Cerakote or Duracoat? - ZTE Axon 7 Themes, Apps, and Mods

Okay guys. As you all know, you can't paint aluminum. Spending a bit of time on Oakley forum, it dawned on me that you can duracoat or cerakote a phone. I have a gold a 2017u that is begging for a refinish. I hate gold, but love this phone. Just curious whether anyone has attempted such or if I will be the first monkey launched into space. Just had my X metal XX refinished and would love the gold to be gone. If we had a hardware modding section, I'd post there. Lol.

What about the antenna bands? Fingerprint reader? What about the plastic speaker covers? Most people, including me, are going to tell you that it's just not worth it. This is especially true if it's just for a color change and not to cover scratches. I actually just bought a gold A7 because I think they look nicer in a case than the grey ones do. I'm normally one for subdued colors but in this case the color of the phone is just an accent color. If you do it, pick a color that isn't offered to make it interesting and post the pictures here.

kitcostantino said:
Okay guys. As you all know, you can't paint aluminum. Spending a bit of time on Oakley forum, it dawned on me that you can duracoat or cerakote a phone. I have a gold a 2017u that is begging for a refinish. I hate gold, but love this phone. Just curious whether anyone has attempted such or if I will be the first monkey launched into space. Just had my X metal XX refinished and would love the gold to be gone. If we had a hardware modding section, I'd post there. Lol.
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Lol I can't count how many times I've been tempted to take a piece of sandpaper and at least get rid of the gold finish...
The good thing about the construction of this thing is that once you take it apart, only the FP reader and the camera lens remain there. I guess you can get the lens out with a little bit of pressure and take that gold ring off. The reader has a piece of what seems to be tape upon it, but you may as well leave it there. and having the two antenna lines of another color may even look nice
I really want to see the final product...

I'm torn between durabake and duracoat aerosol. I'm fairly confident that powered off, the 200 degrees f would not melt anything plastic on the phone. I wish I knew more about temperature tolerances. Also. I'm torn between primary red and nwu blue. The aerosol kit doesn't require baking, so likely that is a safer option.
Update: duracoat aerosol ordered.

kitcostantino said:
I'm torn between durabake and duracoat aerosol. I'm fairly confident that powered off, the 200 degrees f would not melt anything plastic on the phone. I wish I knew more about temperature tolerances. Also. I'm torn between primary red and nwu blue. The aerosol kit doesn't require baking, so likely that is a safer option.
Update: duracoat aerosol ordered.
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Wait, you are dissembling the phone right? I vote blue but it's too late.

lol. yes. and i ordered the nwu blue.

honestly, i think it will be a great project. if it works, it will be the motivation to acquire a 64/128. (not too motivated on that presently bc of the hideous gold.) NWU blue should be worlds better than ghetto gold.
i plan to take the phone apart.
i plan to duracoat the speaker grills the same color. same thing on sim tray and the parts where the plastic antennae lines are. i honestly could pull off doing it w/o pulling it apart and taping/masking well considering it doesnt have to bake. but i feel like the pita of full disassembly may be worthwhile.
ive taken many many phones apart. so i am not squeamish there. i just am not certain that the fingerprint sensor and the sapphire glass on the camera are that hard to mask off. (eyes crappy slickwraps extras. lol)
edit: after watching this video:
, i *definitely* am disassembling. i am so stoked for a blue axon. i wish i could make a red decal to replace the logos.

kitcostantino said:
honestly, i think it will be a great project. if it works, it will be the motivation to acquire a 64/128. (not too motivated on that presently bc of the hideous gold.) NWU blue should be worlds better than ghetto gold.
i plan to take the phone apart.
i plan to duracoat the speaker grills the same color. same thing on sim tray and the parts where the plastic antennae lines are. i honestly could pull off doing it w/o pulling it apart and taping/masking well considering it doesnt have to bake. but i feel like the pita of full disassembly may be worthwhile.
ive taken many many phones apart. so i am not squeamish there. i just am not certain that the fingerprint sensor and the sapphire glass on the camera are that hard to mask off. (eyes crappy slickwraps extras. lol)
edit: after watching this video:
, i *definitely* am disassembling. i am so stoked for a blue axon. i wish i could make a red decal to replace the logos.
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Well, I took apart my Moto G 2 and while these 2 phones are worlds apart in terms of build quality, all it took was a soft piece of wood and some force to get the camera lens to pop off. was riddled with scratches. Shouldn't be too hard to get this one off too, maybe with some heat.
You could use one of those crappy skins (only the camera one, anyways) to put on the backside lens if you can see the PCB through once you get the gold ring off, assuming you can't just paint it and put it again. I'm sure one of those brands can ship you only what you want, don't remember the name though
I guess you'll have to sand the whole body for the paint to stick to the aluminum and stay there with all the handling? If you can take some pictures of the sanded backside I'd be grateful, cause I think i'll just sand it, paint whatever's left and let it be
The FP sensor should be easy to modify, JerryRigEverything always scratches fp sensors with a blade (like you'd ever get to that point lol) abd they always keep working, so if you need to sand it so that the paint gets stuck to the plastic, you can. I don't even know what those paints are, they probably don't even import them here in Argentina. But from what I'm deducing they won't stick to plastic will they?
Also, I'd advise you to be real careful with the fabric thingy that covers the speakers. I broke one and lost the other one, so I have to clean the speakers with a magnet every once in a while... (workshop fills them up with iron dust). and something JerryRigEverything didn't mention on the disassemble video was that the power button is free-floating once you take it apart (it can't fall off though) and when I was putting the phone together the chassis somehow bent a little bit. Nothing critical but sure looks bad

