Nintendo 3DS Screen Bumpers Tutorial

[xxteargodxx]

Hi everyone, as you all know the screens from the 3DS touch and cause vertical lines along the top screen and a circle pad line as well. I was very annoyed with this as even a screen protector can not protect your screens from this as in the long run it can even lead to a scratch WITH a screen protector. So I took it upon myself to make my own little bumpers to protect my screens.

Bear in mind, this may not look pretty but for those who like a screen without scratches this is an okay solution.

Project Cost $3.07 (That's what it cost me)

What do you need:

Scissors
Microfiber Cloth (Optional)
Shepherd 1/2 in. Surface Gard Self-Adhesive Vinyl Round Bumpers 16 Pack (Please Note: They sell a square pack as well I have not tried that though because my Home Depot had none in stock).
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-10...catalogId=10053

Step One: Cut out a single circle shaped bumper from the package.

Step Two: Cut the circle shaped bumper into either a square shape or a triangle shape. (Please Note: I used a regular bumper from the package and it did not work, because when placed on the left side of the 3DS where the Circle & D-Pads are it presses slightly down on the D-Pad).

Step Three: This is optional but wipe down your screen with a microfiber cloth and clean it well and apply both of your triangle or square shaped bumpers on the top left and top right of your system. Press them against the top portion of the screen to make them stick good (Don't worry they can be peeled off quite easily, you just want to make sure you aren't able to accidentally flick them off with your finger).

Step Four: Your done, enjoy your new protective bumpers

.

Pictures of my finished project:

Nintendo 3DS closed with bumpers applied.

SD Card side of the 3DS with bumpers applied.

Angled side of SD Card with bumpers applied.

3D Depth Slider side of 3DS with bumpers applied.

Angled side of 3D Depth Slider with bumpers applied.

Nintendo 3DS Full Screenshot with bumpers applied.

Nintendo 3DS Screen close up with bumpers applied.

 

[Zerosuit connor]

Will it still enter sleep mode?

 

[xxteargodxx]

Will it still enter sleep mode?

Yes, sleep mode works. I've turned on my 3DS and closed the lid and the screens went off so it did go into sleep mode.

 

[Brian117]

Good guide and idea. It's sad that we even have to find alternative ways to keep the bottom screen/analog from making marks on the top screen because of Nintendo's faults, but it's always fun to see different creative ways to fix problems on handhelds.

I'll think about doing this. Personally I think little squares would look better and color it black with a marker (if its possible) and put it along the top edge next to where the other bumpers are.

 

[klim28]

How can we get an orange 3DS? Or is it the Flame Red 3DS that turned orange-ish due to lighting?

Nice idea btw.

 

[Icealote]

Nice work there. A question, does it make the 3ds hinge much weaker/loose when closed?
What I'm imagining now with the bumpers that it doesn't close properly and opens freely like a flap lol

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Spoiler

Easier, and cheaper. Those are two rubber feet from an Xbox 360, though you could pretty much use anything, and it looks a lot better to, and it doesn't require any glue or anything.

 

[xxteargodxx]

Good guide and idea. It's sad that we even have to find alternative ways to keep the bottom screen/analog from making marks on the top screen because of Nintendo's faults, but it's always fun to see different creative ways to fix problems on handhelds.

I'll think about doing this. Personally I think little squares would look better and color it black with a marker (if its possible) and put it along the top edge next to where the other bumpers are.
They had black ones at Home Depot but they were another type of bumper that didn't look too great and had some type of fuzz on them that was even coming off inside the packaging so I didn't buy those.

How can we get an orange 3DS? Or is it the Flame Red 3DS that turned orange-ish due to lighting?

Nice idea btw.
It is a Flame Red 3DS but looks orange-ish due to the lighting.

Nice work there. A question, does it make the 3ds hinge much weaker/loose when closed?
What I'm imagining now with the bumpers that it doesn't close properly and opens freely like a flap lol

I don't think the 3DS hinge will get weaker or loose due to this when closed.

QUOTE(ShadowSoldier @ Sep 19 2011, 10:23 PM)

Spoiler

Easier, and cheaper. Those are two rubber feet from an Xbox 360, though you could pretty much use anything, and it looks a lot better to, and it doesn't require any glue or anything.

That looks very good! Too bad I don't have a 360 anymore

 

[Nathan Drake]

The only thing that bothers me is how fat the bumpers are. They leave a pretty substantial gap that can let things in that have the ability to harm either screen. Did you consider shaving down the bumpers to make the system close better?

 

[Brian117]

So I just got done doing a little project of my own. I think it looks nice and it works. Pictures are in the spoiler because they are hi-res. And my 3DS looks somewhat disgusting from all the dust on it but it's really not noticeable in person. Just the flash made it stand out.

Spoiler

I just took apart this mini handheld bingo game which had green silicone buttons which I cut off and made 2 little dots and then I used superglue (I know, not very smart but I have a screen protector on and it's not like I'd need to remove the bumpers any time soon) and put a little dab of superglue on the green rubber dots and stuck them to the top screen in the corners.

Sleep mode works so I did a good job on cutting the exact height off the buttons. Everything matches also in terms of color

. Can't beat the color green!

 

[Warrior522]

Spoiler

Easier, and cheaper. Those are two rubber feet from an Xbox 360, though you could pretty much use anything, and it looks a lot better to, and it doesn't require any glue or anything.

Just did this; works like gold. B3

 

[KingVamp]

I'm glad I have not face any problems to do this, but good job...

 

[Deleted-236924]

So I guess that confirms the Flame Red 3DS doesn't have better screen bumpers.

 

[xxteargodxx]

Just tried something different as I didn't like the appearance of the bumpers as well.

I am hoping this will hold up well and prevent my screen from getting vertical lines and circle pad scratches on my top screen. Do you guys think with those bumpers up there will put pressure on the hinge?

I'm not sure if it does or not, I tried putting them at the sides vertically but they were too long and would probably look messy if I cut them plus the original bumpers blocked it from working vertically and I don't want to remove the original bumpers thus voiding my warranty.

By the way these are bumpers from the bottom of my keyboard.

 

[Icealote]

What do you use for it to stick?

 

[xxteargodxx]

What do you use for it to stick?

Most bumpers you will find on stuff such as what I used from home depot have some sort of sticky adhesive underneath it so just apply a little pressure on it to your screen and it will stick. Same situation with the bumpers I peeled off from under my keyboard, they had a sticky adhesive underneath them and they stuck.