LCD Tip ...

[poster]

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose" prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen. Before it dries buff it off and them later after it dries go back with a toothpick and remove the wax (will be white by then) from around the edges. I have four digital cameras and have done this to all of them and it does help protect from small scratches (like the buttons on your shirt) and makes cleaning the nose prints off a breeze. This wax thing started when I scratched my first digital camera's LCD and I used the wax in an attempt to buff out the scratch and it worked! Since then I have always waxed my LCD screens. CAUTION ... if you do this ... use ONLY pure carnauba wax. It is only wax and has no abrasives in it. Many car waxes do have abrasives and they can destroy your LCD screen. Cheers ....

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with those you are just adding something else that will also get scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

 

[Ijuf60480]

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose"
prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba
Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and
I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see
without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with
those you are just adding something else that will also get
scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace. There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is optically clear as glass.

 

[Maxven]

Ijuf, any recommendations? I'm concerned that my LCD is so vulnerable (and probably expensive to replace), and I'd really like to do something about it. I was about to use poster's tip, but now I'm holding my horses.

Regards, Maxven

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose"
prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba
Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and
I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see
without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with
those you are just adding something else that will also get
scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

 

[Maxven]

Regards, Maxven

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose"
prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba
Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and
I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see
without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with
those you are just adding something else that will also get
scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

 

[poster]

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

I love posts like this ... pompous ... say absolutely nothing ... zippo, zilch ... "not really protecting anything" ... "There are materials..." Basically ... LOOK what I KNOW!! Well, Ijuf ... now that you have enlightening us with what you know ... how about providing a solution. The wax is a solution that I have tried and it provides a level of protection ... not perfect ... but to ME ... beats glueing crap all over my camera. Also, those film things that stick on Palm Pilots are a joke. They are a joke on Palm Pilots and even a bigger joke on your LCD. I have heard the LCD cover thingy you can get requires you glue it to the camera and makes if even more difficult to see the LCD. Whatever ... hey ... I'm not selling wax ... just one solution to a problem. If you like it use it ... if not ... don't ... and if you have something better ... so state. Cheers ...

 

[Ijuf60480]

Solution #1

Clear plastic decal sheets designed for printing on by inkjet printers

• very scratch resistant
• clear as glass
• ultra low-tack adhesive for easy removal
• invisible if applied without bubbles

Important step: Wash off the gel coat on the printing side under hot tap water. This is used to absorb the ink, and will feel sticky if not removed.

Cut to size and apply to LCD. I've been using a sheet on my Palm for almost 5 months with hardly any scratches.

Solution #2

Clear plastic - I cut a square piece out of a CD case using a Dremel and stuck it onto the LCD using double-sided tape at the edges. This will also protect the LCD from hard impact.

I chuckle when people ask about LCD protection. There are so many possibilities - it can't be that hard to think them up.

Regards, Maxven

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose"
prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba
Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and
I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see
without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with
those you are just adding something else that will also get
scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

 

[poster]

Solution #1

invisible ... IF ... applied without bubbles ...

Solution #2

using double-sided tape ...

HAA!!!!

 

[Bill V Smith]

bvsmith writes:

We use static cling clear vinyl. Requires no adhesive, cut to size, clean surface and place on there. Remove whenever you want. Same stuff we use on window decals, just apply to a clean winow, press out any air bubbles, that's it. Some of these we've done for the Sheriff's Dept.,Commercial stores etc. are still thereafter 5 years.
For what it's worth.....

Clear plastic decal sheets designed for printing on by inkjet printers

• very scratch resistant
• clear as glass
• ultra low-tack adhesive for easy removal
• invisible if applied without bubbles

Important step: Wash off the gel coat on the printing side under
hot tap water. This is used to absorb the ink, and will feel sticky
if not removed.

Cut to size and apply to LCD. I've been using a sheet on my Palm
for almost 5 months with hardly any scratches.

Solution #2

Clear plastic - I cut a square piece out of a CD case using a
Dremel and stuck it onto the LCD using double-sided tape at the
edges. This will also protect the LCD from hard impact.

I chuckle when people ask about LCD protection. There are so many
possibilities - it can't be that hard to think them up.

Regards, Maxven

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose"
prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba
Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and
I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see
without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with
those you are just adding something else that will also get
scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

 

[Ijuf60480]

I use that too but cling vinyl isn't as clear as inkjet decals which believe are made of mylar. Cling vinyl is less clear but the advantage is that it is also less reflective.

Clear plastic decal sheets designed for printing on by inkjet printers

• very scratch resistant
• clear as glass
• ultra low-tack adhesive for easy removal
• invisible if applied without bubbles

Important step: Wash off the gel coat on the printing side under
hot tap water. This is used to absorb the ink, and will feel sticky
if not removed.

