clear, thin-film plastic protective sheeting

[JHZR2]

Hi,

I have a semi-silly question, but maybe someone can give some advice.

I tend to keep my cellphone in my pocket. In order to keep it from getting scratched, I like to keep the think plastic film that comes on it on the outside screen.

My latest phone had a small tab on the plastic, and it got lint under it already (didnt cut the tab off soon enough), causing it to peel up funny and be ruined.

I tried cutting it down to protect just the little clock screen, but it didnt work. I tried fully transparent tape, but it always got a tiny dust bit or funny air bubble under it that I couldnt get out with my credit card press.

Can anyone reccomend a good way (not those leather/plastic sleeve things) to protect small screens with a thin plastic or similar transparent film? Less cutting would be better, and of course the easier it is to apply cleanly and keep bubbles out simply by pressing the credit card on the leading edge, the better...

I was thinking of something that could be paint-on, and come out smooth. Clear nail polish maybe? There would probably be too many solvents in it and it would be hard to get off once it got scratched and banged up. Is there a plasticy-type clear paint-on compound that is safe for most anything?

Maybe Im just too anal. Maybe it would be best for me not to keep it in my pocket anyhow... But this film stuff has many uses, so any suggestions would be great.

Thanks!

JMH

 

[msparks]

Couple of things,

You could try to use clear contact paper used for shelving look at walmart kitchen area.

Also they make protectors for the small hand held computers. You can look at Office Depot of the likes for that.

Lastly they make clear protectant in various thicknesses. Usually made by 3m.

Check out www.vehicleprotectionfilms.com

 

[kenw]

clear nail polish would be worse. it will scratch and be just as bad as the plastic lens you are trying to protect. Then what?

My cover film has been on for over 2 years. Yes, it looks a bit grungy but it is still doing its job. I don't expect it to look perfect, it tells me it is working.....

Nothing you an get easily will work as easily as you are wanting, you will at least have to trim it to fit. Along those lines, I would suggest clear packing tape or even laminating film, both available almost anywhere. Both are much higher tack and will NOT smoooth with a credit card. But nothing you can get easily will have that low-tack, and regardless you will have to trim it to fit. Part of the tack is static electricity and that is really tough to replace....

and btw, on mine (and possibly yours...) while the film has protected the lens quite well, the rest of the phone looks like crap. Keys, coins, etc have scratched and damaged the buttons, the housing and everything else.... but by golly that lens is pristine. Sounds like I've got some screwed up priorities....

 

[SlowPoke]

You can get PDA screen protectors and trim down to fit. You will get bubbles when you first paste the flim, but will go away on its own after a week.

 

[JHZR2]

SlowPoke:

Ive done that in the past, with reasonably good results. My problem is that I can never get a perfect cut to fit the shape, and cant seem to get it down without a dust bit or some other annoyance on there. Any tips on how to get a good fit with household stuff (paper, razorblades)?

Thanks!

JMH

 

[SlowPoke]

I couldn't get any pre-cut screen protectors for my Treo, so used a little piece of tracing paper or you can use any thin tranlucent paper, get an outline of the screen area with a pencil. Then transfer the outline on the paper backing of the flim and cut flim with a sharp craft knife and steel ruler. I clean the screen with a little isopropyl alcohol and a piece of lint free wipe before applying the flim. Smooth out the bigger bubbles with a credit card and don't worry bout the smaller ones, they will disappear after a week. Hope it helps