Choose an username... said:
Well, I took apart my Moto G 2 and while these 2 phones are worlds apart in terms of build quality, all it took was a soft piece of wood and some force to get the camera lens to pop off. was riddled with scratches. Shouldn't be too hard to get this one off too, maybe with some heat.
You could use one of those crappy skins (only the camera one, anyways) to put on the backside lens if you can see the PCB through once you get the gold ring off, assuming you can't just paint it and put it again. I'm sure one of those brands can ship you only what you want, don't remember the name though
I guess you'll have to sand the whole body for the paint to stick to the aluminum and stay there with all the handling? If you can take some pictures of the sanded backside I'd be grateful, cause I think i'll just sand it, paint whatever's left and let it be
The FP sensor should be easy to modify, JerryRigEverything always scratches fp sensors with a blade (like you'd ever get to that point lol) abd they always keep working, so if you need to sand it so that the paint gets stuck to the plastic, you can. I don't even know what those paints are, they probably don't even import them here in Argentina. But from what I'm deducing they won't stick to plastic will they?
Also, I'd advise you to be real careful with the fabric thingy that covers the speakers. I broke one and lost the other one, so I have to clean the speakers with a magnet every once in a while... (workshop fills them up with iron dust). and something JerryRigEverything didn't mention on the disassemble video was that the power button is free-floating once you take it apart (it can't fall off though) and when I was putting the phone together the chassis somehow bent a little bit. Nothing critical but sure looks bad
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From what i understand, Duracoat will bond to any material, so long as it is degreased and prepped (sanded in this scenario) . So plastic is in. (yay)
i plan to spray the buttons but i do not plan to remove them unless i have to. even the full disassembly is not that hard.
I dont necessarily plan to paint the fp sensor unless i know the finish will not impede functionality. Duracoat may break the functionality, so i might have to be creative. its funny you mention jerryrigeverything's video bc that was my proof of concept for being able to sand the sensor down to not gold color.
on my Droid Turbo, i used to cover the capacitive buttons with clear self adhesive vinyl before i covered the screen with a Skinomi Tech skin. I may just sand the sensor enough for it to no longer be gold and grab some clear self adhesive vinyl to color match, provided that does not break functionality.
as far as sanding/prepping, i plan to emulate the process used in the video here:
and i also plan to take pics and make instructions for the whole process.
The Axon 7 forums dont have any physical mod posts, so it will be nice to put one out there as it is the best device i have owned so far. I used to be a Moto man. but they lost me with the novelty of "mods" and Verizon making boot loaders permanently locked.
My Duracoat should be here by the 30th. i really wish i could buy another color midframe that isnt gold, but ZTE parts are a pain to find.

kitcostantino said:
My Duracoat should be here by the 30th. i really wish i could buy another color midframe that isnt gold, but ZTE parts are a pain to find.
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Any news? I really wanna see that phone

lol. im watching a couple of 128/6 atm bc one can should do two. depending on how that pans out, i may be able to start on it this weekend.

no news yet. i missed out on the 128gb i was watching. honestly, the hardest part is gonna be having to use my Droid Turbo for a week while the Duracoat cures. fortunately, Turbo has some awesome devs. im still paranoid the midframe will chip easily on the sides, but even after i duracoat it, i will still use a case.
i also have to decide by what means to prep the surfaces. i figure a fine sandpaper, then the truestrip that came with the duracoat. masking the round parts is going to be a pita.
so in essence, its close, but im still deciding my plan of attack. after the holiday, i should be ready to start.

well, i have the turbo updated and im about to go pick up my sandpaper. the camera ring (if i cant find how to remove it) i am leaving gold. i had initially thought id sand the gold off of the camera, but its under the glass. ordered dbrand skins for the camera. if all works as planned, that is a compromise im willing to accept.
the plan as it stands: (commencing this evening)
1) Sand finish of back, sides, mid-frame after disassembly.
2) clean all with Tru Strip (included with Duracoat Aerosol kit).
3) duracoat 5 layers, heat flashing in between coats.
4) (hardest step) leave alone for a week and allow to cure.
I will add pics or a vid when and if time allows while im in the process.

Im using 3m Sandpaper and a sanding block i picked up from Walmart. totally forgot painters tape. back to the store i go. camera on Turbo pales in comparison to Axon 7, so bear with me in this process.

gold finish is thicker than anticipated. i cant get down to bare metal. might say screw it and go with what i got.

