Replacement Of Polarizer Sheets In Acer Monitor Model X163W
I saw a few monitors lying unused in the hospital where I work, because of the bulged polarized sheets. I took one of them one day and tried replacing the sheet assuming that the only top sheet was in this condition. I bore with the stinking smell of this sheet, which I heard is poisonous too to touch and inhale the emanating smell. Of-course, I was wearing gloves and a mask too!
The stinking smell soon spread around my house causing discomfort to my wife who was in the recovery stage after a mild stroke. After removing the torn sheet, and removing the solidified gum, using gum remover spray and IPA and a sharp blade, the surface became clean:
Then I fit the panel on the monitor frame and connected LVDS cable and applied power. I was sad to see that even the bottom sheet was in a bad shape and needed replacement!
That meant not only I may have to go through the unpleasant experience but also put my wife to difficulty. So, I set it aside and carried on with other works.
But when the hospital ran out of standby monitors as one by one reached this condition, I decided time had come for me to rev up and attack the looming problem as my intervention was found as a desideratum or need of the hour.
Though I requested my techie friends to offer any help, none responded as doing such a laborious work spending hours together enduring the unbearable smell and possible risks cannot be recovered in the form of a decent monetary return because of the availability of very cheap monitors in the market. Well, I, for that matter, am different and am always fueled to propagate in progression in such situations and surpass such an imbroglio. Having aroused my inherent instincts and now poised to fetch positive results, I combed the area looking for a vantage place to go and do the skin replacement work on the panels. I remembered that one of my close techie-friends, who had decided to call it a day and gave up his shop to someone else, found sitting lonely in the home was really a torture and opened another shop near to his house, which was only a few KMs away from my home. I thought that was the ideal place to do the ‘butcher’s job’ on these panels. Then I collected four such monitors and went to his shop on one of my off-days, taking due permission to do so, fully indicating the associated troubles which he might have to put up with. But he gave me a green signal and offered a warm welcome. He was focusing only on AC, Washing Machine and Microwave Oven Boards and his customers were mostly from the techie world. He made special arrangements for me by offering a vacant computer table and making arrangements for my seat without hindering his work or his clients. He offered help also as and when found necessary. I took up the work on this monitor first, as only the back sheet was to be replaced. I spent hours together on cleaning up the surface in which he too participated during short breaks, which gave me relief to recover from the dreariness. I had to use a good amount of the glue remover and number of tissue papers following it up with fine cleaning by use of IPA too. Though I had carried blades for scraping the hardened gum, he too went out and bought paper knives and a paint scraper used by painters, which were found very useful and effective. The method is to apply the gum remover solvent, wait for a few seconds and then start cleaning from one corner using a sharp blade held in 45 degree angle not to cause a scratch on the glass panel. Then the gum would peel off in flakes and we need to be careful when we are in and around the COF area not only to ensure that the solvent get into the bonding but also not to cause an accidental tear by the sharp blade we used. The peeling should be supported by frequent spray of the solvent and IPA too occasionally. When I used the pushing method, my friend used the drawing method from the other side, while holding the panel tight enough not to cause a wiggle. This was to avoid a clash of blades when hands of both of us reached the centre. Well, finally the panel looked clean and shined like a mirror. We need to ensure that not a single dust of any kind is stuck on the panel when we paste the polarizer. I used a 32” TV front and back polarizer films.
The method for fixing the film on a monitor is different from that on a TV. The angle of the polarizer might be different in monitors because of the high resolution and sharpness required. Fixing the film on the backside of the panel can be easy as we only need to take exact measurements and cut it and paste it. The film has clear protection sheets on both sides; i.e., the sticker side and the other side. The film for use in the rear and front are different. So, normally I get it marked by the supplier in order not to spend time finding out which one is what. I removed one rear sheet which I had carried with me, and placed it on the panel, marked all the four sides by a black sketch pen and cut the sheet to the correct size using a pair of sharp scissors. Then removed the protection sheet from the top and with the help of my friend, who held the film in position, I gently removed the protection sheet from the sticker side and placed it horizontally on one side of the panel, applied pressure with my fingers and held it in place. Then slowly and progressively, applied pressure using the putty applying tool mentioned earlier, while my friend synchronized the action by releasing the protection sheet from underneath. Slow and steady wins the race is what the old adage says and that was true in this case. A few times we had to peel the film in order to remove the bubble formed in spite of all precautions taken. Anyhow, the sticking of the film was completed within a few minutes, upon which both of us took rest to give time for our hands and senses to recover from the fatigue caused by focus and concentration. Now you might guess why the technicians are reluctant to take up such jobs! We took a lunch break and I returned home for refueling the body and he went to his. After finishing the food quickly both of us rejoined at his shop and kept the panel on top of the frame and applied power to check whether there were any visible marks on the panel. There was none. Remember that the front film was yet to be fixed and no picture could be seen at that stage.
Then we kept the front side film and checked the angle at which we got a good image of the multicolor pattern. Luckily it was ok when we kept the film vertically. So once again I went through the process of marking the film and cutting it to size. After that, we two managed to fix the film on top of the panel like how we did earlier. By this time, the experience made things easier for us too. He too was familiar with sticking films on car windows and his knowledge helped me too! I brought a glue remover-cum-panel film fixer (scraper) picture of which is given below. The blade of this is stainless steel and blunt so that we can use it for removing the hardened gum and for fixing the film by sliding it over it applying adequate pressure for bubble free finish.
We did the fixing of the film keeping the panel connected with LVDS cable an on its seat inside the frame. After cleaning the surface with IPA, we applied power and were glad to see the crystal clear contrasting image! I brought it home and fixed it on its case and fixed the stand too. A word of guidance about this stand: The stand has two screw covering rubber covers without removing of which, we cannot see the mounting screws. These can just be plucked:
After fixing the stand, I applied power feeding a signal from my VGA checker, about which I have already covered in my earlier articles. Don’t you all join me in my joy to see the results?
Mission accomplished with astonishing results because of which the satisfaction got itself glued to the collection! The IT Administrator was more than happy to see the finish and the new look of this lovely monitor and shared the following photo (second one) after fixing it on a counter. I collected only a nominal charge from the Hospital just to cover my cost as my techie friend strictly declined to accept any payment from me for the time spent and assistance provided.
This article was prepared for you by Parasuraman Subramanian from India. He is 74 years old and has more than 30 years’ experience in handling antique equipment like Valve Radio, Amps, Reel Tape Recorders and currently studying latest tech-classes conducted by Kerala State Electronics Technicians’ Association. He has done graduation in BBA degree, private diploma in Radio Engineering and retired as MD of a USA company. Presently working as Consultant to Hospital and other institutions.
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You may check on his previous article on Restored A Service Declined Board Of White-Westinghouse Humidifier Model WDE401
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