What you should know
- People, especially young ones, often ignore the “Don’t try this at home” warning, leading them to potentially dangerous adventures.
- iFixit, a company that supports the Right to Repair movement, has released an article warning users not to try a certain process at home, specifically anodizing the titanium frame of the iPhone 15 Pro.
- Anodizing is an electrolytic process that grows a protective oxide layer on a metal surface, and it can create unique colors and patterns on the iPhone 15 Pro’s frame. However, the process is incompatible with other metals like the stainless steel used in older iPhones.
- The process of anodizing involves the use of acid and requires safety measures such as working in a well-ventilated area, wearing protective gear, and having access to a supply of calcium gluconate gel to neutralize any potential skin exposure to poisonous fluoride ions.
Full Story
Hey, you know how people, especially the young ones, totally ignore the “Don’t try this at home” warning? Yeah, it’s like they’ve got a switch that flips on when they hear it. Suddenly, they’re off on a wild adventure, doing exactly what they’ve been told not to. Not always at home, mind you, but that’s not the point.
There are some things, though, that folks should absolutely try at home. Like fixing a smartphone, for instance. That’s what iFixit believes in. They’re all about helping people fix their busted electronics and championing the Right to Repair movement.
So, when iFixit’s latest piece repeatedly says “Don’t try this at home,” it might be a good idea to, well, not try it at home. Shocking, right?
So, what’s the big deal? In a nutshell, it’s all about making the iPhone 15 Pro’s frame ultra-cool. And no, we’re not talking about using cases, stickers, or other amateurish methods. Instead, iFixit’s article is about anodizing the titanium frame of the iPhone 15 Pro. Why? Because it’s a way to create some seriously awesome colors and patterns!
Anodizing, in case you’re wondering, is an electrolytic process. It grows a protective oxide layer on a metal surface. In layman’s terms, it’s controlled corrosion. The metal surface is submerged in an electrolyte bath and a current is passed through it. When you anodize titanium, a layer of titanium dioxide forms on the metal’s surface, resulting in a rainbow of colors.
But don’t get any ideas about trying this on an older iPhone Pro. Not all metals are up for anodization. For instance, the stainless steel frame used on previous iPhones? Yeah, that can’t be anodized.
So, what’s the payoff for anodizing the iPhone 15 Pro? If done right, the titanium frame gets a unique, vibrant look. Just check out the pictures in iFixit’s article. Pretty cool, huh?
But remember, don’t try this at home. The whole process, both the theory and the practice, is explained in the blog article. It’s got some heavy-duty words and terms like “refractive index”, “wavelength”, “phase shift”, “destructive interference”, and more. Plus, the anodization process involves acid. Safety first, folks.
We made sure to work in a well-ventilated area, wore goggles, a face shield, and double-layered nitrile gloves. And we had calcium gluconate gel on hand, just in case. If there’s skin exposure, this gel binds with the poisonous fluoride ion to neutralize it. So, yeah, not exactly a DIY project.
