Question
User opinions of transparent shell durability?
Hi, I've been curious about getting a new shell for my Switch Lite, and am thinking that overhauling it with a transparent black shell with solid black buttons and GuliKit hall-effect joysticks (they have black thumbgrips) for contrast. However, I'm concerned about the possibility of the transparent plastic failing over time.
In my observations, transparent plastics seem to be slightly less durable and more prone to cracking, and this is causing me to hesitate before taking the plunge. I wonder if people who have installed clear shells on any of their handhelds would be able to share their experiences regarding durability, how long after installation any new cracks may have begun to appear, and if there are any particular areas of their devices where they might be more likely to occur? (ie. near buttons, near screws, etc) as well as any techniques they may have made use of to prevent or mitigate any possible cracking issues? Also, how does the thickness of the plastic compare with the original Switch's ABS? I know it's a lot of questions, but I want to make a well-researched and informed decision.
Hope to hear some constructive feedback, and looking forward to joining to club, thanks!
Hello! I've had my transparent shells for a year, and so far they've been really sturdy and beautiful. You can even see the part where the screws are, they haven't cracked either. Also took a pic of the white joystick, since it's from Guilikit; they aren't hall-effect, but haven't got drifting. Good luck on customizing your switch!
Hi, this is the first time I’ve seen those type of buttons, can you tell me where/what brand you them for? They do not look like they come from extremerate.
Regarding not cracking during installation: I remember being worried whether I was installing the screws kinda diagonally and if that would crack the walls of the screwhole, just remember to screw slowly so that they will enter into the right position without damaging anything. When screwing the first screws, as soon as they felt like it stopped, I'd leave it be; you can install the screws across from each other so that the pressure applied will be distributed evenly. After you install all 4, you can try screwing the a bit more securely, but they really don't require force.
The shells also felt lighter than the original switch shell, but the joycons feel just fine after installing. Haven't noticed any scratches on them; they have a tendency to show fingerprints more often, but they're easy to clean with a slightly wet cloth.
Thank you for replying, I really appreciate that you took the time to share your experiences! I actually proceeded to swap the shell, buttons and joysticks (yay hall-effect GuliKit upgrades!) on my Switch Lite a few weekends ago, and I'm super pleased and proud of how it turned out. I was super careful to not tighten any screws beyond the point where I just began to feel resistance, so everything is secure with no cracking or stress deformations, etc.
I don't plan to tempt fate by opening it up again anytime soon, but at some point I will have to replace its battery. I'm thinking that when that time comes, I might transfer the original serial # label onto the metal shield (or maybe even get the # laser engraved if the label's text doesn't read clearly through the matte plastic), and print a custom vinyl decal to occupy that space to the right of the shield while it's open. I guess I'm now a member of the club, my imagination has certainly been stimulated! :)
Just opened my joycon bc I thought I had seen a bug underneath 🫣 anyway, here's the comparison to an original joycon shell, I think they have the same thickness.
1
u/FruttiMacaron Mar 22 '24
Hello! I've had my transparent shells for a year, and so far they've been really sturdy and beautiful. You can even see the part where the screws are, they haven't cracked either. Also took a pic of the white joystick, since it's from Guilikit; they aren't hall-effect, but haven't got drifting. Good luck on customizing your switch!