My buddy in Phoenix swore by using a hairdryer to fix a laptop with a swollen battery

He said it would soften the glue so I could get the old battery out, but all it did was make the whole thing smell like burnt plastic and warp the case. Ended up having to order a new bottom panel for $45 and explain the whole mess to the customer. Anyone ever tried something that sounded good but went totally sideways on a repair?

3 comments

3 Comments

charlesj461mo ago

That's a classic. Heat guns and hair dryers are a one way ticket to melted plastic town. Saw a guy try to "reflow" a cracked HDMI port with a lighter. Just torched the whole board. Sometimes the old school hacks do more harm than good. Gotta know when to just use the right tools.

-1

taylor.jessica1mo ago

Nah, sometimes you gotta work with what you have. A careful hand with a lighter can fix a loose connection in a pinch. Not everyone has a fancy rework station sitting around.

webb.val4d ago

Taylor's got a point though. Charlie's story is rough but I actually read something about how some old school electronics repair guys used cigarette lighters for quick fixes back in the day. Not saying it's smart, but there's a reason those hacks stuck around. A lighter can work if you just need a tiny bit of heat on a single joint and you're not an idiot about it. Still, plastic is plastic and you're playing with fire - literally lol - so I'd only try it on something you're ready to toss anyway.