and when playing with the device under a lamp that stupid scratch became more apparent. I had read from other places that toothpaste can help get rid of scratchs etc on LCD screen (think it was random PSP people) so thought id give it a little go on that area. It worked! but then I realised all i did was make the area I rubbed shiney compared to the rest of the facia and then thought argh pants I've f00ked it up lol.

To cut a long story short to even it up I ended up polishing the front of my facia using those anti-static multipurpose wipes (and occasionally some cotton balls) with a little bit of toothpaste spready thin over the wipe (colgate ) and with a little elbow grease got the whole of the facia to match. The difference is the front isnt matt as compared to the back but is now matching with the lower plastic area of the GP2X that holds the battery and power status LED.

Actually looks pretty decent! and It didnt even rub out the GP2X logo which was even better! made alot of the wipes black though lol.

I know alot of you probably wouldn't care about a few minor scratches blah blah etc but thought that this would be a nice aesthetic mod to mention.

Yes ok now back to using the device rather than watching it

EDIT: I take no responsibility to what damage/harm you do to your GP2X as the toothpaste takes the matt off the facia and cant be put back

But doesn't making it shiny show fingerprints like mad? I know it does on the PSP.

Shiny is better in theory in my opinion. I've been considering orangifying my unit, though.

i like shiny, its cuter, thats why i love my psp

Suprisingly no. Its exactly like the lower plastic area and from what I remember it doesnt show the finger prints as much as the matt surface at all. The only annoying thing is to get the whole thing shiney you really have to polish at it and keep checkin it in the light. Would have been easier if I dismantled the thing and took the front off that way I could have buffed it down really quick and the areas around the buttons can be tricky to do properly. It takes some time to do it properly but the result is very nice.

Obsessive Compulsive anyone?

Can you post pictures? It just seems so odd that it look like that shiny bottom part...

I was considering that about myself as well

The negatives of having nothing to do after graduating and still looking for work lol

you could become a serial killer..

HOLY SHIT!?!?! I became a 6 dotter (with a stupid post!)
<-----lookie

I would like a picture.

Toothpaste also works for fixing scratched CDs.

Ok heres some proof.

Ive put battery cover next to it as a comparison as the battery cover is the same finish as what the thing originally was.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures I only got a old 2MP camera at my disposal at the moment.







Not overly shiney but still better than what it used to be IMO.

Looks like you did some big button-mashing right after eating 3 bags of McDonalds fries. I mean it looks greasy, not shiny.

I tried it on mine...and after a TON of polishing it does just look greasy...but it's not as bad as it looks in the picture. Once I finish the rest of mine I'll post whether or not I like it

Guess you dont like the look then...

The grease mod!

Grease is the word! (is the word that you heard)
It's got groove it's got feeling!

hehe I just finished buffing mine up a bit more. Think i left some toothpaste residue on it... Have to say it does look alright though... I guess i just need a better camera As the pics i posted just make it look "greasy" but over the whole facia surface you get the same even shine as on the screen woo

It doesn't feel like grease though...it actually has a better grip than before. Not that it was a problem before.

Post pictures post pictures !!!!

Me? I would but I don't have a camera...and my parents' camera sucks.

Not only is my GP2X shiny but it smells like mint...and I have lost the ability to use my entire right hand......

One must master the the use of the "ambidextrous fap" before he can be a true fapper.

wow, did your mom really get rid of your cat?

Would using a whitening toothpaste make the plastic turn gray? Maybe lay some of those white strips across for some gray stripes.

hahaha alright now that I'm done.(no I haven't been doing it for nine straight hours...I had work). My opinion.

It's shiny...and if you missed a spot it shows but after a certain point in shining it looks the same so you don't have to be perfect. If you don't go over the logo...you can tell. If you do go over the logo...the X remains but everything else leaves. Scratches show...so you have to be extra careful (this is kind of a duh one though). Anyone have questions...just ask me or DBH. And I like the way I did the back a lot more, because I didn't take off the...bumps?...completely so it has a really nice look.

w/e I'm gonna do the paint mod. I'm thinking silver...or a really nice dark purple.

you did the back of the unit as well Clay?? Lol I didnt bother with the back (don't intend to either) You must have really scrubbed hard or used an abrasive toothpaste to get rid of the GP2X logo I faded mine a teeny bit but not that its noticeable. I finally went over any matt spots that were remaining and finished it off properly. It does look the business though.

Hope your happy with the outcome? I didn't want to condem anyone to all that elbow grease (haha) and not get the results they expected / wanted.

Im just happy my GP2X got a semi mirror finish now and all those random scratches are buffed out lol

The active ingredient in toothpaste is chalk, which is the active ingredient in this mod. Basically, chalk is a very light abrasive (which cleans your teeth). If you want to use toothpaste for this, no problem, but add some extra chalk to the toothpaste before using it on the GP2x to save lots of time and rubbing (increasing the abrasiveness).

Actually, there's no chalk in my toothpaste. Im not exactly sure what budget brand you're on though.

Colgate Total is chalk-based

tell us how the paint comes out Clay.....

how many posts to get to 6 dot?

not sure what bargain-brand colgate total you're using, mine doesnt contain any chalk.


What it does contain is baking soda, a mild abbrasive.

My mistake then. I thought it contained a baking soda subsitute called calcium carbonate, which is indeed a chalk.

It look really good on side views...and after I get all the little pieces of cotton out of all the tiny crack it'll look even better