400 grit takes forever. camera flash is dead. i tore the black material under the fingerprint sensor. totally pulled the trigger too soon. gonna paint as is. eying broken ones on ebay. if all else goes well (prepped to duracoat atm) either i will live w/o flash and fingerprint sensor (bc of my own haste) or ill buy a grey A7. either way, this back will look great on another axon 7.
also, the gold on the camera lens is a sticker on the bottom side. popped out, and when i went to grab it, thats when the flash fell out.

its probably doomed to look like crap, but progress.

more

verdict: bad ideas ruined a great project. axon is dead. at least, locked in a boot loop. buttons are stuck. buying grey now. lol. lessons learned.

Try using a razor blade to scrape the inside edges of the button holes.

Related

Pimp your Wizard - Case Mods

I'm wondering if anyone has considered modding the housing on their Wizard to change the colour, etc?
I've been looking at using Plasti-Kote to spray my housing black. They reckon it adheres to most surfaces including plastic (although maybe not pre-painted plastic). I'm not quite sure how smooth the finish will be. (If I fubar it I can buy a new housing for £40, although the missus wasn't impressed when I said so.)
If anyone else has done this, considered doing it, or has any other case mod ideas, let's hear about it!
Search for the thread for 'white wizard' pimp. that's nice.
Thanks for the pointer. Here's the thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=286863
That's pretty sweet. I'll take on board the advice to sand the housing first. I wondered if I'd just be able to paint directly over the top.
I think I would take my device apart too so I didn't have to worry about dust and paint getting somewhere it shouldn't.
Something else you could do and that I bet would look AWESOME would be to see if you could get it powder coated. I know there is a little shop up the road a few miles that has told me they would powder coat something in whatever color I wanted. Could allow for some interesting finishes. I'm picturing maybe some sort of glossy metallic finish or something.
Avatar28 said:
Something else you could do and that I bet would look AWESOME would be to see if you could get it powder coated. I know there is a little shop up the road a few miles that has told me they would powder coat something in whatever color I wanted. Could allow for some interesting finishes. I'm picturing maybe some sort of glossy metallic finish or something.
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Click to collapse
I am not familiar with powder coat. It looks like an interesting technique. According to this website you have to statically charge the item then bake the paint on?
I had also considered black with silver specks but ended up going for solid black in the end. (Maybe next time!)
* You can see my black wizard case mod here.
Usually when I buy RC car bodies they are Clear, you paint the inside to prevent scratching the paint, and it always looks great! Well I found this plastic case HERE Heck I am gonna order a couple and try a few different colors!!
I'd like a white wizard that's real glossy. I'd like the buttons to be white too, but I still want the buttons to display the letters and symbols. also i'm afraid the backlight wouldn't show through the keyboard. I think I have a delima huh?
You can use oven cleaner to strip the paint, just be sure to not leave it on very long or it will cause the top layer of plastic to shrink and crack. I haven't had to strip paint from plastic in a few years but I think it was about 30-40 minutes of soaking.
Regarding the powder coating, the piece to be coated is pretty much always metal because it must be baked in an oven.
Powder Coating wont work on plastic. It will just melt it within a few seconds of baking.
I just bought a wizard on ebay and also a separate case for it. My plan is to sand down the separate case and paint it with a matte black paint, I want to make it look like my macbook.
Yes so easy
See my Signature link PIMP My wizard and please post your jobs it will be nice see other jobs!!!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=427786
can someone help to open wizard's case with picture? all i can see 2 screws behind it which one of them is under stylus
I have a Wizard service manual but I can's seem to get it uploaded. If you know of another way to get it to you I will gladly send it along.
MDA or 8125 style?
On my signature see PIMP My Wizard link...???? it has a picture tutorial download it and check your screws maybe it shows right but,..... is for the Qtek 9100 or MDA Vario t-mobile design device.
Service manual:
http://rapidshare.com/files/164116696/HTC_Prodigy_Wizard-Service-Manual.pdf
After reading this and after having repaired my Wiz (came with a cracked screen to begin with) I'm going to take part of my next week (good to have vacation after all....) and use it to mod my Wizard's case. Well, hopefully if everything goes well, you'll see a pimped out Mod B_Edwa style here in a week...
Avatar28 said:
Something else you could do and that I bet would look AWESOME would be to see if you could get it powder coated. I know there is a little shop up the road a few miles that has told me they would powder coat something in whatever color I wanted. Could allow for some interesting finishes. I'm picturing maybe some sort of glossy metallic finish or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is very good!!!

