Extracting a Broken Stylus

[anamardoll]

Was reading in bed last night and taking notes with the stylus when I lost grip on the Sony and it tumbled to the floor. The stylus hadn't been all the way in its slot, and on impact with the ground, the silver head went flying and the stylus body was left behind in the stylus slot.

Now I can't seem to extract the broken stylus. I can see it, and maybe if I had, like, medically thin tweezers, I could pull it out, but I haven't got any of those. Thoughts? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks in advance.

[Phogg]

Method 1.
Heat a sewing needle till it glows like a brand and force it ino the center of the broken stylus, let it cool, then pull both out. Obviously this is time consuming and you can burn yourself.

Method 2.
Put a tiny bead of superglue on the end of a toothpick and stick it to the back of the stylus, pulling it out after it sets. If you mess up with this method and get glue on the sides of the channel you have a worse problem than you started with.

Method 3.
Get a tiny drill bit for a dremel craft drill, and drill into the back of the stylus. This has a cost outlay the other methods don't have but would probably be the most forgiving method.

Good luck.

[anamardoll]

Phogg, thank you.

I did try method 2 without success -- I think I used too little superglue out of fear of EPIC FAIL and making the problem worse.

I just ordered some lab tweezers from Amazon -- my hope is that the curved neck ones will be able to get in there and do the trick.

Otherwise, I will try the sewing needle one -- I have a few extra needles around. I'm not 100% how to do that one, though; a match or candle will only heat the needle so much and the shoving-it-in part seems like it could be tricky.

EDIT: I'm thoroughly annoyed to note that I can't seem to buy a replacement stylus from Sony. I love my reader, but I really think the Sony folks are missing the boat on the peripherals.

[Asawi]

I think the sewing needle method will work. That would be my suggestion as well! But then I have LOTS of different size sewing needles...
About getting a new stylus, I hope you have noticed the crafty MR member who makes them and sell them for a very reasonable $10.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=142494

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

EDIT: I'm thoroughly annoyed to note that I can't seem to buy a replacement stylus from Sony. I love my reader, but I really think the Sony folks are missing the boat on the peripherals.

Chris' Replacement stylus gets thumbs up from other MR posters.

[AlbertaCowboy]

I would also reccommend using the tweezers to hold the hot needle. Those needles heat up really quickly. (I found that out the hard way while doing surgery on my fingernail!)

[anamardoll]

I may try this while waiting for the tweezers to arrive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxnlq5EEseU

Thank you for the stylus replacement link -- I've sent him a PM and crossed my fingers.

[Ripplinger]

anamardoll, I was on the list for a stylus but only as a spare for myself, mine is still fine. I just sent a PM to christylus (he should change his user name to that ) to let you have the one that was set aside for me since I'm not in any critical need for one.

[JSWolf]

Yet another video on fixing the stylus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWB32QU3u_A

[Pinecone]

A match or candle will get a needle to at least red hot. You can't melt a car with one, as the amount of total energy is low, but the temperature is very high. And a needle doesn't take much energy to heat up.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

anamardoll, I was on the list for a stylus but only as a spare for myself, mine is still fine. I just sent a PM to christylus (he should change his user name to that ) to let you have the one that was set aside for me since I'm not in any critical need for one.

Ripplinger, that is so kind of you! I feel bad yanking a stylus out from under you though. Will Chris be making more later, and you can get one then?

[Ripplinger]

I would think if he gets enough names he'll place another order, but I was just getting it for a spare, my stylus is fine. You're in real need though, I'd much rather let them first go to people who don't have a stylus to use. So don't worry about yanking one from me, it's not a problem for me at all. Short of dropping my reader with the stylus half out as you did, I really doubt I'd break mine, I'm pretty careful with it.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I would think if he gets enough names he'll place another order, but I was just getting it for a spare, my stylus is fine. You're in real need though, I'd much rather let them first go to people who don't have a stylus to use. So don't worry about yanking one from me, it's not a problem for me at all. Short of dropping my reader with the stylus half out as you did, I really doubt I'd break mine, I'm pretty careful with it.

Well, I do thank you, very much.

Worst part is I never used it before because I was terrified of breaking it. Then I was all, "This is silly, I want to use the stylus, I'm going to use it." I really liked using it, and then: Drop, smash, break. Gah. Fate, she is a cruel mistress.

[carpetmojo]

I can definitely recommend the christylus [ I think I came up with that, not sure !] it's a great solution
Well done him..

Re the broken one, I think the hot needle sounds a goer - not too thick I'd think though....
I am presuming the plastic "nub" is left in ?

Otherwise, a thickish tapering needle - embroidery for the use of - might wedge itself in the metal tube bit.

Does emphasise the silly design tho - but it does feel nice in the hand.
BUt ... the chris solution will probably outlast the reader !

Unless/until you lose it, naturally !

[chris77586]

Christylus, huh? I like it! it works a couple ways, Chris + Stylus or Christ + Stylus to emphisize how God-like it is! But yeah, I got ya covered anamardoll.