Showerthought: my old iPod's battery was toast until I tried a hairdryer

My 5th gen iPod Classic wouldn't hold a charge for more than 10 minutes. I ordered a new battery kit online for $15. The old adhesive was rock solid, so I gently warmed the back case with a hairdryer on low for about 30 seconds. The metal panel popped right off with a plastic spudger, no bending. Has anyone else found a safe heat trick for stubborn glued parts?

2 comments

2 Comments

bell.emma14d ago

Warming glued parts with a hairdryer is a known trick, but calling it safe is a stretch. Direct heat on low for a short time might work, but it's easy to overheat the battery or melt internal plastic clips. I've seen people warp the case or damage the screen doing this. A proper iOpener tool or a careful application of isopropyl alcohol to soften the adhesive is a much more controlled method.

the_sam14d ago

Watch someone try the hairdryer trick and you'll see pure panic set in when the plastic starts making weird noises. It's like they forget heat melts things until their phone case turns into modern art. Sure, it might work if you have the steady hands of a surgeon and the patience of a saint, but most of us are just one distracted moment away from a puddle of regret. Give me the slow and boring method any day, because my tech repair skills peak at turning it off and on again.