iMac adhesive strips recommendation

[vj008]

Hello,
I know this is a bit chewed-off topic but can someone recommend me good adhesive strips for iMac 27 (specifically for 2015 model, but should not make much difference)? I bought ifixit strips, but they seems not to be foamed anymore so I'm afraid it will be nightmare if I ever need to open it again. Also, I read horror stories about displays slipping off when using some types of strips so I would appreciate if someone who is doing iMac repairs suggest what is best to use. Should i stick to ifixit? Or should I maybe use generic 3M foamed adhesive strip? Thank you

 

[Juicy Box]

I thought is was OWC that was the non-foam type, but they switched to the OEM style foam ones like iFixit. Maybe I got that backwards.


Did you buy the iFixit strips off Amazon or ebay?

No matter what adhesive you end up using, I recommend, if possible, hold the display onto the iMac with some painter's tape for a few days/weeks to make sure it was fully cured.

From what I seen, people that had their displays fall off ended up standing the iMac immediately after seating the display.

Some also claimed that the adhesive strips looked and felt like old stock with purchased at the large resellers, like Amazon.

Amazon has a bad counterfeit issue, so maybe things are being sold as iFixit or OWC, but might be cheap knock offs.

 

[ricky_mac]

How often does it happen for display to fall off? I got ifixit strips, too, it had been 3 days since I put them on. It is still holding. I pressed the display and had it lay down for couple of hours. How much time should pass to consider to be safe? I thougt ifixit is the best, is there a better option (OWC,...)?

 

[Juicy Box]

How often does it happen for display to fall off?

I think it is rare, but I don't think there are actual statistics anywhere about this.

Plus even there were some record of failures, there is no way to be sure that it was done correctly, old stuff cleaned off, good adhesives, etc.

I got ifixit strips, too,

Are they the foam type?

How much time should pass to consider to be safe?

You are probably good. If one was worry about it, just use some painter's tape with some tension holding it on for a few days.

There are plenty of people that did not use painter's tape, and their displays did not fall off, but if you want to be extra cautious, really no harm in giving it more time.

I thougt ifixit is the best, is there a better option (OWC,...)?

I forget which one it was, I thought it was OWC, but one of them used a different strip than Apple's foam strips.

Being the non-foam type strips didn't necessarily make their holding ability compromised or less strong, actually it could have made it stronger, but the problem was that if one needed to open their iMac again, it was much harder to cut, and it might need heat to get through.

I assume this would also increase the chances of damaging the screen if one needed to open their iMac again.


I thought is was the OWC strips that were not the foam, and the iFixit that was the foam ones.

Then I thought they both switched to the foam ones like Apple's, but the OP says that they just got iFixit strips and they are not foam.

So, I just want to get clarification about if iFixit switched to non-foam, and the OP got old stock. Or, did iFixit always used non-foam.

 

[ricky_mac]

It was not foamed

 

[Herwr]

Do Not Use the OWC Strips

I used the OWC strips, thoroughly cleaned the old tape off and followed the directions to the letter to apply the new strips and the screen.

5 months later (few days ago), I came into my office to find the screen had de-bonded and laying smashed on my desk.

Terrible product and they are not to be relied on at all.
(As you can probably tell I'm really p!!sed right now)

 

[Juicy Box]

Do Not Use the OWC Strips

I used the OWC strips, thoroughly cleaned the old tape off and followed the directions to the letter to apply the new strips and the screen.

5 months later (few days ago), I came into my office to find the screen had de-bonded and laying smashed on my desk.

Terrible product and they are not to be relied on at all.
(As you can probably tell I'm really p!!sed right now)

That really sucks. Just curious, did you buy directly from OWC?

 

[Herwr]

That really sucks. Just curious, did you buy directly from OWC?

Yea thanks, I did buy direct via their eshop.macsales site - I sent them a email / support message the other day requesting comment, so will see if they respond and what they say

 

[Hombre53]

I've taken the screen off my late 2013 iMac 27" 3 times, my wife's 2017 27" Mac twice. I purchased the adhesive strips in every instance from sellers on Fleabay. No problems, nada zero, zilch. Did I throughly clean off the old adhesive? You bet I did. This is one instance where meticulous cleaning and proper reinstallation are paramount for success.