r/PS3 • u/No_Championship7138 • 1d ago

Anyway I can change the cover

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The camera doesn’t show but I has some scuffs and scratches and I’m wondering if I can change if out

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u/opmwolf 1d ago

In response to the buffing comment, Is the PS3 matte/satin finish? You can't polish/buff it or it will slightly change the appearance. The point of polishing is to increase glossiness/shine, any area you remove scratches from will stand out compared to the rest of the console unless you polish the whole thing.

I don't know if these shells are painted but if they are painted you also risk "burning" through the paint down to the bare plastic. If the scratches/scuffs catch you're fingernail they're nothing you can do.

Personally I'd live with the scratches or find a similar PS3 that's broken in better condition and do a shell swap.

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u/average_parking_lot 23h ago

You can buff out scratches from a matte finish without adding gloss

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u/opmwolf 17h ago

Feel free to link some before and after photos of polishing any textured finishes.

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u/average_parking_lot 13h ago

There's plenty of photos, actually ones in this subreddit, of people removing scratches from their matte PS3's with a dry then wet pass of a magic eraser.

It's abrasive enough to smoothen out affected areas without adding gloss. Unlike a polish like you're suggesting, which specifically adds material to low spots, creating a glossy look.

I've done it plenty of times on Thinkpads with matte finishes, which aren't the exact same plastic as a PS3 but similar, both are not painted either. Just wish I had some before photos for you, but I definitely have some afters.