Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

The pack of 3 that Nokia used sell as an accessory as ‘N800 Stylus Pen (3 pcs)’ has part no. 0276909 on the sticker.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I'm tired of this, tells you everything you want to know about Nokia.

Paying $26+ for a piece of plastic that probably cost a few cents to produce is you know what and that is the situation the Nokia people put us in. I had some time on my hand so I made myself a few replacements after I lost one of mine, It cost me almost next to nothing. The final product looks correspondingly cheap but hey it works so I'm set for now.

Here is where I remove the part from the mold, it still needs some de-burring at this point but as you can see it's pretty close to the final shape.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

A package of 3 would have a different number.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

After I googled the part number (thanks, deeteroderdas!), I noticed it was the same given at cellphone-repair-shop, who have a picture, but want $14. It was discussed earlier this thread, I think, but they've got definitely the correct item under that part number. So, supposing eSCstores comes through alright, and the $2 styluses are of respectable quality, it seems we may have a solution to this recurring problem.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

directore: I'm curious about making molds like that. What kinds of plastic do you use to make the mold and then make the final stylus? Is this something you get at a hobby shop?

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Just be careful of using homemade parts, because if not finely polished at the tip, they may be more likely to scratch the screen.

That isn't meant to discourage anyone on making them. And I have to bite my lip when it comes to my opinion on replacement cost. But I've been very vocal inside... :D

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

In defense of those of us who lose styluses:

Nokia includes two of them with the tablet because they expect that many people will lose at least one. It is simply a matter of calculation to show that whatever weird thing that will cause someone to lose one stylus will cause a certain number of people to lose two styluses.

I have only lost one, but the psychological pressure it puts on me not to lose the other is severe. I'm thinking of suing for millions of dollars...

But finally, it appears that real places are actually carrying actual stylus replacements for us. What a milestone. Nokia should mention this accomplishment in its next annual report.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Thanks. The sarcasm quota has been dangerously unfulfilled here lately.

See, I just helped, too. :p

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

What choice do we have? Besides.. if you have a screen protector, I'm pretty sure it's not a big deal unless you made it as sharp as a razor and you intend on pressing very hard and tearing the screen protector. Seems you'd have to intend to. :)

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Maybe I didn't word my post properly. I wasn't going into the area of choice (and can't too much, really)... I'm just urging caution. If you make one, polish the tip as finely as you can. Because contrary to your last statement, it doesn't take much to seriously scratch the screen. Try using your stylus when the bare screen is covered by dust. You'll see.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylus
seems 1 i is acceptable.

and /edit - What has 16 arms and 1 I ?
A pair of Octopi.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Oh snap, that was funny. It even rhymes!

I also learned that you can't mix Greek and Latin suffix, but people do all the time, and its English, not Greek or Latin, so....

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

That kid from Texas is wrong here, sharpness and hardness is what primarily determines scratching potential not whether something is polished - for example needles scratch because they are made of hard material not because they are unpolished on the contrary they are highly polished.

----

Re making it, you won't even need a hobby shop - here are truncated instructions for those with time on hand to waste.

You will need roughly two hours and some natural predisposition for tinkering, another stylus (to make a mold), a glue gun, some epoxy and a few other common household items, exacto or utility knife, some sand paper, etc.

1) First stick a piece of (relative thick) scotch tape (packing type for example) or some other tape onto the flat part of the stylus.

2) Place the assembly on a flat surface. Spray it with WD-40 or something similar to facilitate mold removal. Remove any excess liquid (make it just shiny, not dripping).

3) Dispense (slowly, carefully, bead on the top, in several layers) hot glue (hi-temp type) from your glue gun. Roughly 1/2 normal stick or 1.5 mini sticks worth to give your mold some heft.

If you do it carelessly you will end up with lots of air bubbles as seen in the photo below. Those will produce barnacle like protrusions in your cast but that's not a problem they are easy to remove with a sharp knife.

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...1&d=1223007635

4) Wait for it to cool dow to RT, remove the tape. and remove the original (very slowly starting at the top) trying not to stretch the mold too much (refrigerating the assembly first helps).

5) Make sure your mold sits perfectly horizontally (sit it on some fabric), smear some WD-40 on it again, mix some epoxy (slowly, skillfully if you want to avoid air bubbles) and fill your mold again slowly to avoid entrapping some air. Use something sharp to ensure there is no air bubble trapped in the tip area.

Don't overfill, don't underfill the cavity.

Two part "delayed settling time" (it's stronger) epoxy sold in Home Depot for $3 is fine (double syringe type). If you want something black use http://cgi.ebay.com/Epoxy-Casting-Re...3286.m20.l1116 for example.

6) Let it sit (cure) sufficiently long to develop full strength (24hr in the case of HD epoxy).

7) remove from the mold, cut away any "barnacles" (if present) and trim (de-burr) the edges (back side of exacto knifes or any utility knife blades or scissors work best).

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...1&d=1223007635

8) Finally the tip of the original stylus has a distinct taper to it (roughly 10 degrees). This will not be properly reproduced in your cast, use a medium file to shape the tip area. Finish the tip with some medium sand paper.

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...1&d=1223007635

9) Check in your n800, if sticks use the back side of the exacto knife to gently scrape (lengthwise) some material until it doesn't.

DONE. Or make another one from the same mold.


http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...1&d=1223007635


The epoxy is too soft to scratch even the unprotected screen.


----------------

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

That's really cool, making plastic doo-dads using a glue gun and some epoxy.

