how to shrink silicone casing?

[iamrawr]

hey guys.

main concern in title. using an iphone 4 silicone case i got from case-mate. it got a little loose, making the iphone too short for the case. the sides fit fine. i can slide the iphone vertically quite a few millimeters (not over 5) within the case. it's annoying cuz i gotta press a little harder to get the part of the case that covers the sleep/wake button to actuallty press the button and the rear camera is tucked in the case a bit until i push the phone upwards within the case

 

[pcunite]

I have the same question...

 

[i700plus]

I heard on several other forums that putting the case in the freezer for a couple hours will shrink it. I doubt this would be a permanant solution though due to it warming right back up. Heating it up would just make it more flexable and looser.

 

[uiop.]

Think of it like a human's skin. Once it stretches, it won't ever be as tight again.

 

[maniacphoner]

would this issue be good for warranty? or no?

 

[Austin M.]

I boiled my 5$ eBay iPhone 3G TPU/Gelli case and now it's tight as skinny jeans.

 

[Austin M.]

hey guys.

main concern in title. using an iphone 4 silicone case i got from case-mate. it got a little loose, making the iphone too short for the case. the sides fit fine. i can slide the iphone vertically quite a few millimeters (not over 5) within the case. it's annoying cuz i gotta press a little harder to get the part of the case that covers the sleep/wake button to actuallty press the button and the rear camera is tucked in the case a bit until i push the phone upwards within the case

What I would do is put a SGP skin guard or something on the back to make it tighter. Trust me, when the back is tighter, the sides, top and bottom squeeze up tight. Sorry, that sounds kinda weird, haha.

 

[M-5]

Yeah I read here of several people placing their Apple Bumpers in boiling water to make them fit tighter on the iPhone with success. I've never tried it myself, but from what I've read, it seems like a possible solution.

 

[crowsNest]

I have the same problem with my case. I am going to boil it tonight, remove with tongs, and then quickly put the case around the phone to shape it correctly. This is how mouth guards are done around our teeth, so I can only assume it will work the same.

I'll be back with results.

 

[iamrawr]

I have the same problem with my case. I am going to boil it tonight, remove with tongs, and then quickly put the case around the phone to shape it correctly. This is how mouth guards are done around our teeth, so I can only assume it will work the same.

I'll be back with results.

silicon? how'd it go?

 

[vincenz]

He probably ended up making silicon soup.

 

[guccigucci88]

Just boil some hot water, then take it off the stove and throw the silicone case in there for a few minutes. Take it out (dry it first obviously) and try it on, if still loose repeat until it works. Like someone said before, similar to rugby or hockey mouthgaurds you do the same thing to soften and mold them.

 

[oscarod]

Boiling +1

 

[Badfoot]

Boiling +1

Can I use the water afterwards to make tea?

 

[jasonmanning]

Boiling water will do the trick, or you can use a hairdryer. Whatever you do: UNINSTALL before procedure.

 

[weisjt]

i am seriously thinking about trying this i just dont have a really cheap case to try with

 

[ChinaAzzi]

i am seriously thinking about trying this i just dont have a really cheap case to try with

Good silicone should not stretch but good silicone is very hard to work with especially when making cases. The manufacture resolves this by adding a poor grade silicone so that they can trim the silicone easier. One of the properties of good silicone is that it always come back to the molded shape. That is why silicone is used instead of metal springs under your laptop keyboards. Also silicone can withstand 300 or more degress of heat so I don’t see how heat is going to solve your problem but you can try. As long as you don't put a flame to the silicone it will be ok.

 

[kharn121]

Good silicone should not stretch but good silicone is very hard to work with especially when making cases. The manufacture resolves this by adding a poor grade silicone so that they can trim the silicone easier. One of the properties of good silicone is that it always come back to the molded shape. That is why silicone is used instead of metal springs under your laptop keyboards. Also silicone can withstand 300 or more degress of heat so I don’t see how heat is going to solve your problem but you can try. As long as you don't put a flame to the silicone it will be ok.

The heat softens the rubber enough to shrink back to its original condition. Works a few times till it wears out.

 

[weisjt]

The heat softens the rubber enough to shrink back to its original condition. Works a few times till it wears out.

good to know thanks, i am going to give it a try later this week

 

[jb642]

Watch the Apple store to see when they start selling Apple Water-A Cupertino Valley Springwater blend to aid in reducing silicon bumpers to their original form!!!
It will $29 for 8oz but of course you'll need 16oz to do the job properly...

 

[DJC631]

Just boil some hot water, then take it off the stove and throw the silicone case in there for a few minutes. Take it out (dry it first obviously) and try it on, if still loose repeat until it works. Like someone said before, similar to rugby or hockey mouthgaurds you do the same thing to soften and mold them.

+1 for Rugby mouth-guards.