Just had to pick between a hot air station and a heat gun for a phone screen job

I was fixing an iPhone 12 screen last week and my old heat gun died. I had to choose between buying a cheap $30 heat gun from the hardware store or spending $150 on a basic hot air station. I went with the hot air station because I needed the exact temperature control for the adhesive. It took a bit to get used to the smaller nozzle, but the screen came off clean with no damage to the frame. Anyone have a good trick for keeping the small parts organized once you get the screen off?

3 comments

3 Comments

noah_smith26d ago

Magnetic mats are a total game changer for tiny screws.

caleba6426d ago

Honestly I have to disagree. Those mats are more trouble than they're worth. They grab onto every single metal scrap and bit of dust, so you're constantly cleaning them. Plus, if you're working with anything even slightly magnetic, like a small gear or spring, it just sticks to the mat and gets in the way. I've had way more success just using a plain old white dish or a small parts tray. It's simpler and nothing gets lost in a magnetic field.

cameron42611d ago

Grab one of those silicone ice cube trays from the dollar store. The kind with the little square pockets. Each pocket fits a different set of screws or a small part, and you can lay them out in the order you remove them. Nothing sticks to it and you can just fold the whole tray to put everything away if you get interrupted.