Hm, I think I'll try making a reproduction of my entire body that way. I just have to make sure I coat all of the important bits with enough WD-40.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I don't feel this is cool, Nokia sort of forces your hand here if you object to having to pay $26 for a replacement stylus. So maybe somebody can start making them for sale on eBay or something (feel free to use my clumsy scheme above as your starting point). I'm willing to pay up to 5 bucks a piece plus some nominal s/h (<$5) in 3pc quantity if done in black. Any takers, TexRat for example?

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

No, I'm correct... and haven't been a kid for decades (but thanks).

If you leave the tip of a stylus sharp, and use it on the soft touchscreen, it WILL scratch... just like using a smooth tip with dust stuck to it will scratch.

And you completely missed what I meant by the stylus tip being polished. Here's a hint: sure, a needle's BODY is polished, but what about its point? Ah, it's SHARP-- just like a homemade stylus might be UNLESS its tip is polished smooth.

But thanks for the laugh, nonetheless. And just ignore my advice about making your stylus tips smooth. I'm sure they're fine right out of the mold. :rolleyes:

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Well, I think it would be a little silly to manufacture them that way if you could just import them for $2; I'll let you know how it turns out, but unless these guys are a ripoff, they'd be a much more suitable source.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Yes, if somebody has any connection to HK or mainland China kids taht make living by selling crap on eBay this is an excellent business possibility, just locate some 3rd rate plastic injection business in PRC, provide them with a sample, and order a short run of say 2K. The cost should be significant below $1 a piece (even US short run orders can be below 2k) . Then sell them on eBay for $5 apiece. 500% return on the original 2k investment. Heck if somebody can provide me with a contatct with with some cheap PRC plastic injection business I may as well go into the business myself. Any China kids in some poor Chinese locale reading this? PM me. There will be something in it for you.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I have received them. They don't ship internationally, so I had my parents bring them when they visited. I have received them and they are the genuine article. Swear.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Dude.. this should be posted in MAKE magazine or something.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I don't understand the comment. Are you saying that the information I provided is wrong?

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

No, he's saying the item number for a 3-pack is irrelevant to whether a different item number is correct for a single stylus.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I only provided the information in case it proved useful to anyone looking to purchase. That is all.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Same here, Rebski. Not sure why you seem so irritated by it...

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I don’t know why either, I seemed to misunderstand the intention and took it as an admonition.

Nokia did not have these 3-in-1 Stylus Packs generally available and they were almost solely specific to Nokia Ireland, from what I could see.

Since I am one out of about two people to have purchased them I figure there must be a big stash lying about somewhere.

Hence my quoting the info in case it helps someone in their search.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

It wasn't an admonition at all. I thought you were commenting on a potential conflict with part numbers and I was merely explaining. But no biggie for me either way.

But hey, my original post about homemade styli was misinterpreted by two people, so maybe I really have developed an alien dialect... :D

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

It all depends on which material you use to make it, if it is softer than the screen plastic the stylus will never scratch the screen.
In fact, I actually find the Nokia stylus too hard, it scratches the screen protector; but I also have an old Casio PV and its stylus has a polyethylene tip, and it never scratchs the screen protector.
I'm thinking about melting some low density polyethylene and bathing the pointer's tip with it.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I have mailed Nokia online sales - based in Belgium I think - about these packs.

If I get a response I shall update the thread.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Very true, and if one looks at my first post on the subject they'll see I did not get into such specifics nor did I target anyone's suggestions or approach... it was just a general caution.

That seems to have been missed by a couple of posters. ;)

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Seems to me a soft stylus is more likely to imbed a bit of gritty dust,
which can certainly scratch the screen.

I'm just sayin...

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I am also concerned about an epoxy-based material that could accumulate dust. No matter what, though, keeping screen and stylus clean is important.

On a related note, I've recommended to the tablet product program that they start using teflon (or similar) for stylus tips. It's being investigated.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Why? "Soft" is reffering to stiffness. For example, a reticulate polyethylene tip won't catch any more griity dust than a acrilic resine tip, while the latter is more hard.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Or just spray everything with WD-40.

Oh that reminds me. That glue-gun glue is hot, especially on more sensitive body parts.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

General question, how important isit that the replacement be identical to the original i.e part metal part plastic as opposed to the replacement made entirely of plastic? Will the removal of nokia name (and replacement with say n8x0) be too upsetting to same nokia fan boys out there?

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Well, first, I'm pretty sure the original is all plastic... as for the two-tone look, I suppose it's not necessary, but it sure looks nice with the silver end showing when it's in the slot.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

no the top part is actually metal, I know for sure. The two tone is possible but it wouldn't last very long in typical usage - all those ins and outs .

Also anybody out there with a badly broken N800 or N810 they don't need any more? I need to borrow the back part of the case (the one that has the stylus slot in it). Will return (possibly with a few extra styli) in a month or so or will buy it if not too expensive.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

I have just had a reply from Nokia Europe to say:
"In our service we do not sell accessories for the N800 any longer. We are sorry not being able to assist you."

So that seems to be that.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Well, that was nice while it lasted; they sent me an email yesterday indicating the status of my order had been changed to canceled, and I was promptly refunded my $19 and change. The good news: they're not a ripoff; bad news: they don't have N800 styli.

Well, I know the part number now (as I should have before), so I may look around some more... some asian place has to have a bundle of these in their warehouse.

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Looks like we'll all be breaking out the glue gun and epoxy :)

Re: N800 Stylus replacement
 

Maybe, but some of us won't be making quite the same bulk purchases of hot glue, epoxy, and refrigerated WD-40....