So, after letting the disappointment of the tangerine TF930 subside I've weighed my options and hatched a plan. Now, this is known to be dangerous, so two steps back and don't stare into the light. I figured I had a number of options.
*Chuck it and forget it
*Sell it and do the same
*Buy another one to ease the pain
*Use the Retrobright method to restore the device
Initially, I was inclined to opt for the first two or three options. After testing it and finding that it all seems to work properly, as far as I can tell at least, I came around a bit. Maybe the Retrobright method was viable. Unfortunately, I found out that this method isn't as permanent as you'd hope. It works, but after a few years some discolouration returns. Areas with uneven discolouration, like where stickers protected the case from light, also return uneven. That would make it a fair amount of work for a questionable return. Closer inspection also showed that the bezel has started to crack. I was about to revert to The Chucking when I remembered something.
Someone on here once talked about the TTi cases being ugly, but spare parts being available through RS. As a cursory search didn't turn up anything on the RS site, I decided to simply call TTi. A girl with the most incomprehensible accent picked up the phone. After explaining what I was calling for I was once more greeted by a jumble of vowels, this time with an upward inflection at the end of it. At this point I felt the prickle of sweat on my brow and started to look for an exit, but I collected myself and, after some hesitation, I hazarded "yes please". This turned out to be the correct answer, as I got transferred to a cheerful lad speaking human words. The darkness lifted, and memories of syntactical languages came flooding back.
After explaining the reason I was calling I was told that yes, they did in fact did sell spare parts. Good news. After a brief exchange of details I was promised to be sent an email. Sure enough, within moments I received a message. An upper case shell, lower case shell and front bezel would cost me a grand total of about 23 pounds plus shipping. Great news. After suffering through buying spares for Weller and Fluke gear, it was great to find I wouldn't have to sell off my other nephew this time. Not gouging customers. What a novel idea.
Considering the affordability of spares, the plan is to replace the entire outer shell. The front panel does not seem to be yellowed as much, and might even not be touched at all. Only a few tiny spots are covered by the bezel and knob, but these don't seem to be any more white than the rest, suggesting it still has its original colour. Even a mark I had taken for a ding turned out to disappear after some scrubbing. It probably was a pencil mark. This means that despite the rest of the shell being in a sorry state, the front panel is essentially pristine. The back panel isn't entirely clean, but close enough to it. The rest I can replace.
It's going to cost me a few quid and I'm not quite there yet, but the prospect of restoring the TF930 to almost brand new is very exciting indeed. Getting the runt was a stroke of bad luck, but it could have been much worse. Thanks TTi, for not being cunts.
Home
Help
Search
Login
Register