Cut to size and apply to LCD. I've been using a sheet on my Palm
for almost 5 months with hardly any scratches.

Solution #2

Clear plastic - I cut a square piece out of a CD case using a
Dremel and stuck it onto the LCD using double-sided tape at the
edges. This will also protect the LCD from hard impact.

I chuckle when people ask about LCD protection. There are so many
possibilities - it can't be that hard to think them up.

Regards, Maxven

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose"
prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba
Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and
I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see
without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with
those you are just adding something else that will also get
scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

 

[Ijuf60480]

Yup, I think these solutions are beyond your skill level so you'll have to live with hiding real scratches with wax and pretending they aren't there. For the rest of us, there are many other real solutions at our disposal.

I applied my protective plastic on two Palm screens with no air-bubbles so a small digicam LCD should be a easy. I've still got the original cling-vinyl on my camera which was applied over a year and a half ago. The good thing about cling-vinyl is that the bubbles disappear after a day or so. If and when the cling vinyl wears out, I'll use the inkjet decal sheets.

Solution #1

invisible ... IF ... applied without bubbles ...

Solution #2

using double-sided tape ...

HAA!!!!

 

[poster]

.. so you'll have to live with hiding real scratches with wax and pretending
they aren't there ...

But ... if they are hidden ... then they are not there! On the other hand ... are you into collecting scratches. Umm ... interesting hobby!

 

[poster]

.. so you'll have to live with hiding real scratches with wax and pretending
they aren't there ...

But ... if they are hidden ... then they are not there! On the
other hand ... are you into collecting scratches. Umm ...
interesting hobby!

Well ... on a serious note ... your solutions may work ... probably will. However, I have five digital cameras ... a Sony, a Canon, an Olympus 3030, and Olympus E-100, and an Olympus E-10 ... and I have waxed all the screens and not one of them have any scratches. You are being rather pompous to assume that ONLY YOUR solution will work. I don't like glue or tape or anything like that on anything ... much less my camera. I accept your solutions will work ... however, they are not for me. Just give me a bit of credit for knowing what I am doing also. .... cheers ....

 

[Maxven]

Having tried none of the solutions (including wax), I'm cuious as to how to proceed. How do you get the exactly right size? Which is more foolproof in terms of being easily undone, if I **** up?

Thanks, Maxven

Clear plastic decal sheets designed for printing on by inkjet printers

• very scratch resistant
• clear as glass
• ultra low-tack adhesive for easy removal
• invisible if applied without bubbles

Important step: Wash off the gel coat on the printing side under
hot tap water. This is used to absorb the ink, and will feel sticky
if not removed.

Cut to size and apply to LCD. I've been using a sheet on my Palm
for almost 5 months with hardly any scratches.

Solution #2

Clear plastic - I cut a square piece out of a CD case using a
Dremel and stuck it onto the LCD using double-sided tape at the
edges. This will also protect the LCD from hard impact.

I chuckle when people ask about LCD protection. There are so many
possibilities - it can't be that hard to think them up.

Regards, Maxven

Here is a little tip to protect your LCD from scratches and "nose"
prints. Take a small amount of pure car wax ... I use KIT Carnauba
Car Wax ... and rub in on the screen

P.S. I know about those things you can get to stick on the LCD and
I don't care much for them. The LCD is already hard enough to see
without adding something else. Not only that, but to me, with
those you are just adding something else that will also get
scratched. Never been much for glueing anything to my camera.

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

 

[StephenL]

Thanks for this interesting tip - and thread! I can't see that using a pure wax will do any harm, as long as you don't use an abrasive as you say, so I'm going to give it a try. I use a product on my car (sometimes) which is supposed to "protect" the wax and keep it shiny longer. Can't remember what it's called but its very liquid and not abrasive. I'll try that. Course, I'll try it on my office camera first ;-)

You're not really protecting anything with wax. All wax does is
fill-in tiny scratches. The whole point with sticking something on
the LCD is to serve as a surface you can sacrifice and replace.
There are materials you can use that doesn't require gluing and is
optically clear as glass.

I love posts like this ... pompous ... say absolutely nothing ...
zippo, zilch ... "not really protecting anything" ... "There are
materials..." Basically ... LOOK what I KNOW!! Well, Ijuf ... now
that you have enlightening us with what you know ... how about
providing a solution. The wax is a solution that I have tried and
it provides a level of protection ... not perfect ... but to ME ...
beats glueing crap all over my camera. Also, those film things
that stick on Palm Pilots are a joke. They are a joke on Palm
Pilots and even a bigger joke on your LCD. I have heard the LCD
cover thingy you can get requires you glue it to the camera and
makes if even more difficult to see the LCD. Whatever ... hey ...
I'm not selling wax ... just one solution to a problem. If you
like it use it ... if not ... don't ... and if you have something
better ... so state. Cheers ...