How to remove the tilt2 bezel or chrome shell & replace it

today my at&t tilt2 accidently fell from my hands and got heavily scratched on the chrome shell (bezel) the bezel even got few small dents & & the chrome colour came out
so i wanted to ask how can i remove this bezel,as i thought to remove it sand it & then paint it chrome again
& also suggest me is my idea good or not
no rplys? atleast tell me hw can i remove those scratches & dents
i wanna know this too since i just dropped mine today and its a fairly small chip but i still get a little crazy over it
please help us out
Sorry for bad news but to remove the bezel you'll need to fully dissassemble your TP2. You'll have to dismantle the main housing to unscrew hinges. Once you separate the upper part with LCD you'll be able to open it, and then separate the bezel from LCD and digitizer. I've done it myself couple of times but be aware that is not a 5 minute job (especially if you're new to this). You'll need tools - small philips screwdriver, small star screwdriver an special plastic prying tool (couple of them, they get broken easily, you don't have to use them but you'll most likely scratch the phone). You can get tool sets on ebay. Word of advice - if only possible try not to separate LCD and digitizer. Once you get dust and/or fingerprints between them it's a HELL of a job to get rid of them.
Check out mike channon's site for dissassembly guide.
Good luck guys!
EDIT: Personally, I would rather try to do some touch-up repairs without opening the phone if possible.
touch up repairs like what? suggest me something specific
I want to replace my screen and bezel but don't mind stripping the whole phone down if thats what is needed.
Try this link http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pdacenter.ru%2Frazborka%2Fhtc_touch_pro2%2F&sl=ru&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
As mentioned by pjm77 this does not look easy, and chances are if your not very careful you could mess up your phone.
By touch up I mean trying to paint the damage to make it less visible. Can't really say if that's possible in your case - judge for yourself. Dissassembling the whole phone is by all means possible, I was able to do it several times and I'm just an enthusiast. Just bear in mind that unless you're really skillfull and experienced you end up with a little damage here and there (clips broken, scratches etc.), it's time consuming and there is a risk of serious damage. In the end you may just put a lot of effort into it and be a little disappointed with the final result. But maybe not, it's up to you. Whatever your decision is - good luck!
EDIT: To be more specific I'll give you the real life example of touch-up. I had an awful, long and deep scratch on the back of my LCD (you can see that black, metal part when you slide out the keyboard). I took the masking tape and precisely shaped it in a way that only the scratch was visible (I'd say less than 0,5 of mm wide). Then I took a black paint (originally for my mother's renault) and painted the scratch. Aftrer half an hour I removed the masking tape. The repair is not perfect in any way, the scratch is still there if you know where to look. But I just never noticed it again and simply forgot about it until today.
I used a touch up pen from Staples that has metallic ink. It was a Silver Pilot Pen with Fine Point tip. Like pjm said, touch up paint isn't going to make it look perfect, but the scuffs on the chrome bezel are less noticeable. The ink is a little lighter than the chrome but makes the black cuffs disappear and is nice because you can get small marks with the fine point. I think it was $2.99.

[Q] Chrome bezel replacement - nightmare job or not that bad?!

