Technology has become so useful in the modern era that people consider much of it to be a vital part of their lives. New innovations happen every year, but the actual components installed in your devices can break or wear out over time. Proprietary parts or restrictive repair laws may make it hard to fix things yourself. However, there are a few ways you might get your tech in working order without the usual pieces in place.
Wire Inserts
Tiny screws are common pieces of hardware that you’ll find in a lot of today’s tech. Some of these screws might be proprietary or so specialized in size that it is hard to find them. If one of these pieces is stripped, it may not hold components inside your devices securely enough. If you can’t find the proper parts you need, wire inserts may be able to act as makeshift threading that can allow you to tighten the screws again.
Washers
Washers or bolts are simple pieces of hardware that people can use to secure just about anything. The delicate components in some of your electronics may merge between two surfaces. When this connection happens, industrial washers can help to distribute the pressure between two points and act as a sort of seal. If the seals on some of your technology are broken, parts may lose connections with each other and cause your devices to stop functioning. You may be able to restore some of your tech just by replacing the washers.
Sandpaper
This suggestion might sound a bit out there, but it can work for some people in a pinch. If a small blot or mark that hasn’t developed into a scratch appears on any of your tech that uses a screen, you can try to eliminate it with sandpaper. The trick is to proceed slowly and carefully over the affected area with a mild sheet of sandpaper. Test the method with a few quick strokes first.
Tape
Many people see adhesive tape as the gold standard for repair jobs that need to happen without official parts. Various parts of the technology world are no exception to this tape rule. If a small tear happens in the speaker portion of an audio device, taping over it can act as a temporary measure.
All technology seems to have a shelf life. However, you can repair a broken item yourself using parts that might not be standard but still perform the same function. To hide some surface scratches, you can even rub a bit of toothpaste into the affected area of a screen. Some of these tips can help users save their time, cash for repair costs, and might mitigate the need to replace some of their favorite pieces.
"Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan."