 

[poster]

Thanks for this interesting tip - and thread! I can't see that
using a pure wax will do any harm, as long as you don't use an
abrasive as you say, so I'm going to give it a try. I use a product
on my car (sometimes) which is supposed to "protect" the wax and
keep it shiny longer. Can't remember what it's called but its very
liquid and not abrasive. I'll try that. Course, I'll try it on my
office camera first ;-)

Wax does afford a level of protection, regardless of other opinions. It reduces the friction of a surface thus making it less lightly to scratch. All I can tell you is that it works for me and as you said it does no harm ... unlike glue and tape and god knows what. Perhaps duct tape wrapped around the camera will protect it. Will look like shiit, but wow ... all that protection! Cheers ...

 

[Juli Valley]

.. so you'll have to live with hiding real scratches with wax and pretending
they aren't there ...

But ... if they are hidden ... then they are not there! On the
other hand ... are you into collecting scratches. Umm ...
interesting hobby!

Well ... on a serious note ... your solutions may work ... probably
will. However, I have five digital cameras ... a Sony, a Canon, an
Olympus 3030, and Olympus E-100, and an Olympus E-10 ... and I have
waxed all the screens and not one of them have any scratches. You
are being rather pompous to assume that ONLY YOUR solution will
work. I don't like glue or tape or anything like that on anything
... much less my camera. I accept your solutions will work ...
however, they are not for me. Just give me a bit of credit for
knowing what I am doing also. .... cheers ....

Hmmm, maybe my addiction to cameras is not so bad after all. grin

 

[rsg]

I do use 'protective' finishes on my vehicle, kayaks, bike, and optics, but would definately consider one of the static cling pieces for the screen. Granted, I have only just received my uzi, but so far use the lcd screen less than the viewfinder. Living in Florida spending a bunch of time enjoying the outdoors, I would feel safer with a 'sacrificial' layer when out camping or hiking because a damp shirt may tend to collect a bit of dust or sand which might scratch the lcd when wearing the camera around ones neck.

Anyways, does anyone have a source for the clear static cling stuff? Just picked up a neat american flag made of the material, but I've never seen clear sheets around town.

Thanks

Randy

 

[Bill V Smith]

Randy:

Check your local screen printers,sign shops, or supply houses. They have samples or scrap pieces they can give you. You'll want the 4 mil static cling vinyl, not the 7 mil. Right now it's a little short on supply because of the BIG demand for patriotic decals.

I do use 'protective' finishes on my vehicle, kayaks, bike, and
optics, but would definately consider one of the static cling
pieces for the screen. Granted, I have only just received my uzi,
but so far use the lcd screen less than the viewfinder. Living in
Florida spending a bunch of time enjoying the outdoors, I would
feel safer with a 'sacrificial' layer when out camping or hiking
because a damp shirt may tend to collect a bit of dust or sand
which might scratch the lcd when wearing the camera around ones
neck.

Anyways, does anyone have a source for the clear static cling
stuff? Just picked up a neat american flag made of the material,
but I've never seen clear sheets around town.

Thanks

Randy

 

[Maxven]

How do you go about making the cling vinyl a perfect fit? Put it on the LCD and cut it carefully, draw the outline of the LCD on a transparent and cut the vinyl accordingly, or...?

Thanks, Maxven

I do use 'protective' finishes on my vehicle, kayaks, bike, and
optics, but would definately consider one of the static cling
pieces for the screen. Granted, I have only just received my uzi,
but so far use the lcd screen less than the viewfinder. Living in
Florida spending a bunch of time enjoying the outdoors, I would
feel safer with a 'sacrificial' layer when out camping or hiking
because a damp shirt may tend to collect a bit of dust or sand
which might scratch the lcd when wearing the camera around ones
neck.

Anyways, does anyone have a source for the clear static cling
stuff? Just picked up a neat american flag made of the material,
but I've never seen clear sheets around town.

Thanks

Randy

 

[rsg]

Thanks for the info Bill, None of the local sign shops have the stuff, but a printer I do business with is going to try and get some samples from a distributor.

Randy

I do use 'protective' finishes on my vehicle, kayaks, bike, and
optics, but would definately consider one of the static cling
pieces for the screen. Granted, I have only just received my uzi,
but so far use the lcd screen less than the viewfinder. Living in
Florida spending a bunch of time enjoying the outdoors, I would
feel safer with a 'sacrificial' layer when out camping or hiking
because a damp shirt may tend to collect a bit of dust or sand
which might scratch the lcd when wearing the camera around ones
neck.

Anyways, does anyone have a source for the clear static cling
stuff? Just picked up a neat american flag made of the material,
but I've never seen clear sheets around town.

Thanks

Randy