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Repairing With a Disability

Hi All,

I was directed here by support to get any suggestions from the community. I have left sided hemiplegia which means that I have a weakness down my left side but a right hand that works very well. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for people with disabilities that want to repair their own devices as I have found it difficult one handed in the past to replace a phone screen for example. I find it quite interesting and feel it is a great shame I cannot be able to fix my devices just because of my hand. I have considered inventing tools to enable me to successfully repair my devices but not sure where to start.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

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This is FABULOUS question. I will have to give it some thought. Putting this in my reminders to come back to when I'm not trying to leave work.

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Thanks, If you could provide any advise I would be most grateful :)

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Max Pell @beanman56 @flannelist let's move this to Meta so we can invite the iFixit engineers to have some suggestions/input. Max Pell, Meta will be here https://meta.ifixit.com/?pk_vid=5dbf501a... You all okay with that?

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@oldturkey03 - I’m fine with that!

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@beanman56 I would think some sort of rigid platform with multiple degrees of freedom to hold the device (cellphone, tablet or whatever other device). Magnetic tools would be a must and some type of screw holder for screws that are non-magnetic.

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Hi Max Pell

Thanks @oldturkey03 for mentioning me on this one,I love a good challenge!

When I’m repairing things I tend to only use one hand despite being ambidextrous,I find using a tool or technique can fulfil the role of my other hand better

Here’s a couple

I like using Tesa tape/red tape to told a device when working on it

I also like using a suction cup or a iHold to hold a screen open when working on phones and things like that

Things like helping hands can also be a nice help when doing things like soldering and other less fragile tasks

Also for certain devices I find propping them up at a angle can help with accessing bits of the device

Also things like the iSlack or the new anti clamp(although as @oldturkey03 mentioned a ratchet version would be awesome) could be of some use as the can make easy work of opening hard to open devices

Here’s a list of things that may be of some help(Apologies in advance if they aren’t)

Tesa tape

https://www.ifixit.com/products/tesa-613...

iSlack

https://www.ifixit.com/products/isclack

iHold

https://www.ifixit.com/products/ihold-ev...

Helping hands

https://www.ifixit.com/products/helping-...

Anti clamp

https://www.ifixit.com/products/anti-cla...

Hopefully this helps

Any questions please ask

Thanks:-)

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Max Pell, as @oldturkey03 did, I also did try doing a repair today using only one hand, with only a minuscule help from the other. The phone I used was an iPhone XR that needed a new screen and battery. Let me just start by saying: WOW! I anticipated difficulties, but not to that level. Even the fact that I’m ambidextrous didn’t really help.

It did however give me quite a few ideas and mental pictures. You probably would have good success if you could make (or have someone make) a good base. One that has a silicone mat (for soldering work) and has a “slot” where you can place the desired tool/plate for that particular job. Different angles, different sides, different parts for different jobs.

A removable “arm” or something that you can use as an adjustable holder for fex a hot air rework nozzle or a hot air gun. The ideas in my head are nigh endless at the moment. (If I were better at sketching, I’d sketch out what I see mentally.)

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there are some tools that could make it easier for you like this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10050049...

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This is an interesting tool, I had no idea tools like this existed, thank you for your help

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Max Pell what is the biggest challenge for you when you do consider any repairs? I am not thinking specific cellphone models, etc. I would think, just opening a device with one hand would be difficult. I tried a screen removal on a Samsung S10 this morning and I could not properly open the back. I had trouble with the picks after warming up the back. Every way I thought of holding the phone, just wasn't rigid enough. Everything moved and shifted whenever a bit of pressure needed to be applied. Granted, I do not have the dexterity that the OP has, but there has to be an easier way. I would think that anytime you have to apply heat and run a pick to let's say, remove a screen, it would be a challenge. That is why I was thinking of some sort of base that holds that device but still allows for running an opening tool, like a pick along the screen. For the heating of the screen, a hot plate would be easy enough to use.

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I would say the biggest challenges based on an iPhone 8 are the first opening up the screen away from the back of the device as in iFixit tutorials they use one hand to hold the device steady whilst they open it up. I also find it very difficult (although my able bodied relatives struggle with this too) is transferring the home button etc and the very fine screws on the side of the display I find impossible to remove with one hand

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Max Pell this " to hold the device steady whilst they open it up " is what I could see as the biggest challenge across all devices. Some sort of X or U frame with a lockable (cam lock) swivel mount. Is this "fine screws on the side of the display I find impossible to remove with one hand" is this based on the size of the screwdrivers or the actual removal of the screws? Could we modify Hartman Alligator forceps for this?....BTW Welcome to the iFixit community.

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That is a very good idea, and thank you, I'm still unsure how I can improve my ability to transfer the home button and other components one handed but like you say a good vice may help. I think it is even trickier whilst trying to replace a tablet screen as the support required is a lot more. I would love to be able to successfully fix my devices but need the right tools for me.

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@Max Pell I think you came to the right place. There are some very bright and awesome people from across the globe on here. You know that as a team; We got this. We'll need you as the subject matter expert. You got to tell us what would work and what would not.

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@Max Pell - The https://www.ifixit.com/products/ihold-ev... Would help,

And https://www.ifixit.com/products/helping-... could help

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Hi @Max Pell,

You are in the UK right?

First of all you need a good solid, steady wooden work bench so you can attach tools and jigs to it.

Check out wood working tool shops. There are innumerable clamping tools and systems available. The quick ratchet one hand clamps are cool - available at any hardware shop.

Here some examples of tools:

https://woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/worksh...

or

https://www.axminstertools.com/

You will know many firms in the UK - better than me!

Gluing felt pads to clamps jaws would help protect work. Non-slip gripping materials could also protect and stop the work from slipping. All kinds of jigs could be made to hold clamps to work benches.

To quote yourself "I have considered inventing tools to enable me to successfully repair my devices but not sure where to start." is the right direction. Start small with a simple jig for a simple job. Once you get it perfected you will feel much more confident. Then you can move on to bigger projects. Let your imagination go.

So browse around wood working shops. Get ideas. Another thought. There must be places in the UK to help workers with disabilities. A friendly phone call to one of their technicians might get you lots of ideas or leads.

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Max Pell will be eternally grateful.