Archived iPad 2/3/4 kit discussions

The short answer: Yes, it is.  The adhesive we use for our iPad kits is substantially thicker than anything else we’ve seen on the market. If it was any thicker, it would start creating cosmetic and functional problems (we did a lot of testing with different thicknesses). It also has a substantial amount of “give” to it, so it can act as a cushion for tiny irregularities. As far as strength goes, if it was any stickier it would be impractical to work with – like spreading super-glue over the whole frame.

Hi Dan, Glad you found us! First Class Mail to the UK seems to take a couple of weeks, but your samples are on their way.

Hi Mike, Since the screen will secure the bezel in place once it is installed, an adhesive isn’t (strictly speaking) required. It can be nice to have it “tacked down” while working, though, so I’ve sometimes used something like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WIQW3U/ - Benji

Hi Michael, The digitizer cable (in the lower-left corner) is probably the culprit. It often causes lifting problems with weaker adhesives. There’s a bit of a trick to tucking it into place when closing the unit, but sometimes the cable is so stiff that it’ll make trouble even when it’s installed perfectly. Regardless, the kit you ordered should do the trick.  When removing your existing digitizer, the first thing I’d say is: Use heat, and work slowly and carefully. Since you’re planning to re-use the digitizer, be aware that the black or white paint on the back scratches off very easily when using metal tools, so avoid “sliding” the tools along the back surface when possible. You can use a black felt-tip pen to touch up scratches in black paint, and you could probably use Wite-Out or something similar for white paint, but it won’t look quite as clean as an unscratched frame. When I’ve asked friends with iPad repair businesses for recommendations on parts, I’ve generally been referred to Mayvillage Trading. Bear in mind that this is a 2nd-hand recommendation, of course, but I trust the sources who made the original recommendation.

Hi Clive, Thanks for saying so – it means a lot to get comments like this.  Regards, - Benji

Our kits are made from a significantly thicker adhesive than what other suppliers sell. It’s also substantially thicker than the original. This helps overcome the subtle bends and irregularities that appear in an iPad’s frame when it gets dropped. Our kits also cover much more surface area than the OEM design, meaning that the resulting bond would be stronger even if the adhesive *was* cut from the same material as other kits. Heat isn’t necessary when using our kits, although you could certainly try it if you’re dealing with an exceptional case. Our adhesives release at roughly 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius), so 128 degrees should be safe. Just be aware that, although the heat might make the adhesive conform even more closely to uneven surfaces, the bond will be significantly weaker until the adhesive has cooled back down, so you’d probably want to clamp the unit if you perform such an experiment. Let me know if your have further questions.

Thanks Daniel! For the record, we always provide same-day shipping on orders received before 3PM US Central Time, and next-business-day shipping on orders received after that. Once we’ve done our part, USPS generally does an outstanding job of getting the kits quickly to the people who need them!

I used to use something like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GITURA/ It isn’t necessary, strictly speaking, since the digitizer will lock the bezel in-place once it is installed, but I liked having the bezel locked-down while I was working.

Thanks for the feedback! Cheers!