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I Spray Painted My iPhone 4

Andrew K. said:
Why didn't you just Lacquer the black strip??? Tape it off like crazy. I think I may do that.
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It's not the black seam that's the problem. It's when you connect the two antennas with your palm, finger, hand or whatever.


Surely said:
Why don't you get a MicroCell if your reception at home is so bad? That's what I did, and now I get 5 bars and clear calls everywhere at home. AT&T gave me one for free..... and I didn't even have to use spray paint. ;)
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Had one. Used it for 3 weeks. Worked OK. Our two iPhone 4's had garbled calls frequently and AT&T did not know what was wrong. It happened so much, I unplugged the damn thing several times. It got to the point it was only good for TXT messaging. Phone calls were good about 40% of the time. I am not the only one having the issue either - it seems to plaque iPhone owners. Rumor has it - turning off cellular data resolves the issue. Not a fix for me as I didn't want to turn it off and back on when I leave/come home. Annoying.

So there you have it :)
 
MicroApple said:
If you were ready to put some sort of paint on your iPhone why didn't you choose something clear (nail polish something that Gizmodo talked about)?
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It is clear. It's a clear satin finish. The lighting is horrible so it looks darker than it really is. Nail polish is messy and hard to control. Plus, it won't last long at all.
 
hmmmmmm I may have to look into this...Tape is good, but it's impossible to get it around the side of the band as well. even the slightest touch f'ucks everything up.
 
Wow, nice. I don't know if it's just the pictures or whatever but I actually think the finish looks nicer than the stock aluminum. I would go all the way around the frame with another coat. ;)
 
mrblack927 said:
Wow, nice. I don't know if it's just the pictures or whatever but I actually think the finish looks nicer than the stock aluminum. I would go all the way around the frame with another coat. ;)
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What if you somehow ended up making the buttons stick? I wouldn't attempt that.
 
Andrew K. said:
Why didn't you just Lacquer the black strip??? Tape it off like crazy. I think I may do that.
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering. Interesting and ballsy idea, just not sure why you went so high and beyond the seam.



All you needed to tape off was like | | <--- That much
 
It wouldn't surprise me if Apple were seriously considering a change like this to be incorporated into the manufacturing process.

Bet they are experimenting with different sealants as I type.

Well done to the OP.
 
Ferris23 said:
That's what I was wondering. Interesting and ballsy idea, just not sure why you went so high and beyond the seam.



All you needed to tape off was like | | <--- That much
Click to expand...

How do you figure?

A lot of people don't understand whats happening with the two antennae. The black strip is simply a nonconducting spacer. It has nothing to do with anything (other than being so small it's easy to bridge them together with a single finger.)
 
Eallan said:
How do you figure?

A lot of people don't understand whats happening with the two antennae. The black strip is simply a nonconducting spacer. It has nothing to do with anything (other than being so small it's easy to bridge them together with a single finger.)
Click to expand...


Touching the seam is bridging the two antennas, causing interference or a short of the antenna.

Covering that seam prevents bridging the antenna. What am I missing here? All you have to do is touch that seam, so that tells me that's the only thing you need to cover.

What's the point of covering only about an inch and a half above that seam. Based on your logic he should have covered the entire antenna?


All you need to do is cover the seam so the conductive hand can't bridge it.
 
parker770 said:
Good thinking on the OP's part. With all the talk of possible coatings, etc. that could be applied to the antenna, a clear lacquer is certainly along the lines of what I had in mind.

I look forward to seeing pics and also how well it holds up to use.

Hell, you may have started a new "mod"!:D
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I was thinking clear fingernail polish.
 
Ferris23 said:
That's what I was wondering. Interesting and ballsy idea, just not sure why you went so high and beyond the seam.



All you needed to tape off was like | | <--- That much
Click to expand...

You must have very small fingers. He has to do enough of the antennas so he isn't directly touching the metal of the two parts at the same time.

He could have done from the black seam down around the bend and that should work as well.
 
bstpierre said:
You must have very small fingers. He has to do enough of the antennas so he isn't directly touching the metal of the two parts at the same time.

He could have done from the black seam down around the bend and that should work as well.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's true. Actually I have big hands, I also don't have a problem so I would never do this. lol


But yeah, I guess it would make sense to cover a bit on each side so that you can't touch both antennas at the same time.
 
Ferris23 said:
Touching the seam is bridging the two antennas, causing interference or a short of the antenna.

Covering that seam prevents bridging the antenna. What am I missing here? All you have to do is touch that seam, so that tells me that's the only thing you need to cover.

What's the point of covering only about an inch and a half above that seam. Based on your logic he should have covered the entire antenna?


All you need to do is cover the seam so the conductive hand can't bridge it.
Click to expand...

No, touching the two antennas is what is bridging the the two antennas. The seam is to isolate the two antennas. All he really needs to do is make it so you can't touch one antenna. He effectively does that by covering the bottom piece from the seam down around the bend. With a coating like that I would not be able to short the antenna with my finger not with my palm.
 
I just can't see what is wrong with using a bumper or other case. Drop the phone without a case and you will likely destroy it. Might be time to get another phone..... :confused:
 
Ferris23 said:
Yeah that's true. Actually I have big hands, I also don't have a problem so I would never do this. lol


But yeah, I guess it would make sense to cover a bit on each side so that you can't touch both antennas at the same time.
Click to expand...

I see you get it now. I have the problem sometimes, especially when it is warmer out so I am get a little perspiration going (salt water is a good conductor). More so when I am surfing on 3G because I cup the phone in my left hand, using my palm to bridge the gap. Once I notice the proble I just hold the phone differently. :)
 
Givmeabrek said:
I just can't see what is wrong with using a bumper or other case. Drop the phone without a case and you will likely destroy it. Might be time to get another phone..... :confused:
Click to expand...

I have a proclip in my car that fits the phone without a case. I don't want to have to buy a new one if I can avoid it.
 
I suppose it has been answered but I will reiterate it again just in case :) I didn't do JUST the black seam because that alone is only an insulator to separate the antennas. It does nothing other than that. The problem is when you palm the device in your hand which bridges the two antenna. Anywhere your skin touches, as long as it's touching the antenna (above and below the seam) it will bridge, causing the issue.

I could have done just below the black line to the speaker but figured why not do a little extra and see what happens?

It won't void the warranty. As stated previously, it's not "permanent". A little picking and scraping with a credit card should remove it off easily.
 
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