Hi all,
Ok, so i've had a small disaster. As you probably guessed already i've dropped my phone. I thought the story was quite amusing (or just plain unfortunate!) so i'll you tell that before I ask for some advice!!
I got myself a white Galaxy S2 on upgrade through Vodafone. Gorgeous piece of kit so I ordered myself a nice case and screen protector to keep it nice and tidy.
Unfortunately the case got 'lost in the post' and as such the phone was unprotected. So, with some foresight I ordered a plain white cheap one off eBay (£2 inc. postage) just to see me through the 3-5 days I needed before the case I wanted was resent.
However what was sent what not white at all - it was the most hideous case with a rather disgusting floral effect all over it. I was going out for a night in town and had no choice, I had to take it with me.
Unfortunately later that eve I was stood at the bar, and my phone went off. So to save any embarrassment I slid the phone out of it's hideous case, and proceeded to read the message. Then it happened. The slippery son of a ***** jumped out of my hand, bounced off my foot and hit the deck.
It only has a couple of dings in the chrome bezel (the chrome effect rubbed off in two places to reveal black (the plating is obviously really thin)) - everything else was ok. Phew. But i'm still gutted and annoyed with myself
So, lesson learnt. I should have left the disgusting garish floral case on and it would have saved my phone. It was only 'de-sheathed' for a second and I managed to drop it, classic.
As a temporary solution, I coloured in the affected areas of the bezel with a silver permanent marker, and used some clear nail varnish over the top to stop the pen coming off. It seems to work well actually, and it looks much better than the black marks.
So, to my question - how do I change the chrome bezel for a new one?
I have read many threads, and watched many videos, and it looks to me like a nightmare job (eg as well as taking off the back and all components, you have to prise off the screen which is glued on, disconnect digitiser, etc). Can anyone confirm this, or has anyone tried it?
I can't find any videos of changing the bezel - they all seem to only go as far as taking off the back.
I've found a couple of sellers which sell the housing in white for only £20-30, so if it's an easy-ish job i'd have a stab at it. However i'm thinking I might as well just forget it ever happened and not be so precious about keeping the phone in A1 condition - it's a phone after all and it's going to encounter some scrapes now and then, even with a case on. And I plan on keeping it for 18 months anyway.
Opinions, anyone?
Cheers!
Movisman said:
Hi all,
Ok, so i've had a small disaster. As you probably guessed already i've dropped my phone. I thought the story was quite amusing (or just plain unfortunate!) so i'll you tell that before I ask for some advice!!
I got myself a white Galaxy S2 on upgrade through Vodafone. Gorgeous piece of kit so I ordered myself a nice case and screen protector to keep it nice and tidy.
Unfortunately the case got 'lost in the post' and as such the phone was unprotected. So, with some foresight I ordered a plain white cheap one off eBay (£2 inc. postage) just to see me through the 3-5 days I needed before the case I wanted was resent.
However what was sent what not white at all - it was the most hideous case with a rather disgusting floral effect all over it. I was going out for a night in town and had no choice, I had to take it with me.
Unfortunately later that eve I was stood at the bar, and my phone went off. So to save any embarrassment I slid the phone out of it's hideous case, and proceeded to read the message. Then it happened. The slippery son of a ***** jumped out of my hand, bounced off my foot and hit the deck.
It only has a couple of dings in the chrome bezel (the chrome effect rubbed off in two places to reveal black (the plating is obviously really thin)) - everything else was ok. Phew. But i'm still gutted and annoyed with myself
So, lesson learnt. I should have left the disgusting garish floral case on and it would have saved my phone. It was only 'de-sheathed' for a second and I managed to drop it, classic.
As a temporary solution, I coloured in the affected areas of the bezel with a silver permanent marker, and used some clear nail varnish over the top to stop the pen coming off. It seems to work well actually, and it looks much better than the black marks.
So, to my question - how do I change the chrome bezel for a new one?
I have read many threads, and watched many videos, and it looks to me like a nightmare job (eg as well as taking off the back and all components, you have to prise off the screen which is glued on, disconnect digitiser, etc). Can anyone confirm this, or has anyone tried it?
I can't find any videos of changing the bezel - they all seem to only go as far as taking off the back.
I've found a couple of sellers which sell the housing in white for only £20-30, so if it's an easy-ish job i'd have a stab at it. However i'm thinking I might as well just forget it ever happened and not be so precious about keeping the phone in A1 condition - it's a phone after all and it's going to encounter some scrapes now and then, even with a case on. And I plan on keeping it for 18 months anyway.
Opinions, anyone?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to hear...similar happened to my HTC Desire...however this should help...if you buy the kit off Ebay...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1253969
0semaj0 said:
Sorry to hear...similar happened to my HTC Desire...however this should help...if you buy the kit off Ebay...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1253969
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thanks for the information - I had a look at this tutorial yesterday, and although it's very good, it looks like this person has replaced the entire led panel/digitiser/housing in one go, rather than just the housing?
My screen is just fine, so I only need to replace the housing part.
The hardest bit looks like separating the screen from the housing from what i've read, and this is what I can't find a tutorial for, only some images on youtube suggesting to use a hairdryer to help with the proceedings!!
Thanks
Movisman said:
Hi,
Thanks for the information - I had a look at this tutorial yesterday, and although it's very good, it looks like this person has replaced the entire led panel/digitiser/housing in one go, rather than just the housing?
My screen is just fine, so I only need to replace the housing part.
The hardest bit looks like separating the screen from the housing from what i've read, and this is what I can't find a tutorial for, only some images on youtube suggesting to use a hairdryer to help with the proceedings!!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, the link is for the whole unit, but would give you some pointers. I am not as familar with the Samsung build, but with the HTC I know that between the LCD housing and the LCD/digitiser itself is applied through adhesive (most phones are) that is put into a temperature oven for 10 minutes to soften the adhesive. This is based on the HTC Official Service videos. I am not sure if the same will apply to Samsung phones.
