Hardware GBA screws, quick question

[hippy dave]

They're not shitty soft metal like Switch screws are they?
Cheers!

 

[FAST6191]

I would get a proper screwdriver rather than trying to fit whatever triwing came in the collection of cheap security bits. However I have pulled my various to bits (or at least screws out to take the case off) a whole bunch of times and did not feel the need to baby it.

With that said all screws in consumer electronics made past about 1970, slim exception for some Japanese audio gear (usually seen with slightly golden/brassy/rainbow what is actually a type of chrome finish), will be comparable to some of the harder cheeses in my fridge.

 

[duwen]

The one non-triwing (the one in the battery compartment) is a little more prone to getting stripped in my experience.
If you're doing a case swap always use the supplied screws, as the OEM ones are a lot tighter in modern third party shells.

 

[hippy dave]

Thanks! I've got a decent set of screwdrivers from iFixit. Harder cheese doesn't sound so bad, the ones in Switch Joy-Cons have been described as metal foil, and I was foolish enough to ignore the warnings to always replace them - by the time i tried to open for the third time, one screw was completely useless.

I was pretty confident GBA screws wouldn't be like that, I've taken apart a DSi and a N3DS before and they didn't have shitty screws like the Switch, but I appreciate the peace of mind before i start.

 

[g00s3y]

The OEM tri-wing screws are much better than any garbage replacement screws that come with shells. I've screwed/unscrewed tens of thousands.

Use the correct screwdriver properly and don't try to tighten more than it needs to be, put pressure down when unscrewing, and you won't strip it.

 

[hippy dave]

Thanks!

FWIW I'm not doing a shell swap, I like the look and feel of the original (I picked up a Glacier GBA the other day), but it definitely needs a good clean, and I'm going to put a better screen in when I can.

 

[Hayato213]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EEEKit-Tri...ds=triwing+screwdriver&qid=1630586355&sr=8-37

This set work well for me for the switch @hippy dave

 

[hippy dave]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EEEKit-Tri...ds=triwing+screwdriver&qid=1630586355&sr=8-37

This set work well for me for the switch @hippy dave

Thanks for the rec, but I have a good set of screwdrivers bits from iFixit (think the set is called Mako, it covers most things)

 

[duwen]

The OEM tri-wing screws are much better than any garbage replacement screws that come with shells. I've screwed/unscrewed tens of thousands.

I agree, the OEM screws are much better, but you're in for a bad time if you try to use them in a third party shell. I learned that the hard way... same goes for replacement DS phat shells and scews.

Thanks!

FWIW I'm not doing a shell swap, I like the look and feel of the original (I picked up a Glacier GBA the other day), but it definitely needs a good clean, and I'm going to put a better screen in when I can.

If you do go for a nice IPS replacement screen you'll need to get a new 'pre-cut' shell, or go the route of trimming the original - but there's no way of trimming the glacier shell without the cut parts looking ugly from the outside.
My last IPS came from Aliexpress and included a new replacement shell, glass screen lens, and all the buttons.
I'll be getting another kit soon as I just picked up a glacier gba direct from Japan via Buyee with a bunch of games for 20 quid.

 

[hippy dave]

but there's no way of trimming the glacier shell without the cut parts looking ugly from the outside.

Hm this is something I hadn't considered. I guess it's MOSTLY behind the lens but not entirely. I'm actually thinking of going with the Funnyplaying ITA option rather than IPS - it uses a lower screen from a DSi, which has the same resolution and real retro pixel grid as a GBA screen, but without the ghosting etc you get with an AGS-101 screen. I think it needs even slightly more case trimming than the IPS.

I dunno, I might try the trimming and see how it looks, can always get a new shell later if I don't like it.

 

[duwen]

I might try the trimming and see how it looks, can always get a new shell later if I don't like it.

Well, I'll have a spare OEM glacier shell if you need one - I've already replaced the back shell with a spare third party one I had, just because I was missing a corresponding glacier battery cover. I've also got an OEM clear rose pink shell with nothing in it at the moment

 

[hippy dave]

Well, I'll have a spare OEM glacier shell if you need one - I've already replaced the back shell with a spare third party one I had, just because I was missing a corresponding glacier battery cover. I've also got an OEM clear rose pink shell with nothing in it at the moment

Thanks, will keep that in mind!

 

[hippy dave]

Well I thoroughly cleaned it - not only does it look so much better now, but nothing beats the peace of mind of knowing that it's no longer covered in the grimy residue of someone else's dead skin cells