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.:[OFFICIAL] Wet VS Dry Application Screen Protector Thread:.

kwest12

kwest12

Android Enthusiast
Welcome to the OFFICIAL WET VS DRY (STATIC) APPLICATION SCREEN PROTECTOR THREAD:


Purpose: To compare the merits and faults of wet vs dry application screen protectors!
Goals: Objectivity, Accuracy, Civility
Justification: No other threads addressing this specifically
Explanation: I see a lot of wet vs wet (ie. Zagg vs Phantom Skinz) and dry vs dry (ie. Steinheil vs Boxwave vs Clarivue) threads; this thread isn't for that type of comparison. This is specifically to discuss the merits of WET VS DRY application screen protectors.
Suggestions: Consider discussing the following topics: scratch resistance, easy of application, ease of removal, thickness, likeliness to unwanted peeling back, can they be reapplied if done incorrectly the 1st time, relative pricing, interaction with cases, etc.


Goals/Guidelines explicitly stated:
1) Try to be unbiased (I know the instinct is to say how wonderful the screen protector you have is and how crappy the others are in comparison to self validate, but please please pleeeeaaase resist that urge. Be objective!)
2) Please keep it factual, or as close to it as possible (don't try to present a feeling as cut and dry fact)
3) As always, please keep it civil (do unto others..., etc etc)
 
Well I've tried both wet and dry and to be honest I had good experiences with both. I guess it just really depends on how good you are with application... a clean environment, steady hands, patience, all helps. The deal with wet applications is you must let the device dry thoroughly before applying any power to it. Drying times may vary per manufacturer but also depends on solution creep into the electronics. For example my particular application required at least a 2 hour dry time. But for the amount of solution I used for a couple of retries... I decided to wait 12 hours before attaching the battery.. basically letting it sit overnight. Also another thing to note is some company's say that the bubbles that you see on wet apps after squeegee excess or air from the screens will go away in 24-48 hours. In my experience I have found it not true as the bubbles did seem to get smaller.. almost hard to see with the eye but they were there. So if you are applying with wet and you see bubbles after squeegee.. I would consider working hard at getting them all out if possible.
 
As I am in the graphics industry, here's the proper way to wet install, almost.

Your going to need:

Spray Bottle
Dawn dish soap.
Squeegee.
Towel.
Bowl.
Uncooked Rice.
Time.

First THOROUGHLY clean the screen. Make sure there is absolutely nothing on it. Not a spec of dust. Trust me, it will show.

Now fill your spray bottle with water, and one-two drops of dish soap. Mix thoroughly.

**MAKE SURE POWER IS DISCONNECTED AND BATTERY IS OUT**


Get out the screen protector, and the squeegee. Very lightly spritz the screen protector with the soapy water solution. Make sure you don't put too much.

Place the screen protector on your screen. The soapy solution allows you to move it around a bit, so place it accordingly. Don't move it around too much, because you don't want water spillage.

Now with it placed where it needs to be, hold the screen protector firmly in place, and squeegee it down, starting from the center, and work your way to the edges. Make sure you avoid speaker holes etc.

Once you get all the air/bubbles* out, place it in a bowl, surrounded by the uncooked rice. This will kill the excess moisture.

*Some tiny bubbles may remain, but that's ok, all you need is your finger and an exacto knife to remedy this.


So what to do if bubbles remain when it's dry, first, give it time. The vinyl should adjust itself. After a week or so, if it does not, try sticking it in the sun for 30 min or so, or heat it up some other way. Please don't fry your electronics....

If that doesn't work, (only if you have steady hands!)get out the exacto knife. Gently pierce one end of the bubble, from a side angle that you avoid the screen, and push the air out starting from the other side of the bubble, moving towards the hole you just poked.

All done!
 
I'm not sure I get why the OP thought that the application method had anything to do with characteristics such as scratch resistance. That's really a matter of whatever is the top coat of the protector. The adhesive side is on the opposite side of the protector...

The only useful comparisons I'd see are application process and resistance to peeling.
 
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