But then again, as it is an expensive phone, it may be ideal for you to also get a quote from your local SSC or mobile phone repair agent to consider.
0semaj0 said:
Yea, the link is for the whole unit, but would give you some pointers. I am not as familar with the Samsung build, but with the HTC I know that between the LCD housing and the LCD/digitiser itself is applied through adhesive (most phones are) that is put into a temperature oven for 10 minutes to soften the adhesive. This is based on the HTC Official Service videos. I am not sure if the same will apply to Samsung phones.
But then again, as it is an expensive phone, it may be ideal for you to also get a quote from your local SSC or mobile phone repair agent to consider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, good point. I'd be interested to hear actually what the cost would be to replace the front bezel only. It's only £30 on eBay for the front and rear housing, but i'd be willing to pay more on top for an authorised repairer to carry out the job.
That tutorial is definitely one of the more detailed ones I have seen so far though. Doesn't look like many people have tackled changing the bezel only...
Thanks
Movisman said:
Yep, good point. I'd be interested to hear actually what the cost would be to replace the front bezel only. It's only £30 on eBay for the front and rear housing, but i'd be willing to pay more on top for an authorised repairer to carry out the job.
That tutorial is definitely one of the more detailed ones I have seen so far though. Doesn't look like many people have tackled changing the bezel only...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Movis,
What did you end up doing for your dropped phone?
I too have dropped my phone on its corner and the chrome along with the plastic is now dented.
Another one with the same problem here. I managed to create a bump on the chrome bezel.
Can I bump this post as I've also just noticed a ding in the corner of the chrome bezel was wondering if anyone had found a solution to this yet.? short of replacing the LCD/digitiser which like OPs phone are working fine. It's just cosmetic damage.
I once was in a bad mood and snapped a screen and backing/housing in half.I can't remember exactly,but I'm thinking the chrome bit may be part of the thin metal casing/housing that is glue taped onto the screen.
You separate the screen from the housing by using a hot air gun sparingly.
If you look back at a motherboard thread I was involved in,a person on here called Roger put up a great video tutorial link that may answer all your questions...
Sent from my GT-I9100
Ah cheers for the reply. Had a look at the mobo post you were involved in followed it to the link and coincidentally that's the exact video I watched last night. Very good video good detail and instructions. But its the black one he is stripping down so he makes no reference to the bezel which afaik is only used on the white ones.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
I've not seen the chrome bit listed separately,so I guess its part of the metal top housing that the LCD is glued to.I've got a white one and its got a ding on it too.
You could email Samsung to see if you can get the part,but I think its not worth risking cracking the screen and you probably couldn't resuse / would get that stupid gluey tape stuff.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Appreciate it's been a while, but this seems to be the only post that matches what happened to me, so figured I'd update with my experience.
As above, dropped and dented the bezel, screen was perfectly intact, but the dent was so severe, it actually lifted a corner of my screen up. I have intentions to sell on so I wanted to fix this and pass on.
I followed this disassembly , apart from the bit about not worrying about damaging the screen as you prise it away. The housing I ordered off ebay came with a little kit, so I warmed the screen with hairdryer for a couple of minutes, then slowly prised it away, from top to bottom, inserting the tool right down the middle as the video mentions there is a large adhesive right down the middle.
Following the vid all the way to the removal of all components, this is where I ditched my current bezel/housing and reassembled into the newly ordered one. Judging by the assembly, there is no way that a bezel could be replaced without replacing the housing, it's one whole unit, and I very much doubt the build would be that drastically different for the white SGS2.
Some things to note:
Be very careful removing the vibrate motor, the connector and natural pivot point is the weakest part (new module ordered from ebay
If you are transplanting the screen like me, have some adhesive pads in your kit as most tutorials are for new screens, and as can be seen on the vid, these come with pads intact, ready to apply
Try do it in daylight
Hope that helps anyone in a similar situation.
vyks10 said:
Appreciate it's been a while, but this seems to be the only post that matches what happened to me, so figured I'd update with my experience.
As above, dropped and dented the bezel, screen was perfectly intact, but the dent was so severe, it actually lifted a corner of my screen up. I have intentions to sell on so I wanted to fix this and pass on.
I followed this disassembly , apart from the bit about not worrying about damaging the screen as you prise it away. The housing I ordered off ebay came with a little kit, so I warmed the screen with hairdryer for a couple of minutes, then slowly prised it away, from top to bottom, inserting the tool right down the middle as the video mentions there is a large adhesive right down the middle.
Following the vid all the way to the removal of all components, this is where I ditched my current bezel/housing and reassembled into the newly ordered one. Judging by the assembly, there is no way that a bezel could be replaced without replacing the housing, it's one whole unit, and I very much doubt the build would be that drastically different for the white SGS2.
Some things to note:
Be very careful removing the vibrate motor, the connector and natural pivot point is the weakest part (new module ordered from ebay
If you are transplanting the screen like me, have some adhesive pads in your kit as most tutorials are for new screens, and as can be seen on the vid, these come with pads intact, ready to apply
Try do it in daylight
Hope that helps anyone in a similar situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, will the heat actually damage the screen? I saw some posts mentioning about putting it into the oven and such. It sounded very intense but if it works without damaging the screen, i might give it a try. Facing the same situation as yours. Scratches and dents all over my front chrome bezel.

