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"Those damn front bezels ! " - A retrospective on materials that shatter just by looking at them

Pushpull76

Well-known member
As you can understand from the title, it has happened to me several times to damage the lateral wings of the front bezels of various macs (series 840, 8100, etc) simply by disassembling them and not doing any particular force. I think the reason is the type of plastic used for the components (after so many years, the plastic seems to be crystallized). Do you follow a particular method to repair them (a special glue, etc) ?
 

3lectr1cPPC

Well-known member
I use Plastruct Plastic Weld whenever I accidentally look at one of my PowerBook’s screw standoffs funny and it decides to shatter. It works pretty well.
 

joshc

Well-known member


 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
I've often been tempted to use a hair dryer to heat up the plastics before reinstalling. Using it on 6100, LC, IIsi case tabs concern me most, no fixing those. Plasticisers break down/leach out over the years.
 

3lectr1cPPC

Well-known member
@Trash80toHP_Mini
I've seen that method used in a 65scibe video, and it seemed to work out great for him when disassembling a PM 8100 (or similar) machine.

Also, how convenient that this is my 840th post, talking about the 840av case design.
 

Pushpull76

Well-known member
This is a front bezel for a Dat unit, for a 840av. Arrived 2 days ago, it was broken during the shipment.
For now, I tried a cyanoacrylate glue. It seems strong, I need to check when in the right place.



IMG_8360.JPG
 

Nathan_A

Well-known member
I use acetone and a very tiny brush to carefully "weld" the broken pieces together. I've tried tons of other solutions and this is the only one that has produced good results for me so far. It is however also higher risk because of it drips onto a visible surface of the plastic elsewhere it will be permanently defaced.
 

Byrd

Well-known member
I sit things in the sun before taking apart now, especially if I know things have broken before. Never crack open a case in the cold!
 

joshc

Well-known member
I sit things in the sun before taking apart now, especially if I know things have broken before. Never crack open a case in the cold!
In the colder climates...another way is a bit of time with a hairdryer on the plastics beforehand just to warm things up, then there's less chance of anything snapping. I do this with the very fragile tabs on 610/6100 cases.
 
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