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Cell Phone + Paint

DibsDibs Registered User regular
edited June 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
My dad dropped his cell phone (Motorolla Razr) into a bucket of white paint. It turns on, but none of the buttons on the keypad work. Any idea/tips on fixing this?

I've heard a soak in ethanol can do wonders, +/- on that?

Thanks in advance H&A.

Dibs on

Posts

  • WezoinWezoin Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    I don't have a suggestion for what will work, but I'd avoid ethanol. Oil/gasses + electricity = fire hazard

    Wezoin on
  • The Crowing OneThe Crowing One Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    A latex-based paint will strip off with a heat gun, or other high temp. device.

    Oil-based would be thinner.

    Water-base can be removed by household cleaners, primarily Simple Green.

    The effect on the electronics, however, may be less than ideal.

    The Crowing One on
    3rddocbottom.jpg
  • Centipede DamascusCentipede Damascus Ho! Ho! Ho! Drink Coke!Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    If you ask me, it's not worth the trouble to try to clean it. It's time to bite the bullet and get a new phone.

    Centipede Damascus on
    bluesky/tumblr
    eZB497F.jpg
  • DibsDibs Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    The paint was washed off with lots of water after it was dropped in the paint.

    The theory behind the ethanol is that it dissolves any of the salts/insoluble globs that might be wonking up the electronics, and since it evaporates at room temperature it has no long lasting effect on the electronics.

    My dad has a back-up cell phone he's using now, but for the time being I might as well give fixing this thing a (cheap) shot.

    Dibs on
  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited June 2008
    It depends on whether any paint got inside the phone, I'd think. I dropped my goddamn RAZR into the toilet (shut up) about six months ago, and it was never the same after that.. in fact, it was pretty much destroyed. I ended up just having to get a new phone.

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
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