[REVIEW] Cheap-a$$ waterproof cases

I had an amazon gift card to use up, and we're planning a road trip to a waterpark so I decided to use the gift card to try and find a waterproof/water-resistant solution for my lte. I wasn't going swimming with these, but I did want to protect my phone from the the occasional dunk or splash, and I didn't trust a ziplock bag to do the job. I also didn't want to spend a lot (otherwise I would have gotten the overboard case).
I ended up ordering the following cases;
BestDealUSA Waterproof Underwater Pouch Dry Bag Pack Case Cover for Cell Phone PDA Blue - $2.96
Waterproof Case for Apple iPhone 4, 4S - Also Works with iPod Touch, iPhone 3G, 3GS, & Other Smartphones - IPX8 Certified to 100 Feet - $4.57
Universal Waterproof Bag Case for Cell Phone / PDA, Blue - $0.01
Universal Waterproof Bag Case for Cell Phone / PDA, Black - $1.92
BestDealUSA Waterproof Underwater Pouch Dry Bag Pack Case Cover for Cell Phone PDA Blue
The plastic material seems strong on this case, and the seal seems like it would do a good job to keep the moisture out. The evo slides in and out easily, even with a tpu case, although it does it need to go in upside down if you want to take pictures - otherwise the camera is blocked by the opaque section of plastic, but this is not a big deal. There is a raised seal around the window of clear plastic (which takes up about 4/5ths of the phone screen) that makes pulling the unlock ring a little difficult, but not impossible. This is the biggest of the cases, with the most space around the phone. Screen responsiveness through the plastic is good, and the the window is clear, so its easy to see the phone screen. Lanyard runs through the width of the case, and seems very strong - I don't see it snapping or anything.
Waterproof Case for Apple iPhone 4, 4S - Also Works with iPod Touch, iPhone 3G, 3GS, & Other Smartphones - IPX8 Certified to 100 Feet
This one looks very similar to the higher priced overboard case and has great reviews. The areas surrounding the clear windows are puffy, as if it would allow the case to float. Unlike the other cases (which use a combination of two ziplock-type closure zips), this one has a plastic mechanical mechanism to squeeze and hold the opening shut like a vise. I don't know if I would trust this case to remain underwater for any length of time. It doesn't seem to seal as well as I would like, although the reviews all rave about how watertight it is. Having said that, the phone fits in this case perfectly with the tpu case, and even better without a case (upside down again), without being too snug, and the clear windows are exactly the size of the phone screen - only the capacitive buttons are hidden. Screen responsiveness through the plastic is good, and the the window is clear, so its easy to see the phone screen. The puffy areas around the clear screen also do a really good job of holding the phone in place, but makes it a bit difficult to press the power button. The lanyard that this case with end in what appears to be a thread that you loop through an opening in the case and seems like a good tug would snap it off.
Universal Waterproof Bag Case for Cell Phone / PDA, Black/Blue
I was only going to get the black one, but when I saw the blue one for a penny, I decided why not. These are identical cases, but one is black, and one is blue. These are the snuggest cases, and its a challenge to get the phone in, even without the tpu case. The plastic material the cases are made of is very tacky on the inside, so the phone tends to get stuck when you put it in or take it out. The plastic also seems thinner on these than the other cases, and the seals around the edge don't seem very reliable. Once the phone is in though, it's the most compact and pocketable of all of the cases. These cases do not have a clear window on both sides, so if you want to use the camera, then the phone screen will be covered by the translucent side of the case. It's not too bad, and the screen is still visible, but in bright situations, this could be an issue. Having said that, screen responsiveness is very good with these cases, most likely due to the thinness of the plastic. Lanyard goes through hole in the case and seems strong enough. These also come with an arm band that may fit you if you have the arms of a small child. They're really, really small.
Final thoughts - All of these would probably do a good job to keep water and moisture off of the phone (or even sand if you're going to the beach), and I think any of them would be fine to protect against accidental splashing. If I was going diving or swimming with my phone, I would probably shell out the extra cash for the overboard, or at least do some serious waterproof testing on these first. As it stands, I think I'll end up using the first case - Not too crazy about the blue, but I think it will do the best job of keeping the phone dry, and I won't need to worry about going down the log flume with it in my pocket or around my neck (like a tourist, lol).
Hey man, thanks for the reviews. I didn't even know you could get waterproof cases/bags so cheap.
I'll have to pick one up now.
I do suggest you update the prices in your post to include the shipping though for a better cost comparison (even though the difference here is minimal). So many venders inflate the shipping to make up the difference for a $0.01 item.
p.s. I'm going to pick up the first one as well since it looks like I can easily have it in my pocket as a just in case. (I'm in Florida and we have crazy torrential thunderstorms out of no where, so if I'm out jogging, I can have it in my pocket just in case.
Though expensive, Lifeproof cases are really nice. Ive known many people to go out in the ocean and take pictures under water with them.
Just an update, I did end up using that first case, and although it never went underwater, it got splashed on alot. Phone stayed dry, it fit great in the bathing suit pocket, and even took some great pics through the case. Would definitely recommend.
Quick update from me too. I ended up ordering this case: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058NXWPY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00
Used on a canoe trip. The canoe flipped and it went underwater for around a minute or so, and air dried after, did a great job. Would recommend this one!
i am using the first case, blue, as well. Works fine, keeps my phone dry in a 10ft deep pool. Takes picture fine too. Thanks for the review OP.
I actually prefer these right here. They come in different sizes I prefer the 6-1/2 x 3-1/4I can't confirm they work in 100 ft of water because I have no reason to be that deep ever in my life, but for the average rainy day, screwing around by the pool or working out these work great. The best part is the patented purple zip technology that lets you visibly confirm the case is sealed. Also pics turn out great. Good luck in your decision
Asadullah said:
I actually prefer these right here. They come in different sizes I prefer the 6-1/2 x 3-1/4I can't confirm they work in 100 ft of water because I have no reason to be that deep ever in my life, but for the average rainy day, screwing around by the pool or working out these work great. The best part is the patented purple zip technology that lets you visibly confirm the case is sealed. Also pics turn out great. Good luck in your decision
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha that had me laughing so much once I read the whole thing then clicked on the link. Good one!
Sent from my EVO using xda premium

replace/change the silver side plastic frame bezel around the screen

hi as many note 3 users know, the plastic side frame is easy to get damaged, i have few cracks and one line just under the main power button (not sure just facial or completely crack?)
so, how easy is to change and which one i have to buy ? - im quite noob in hardware sides.
Sure you can buy one on Ebay
I have the same problem, the silver plastic bezel is very fragile.
If you search in Ebay you can found the Bezel and some of them come with tools to turn this in a complete DIY.
Actually i found all the body for this phone in ebay, so you can turn your used and damaged note 3 into a "brand new" one.
Thanks 4 the info. Where did you find it. Could you please share the link?
Thx in advance
hey guys.here is a link for the bezel replacement Bezel On EBAY
i want to tell you that it's not that easy to change it as you need to move the lcd screen from the one bezel to the other one.
there is glue between the lcd and the bezel so you need to warm it and remove it really carefully.i did the process yesterday on my note 3 and it was a pain in the a$$ so i have to tell you to be carefull before any move you re going to do.
Any link for Indian note 3?
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Free mobile app
I considered doing this, as I was given a note 3 a while back, but the bezel is beat to hell and the screen had a minor crack. I should've replaced both at the same time, but the small crack turned into a large one and needed immediate attention It's covered by a case now anyway though, so it's not much of an issue anymore.
I dropped mine a while ago and put some pretty nasty scratches on the bezel.
I ended up sanding all the plastic chrome plating off down to the white plastic underneath.
covered the screen with electrical tape and ran a razor round the edge (so I could get to the front part)
It actually looks really good, I prefer it to the chrome.
I got a cheapo battery cover off ebay aswell in orange and it looks real good,
Its a tough job!!!
got my Note 3 as a gift from a friend who cracked it. I replaced the entire Display (along with frame)
and 3 days later I dropped it and got scratches in the frame.
so I decided to buy a frame and fix but its really a tough job.
so I got a bumper for 3$ and job done
I have installed one of those here http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thin-Aluminum-Metal-Bumper-Case-Cover-For-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-3-III-N9000-N9005/151251742076?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D31478%26meid%3D341538ef5e9d4d6da3228a5f902e8cf1%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D151251742076
There are some more nicer ones our there, however this does the job well and the build quality is goodd too, my first one at 1,30 USD was not worth anything.
thanks i thought i saw same one for bit less than that, will browse ebay later.
maskerwsk said:
I dropped mine a while ago and put some pretty nasty scratches on the bezel.
I ended up sanding all the plastic chrome plating off down to the white plastic underneath.
covered the screen with electrical tape and ran a razor round the edge (so I could get to the front part)
It actually looks really good, I prefer it to the chrome.
I got a cheapo battery cover off ebay aswell in orange and it looks real good,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Photos plz
Up! I'm interested too.
yes i just remember i have some sand paper at home please post photo and detailed instructions... cheers
rockbastard said:
I have installed one of those here http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thin-Alumin...id=100033&rk=1&rkt=4&mehot=pp&sd=151251742076
There are some more nicer ones our there, however this does the job well and the build quality is goodd too, my first one at 1,30 USD was not worth anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hows the reception with this frame on it? Bc in the past i bought a cheap one that folds over the original side bezel but reception dropped a lil bit.
triad88 said:
Hows the reception with this frame on it? Bc in the past i bought a cheap one that folds over the original side bezel but reception dropped a lil bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't noticed any drop in reception at all
rockbastard said:
I haven't noticed any drop in reception at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because you must be either living in the area where your carrier signal is real strong/good, or you dont pay attention to little details, otherwise you're lying
I have tried handful of those and other plastic metalized/mirror painted bumpers and what not and all to one had some impact, especially those which had metalized paint/metal/aluminium back cover.
Simple speed test will tell alot when wearing the cover, or just go and keep an eye on your signal strength meter. It sure as hell affects signal.
mine Note 3 is banged up pretty bad around the bezel but instead I just figured it would be more practical getting some slim neat bumpers and call it a day. not only hiding worn and tired bezel but also protecting the screen and back camera optics to some degree
some of my past purchases that proven to be good investment:
BLACK - http://www.ebay.com/itm/371686423462
BLACK - http://www.ebay.com/itm/331859225625
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271911899853
http://www.ebay.com/itm/391289113353
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151139101488
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181701505005
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182354407036
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311580942819
just thought I will share...
Mr.Ultimate said:
because you must be either living in the area where your carrier signal is real strong/good, or you dont pay attention to little details, otherwise you're lying
I have tried handful of those and other plastic metalized/mirror painted bumpers and what not and all to one had some impact, especially those which had metalized paint/metal/aluminium back cover.
Simple speed test will tell alot when wearing the cover, or just go and keep an eye on your signal strength meter. It sure as hell affects signal.
mine Note 3 is banged up pretty bad around the bezel but instead I just figured it would be more practical getting some slim neat bumpers and call it a day. not only hiding worn and tired bezel but also protecting the screen and back camera optics to some degree
some of my past purchases that proven to be good investment:
BLACK - http://www.ebay.com/itm/371686423462
BLACK - http://www.ebay.com/itm/331859225625
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271911899853
http://www.ebay.com/itm/391289113353
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151139101488
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181701505005
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182354407036
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311580942819
just thought I will share...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have a lot of cases!
erwinsie said:
you have a lot of cases!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
little too many ... beware that those wooden cases are the coolest thing your phone can get but if you do drop your phone they crack and break apart sometimes... not always though but alot alot sooner than any plastic case would and thats a heartbreaking thing because there not exactly cheap case, but hey - how often does someones phone feels and smells like real fresh quality piece of wood? I like them wooden ones very much even if they crack and put some tax on my pocket at the end of the day its almost like your personal signature of style ... besides, its always warm to touch and zero signal interference
PS: lots more were thrown out many months ago, especially all those metalized ones, no use to me nor could I offer them to anyone I knew who had note 3 due to what they are
When my display was damaged, it got repaired, not only the glass, but the whole display including the bezel, it was 1 piece.. I guess it's very hard to replace only the bezel

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