Replacing polarized film on LCD TV

Stoly

FPS Regular
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Messages
1,494
Points
113
Is it possible to replace the polarized film on a LCD TV?
Its an old LG 32" LCD TV that apparently was hit from direct sunlight while stored. The film cracked and peeled but otherwise its fine so I figured maybe I can replace it.

Can it be done?
Where can I get it?
 
www.ebay.com

32inch 0 degree 715MM*410MM LCD Polarizer Polarizing Film for LCD LED TV | eBay

Size : 714mm 410mm.
www.ebay.com

I don't endorse ebay in any way, but at least a starting point.

Given how commodity TV's have become, and because of the age and likely Pain in the *** factor that will be associated with this (getting the old one completely cleaned off, getting the new one lined up right, with no air bubbles or debris) - I'd just go get another TV. Another 32" can be found for under $100.

So, can it be done? I'm sure it can. I'm also sure it's totally not worth doing.
 
Now my question would be if a need a 0° or 90° polarized film. Somehow I'm assuming it would be 90° but I don't know for sure.
 
Brian_B said:
www.ebay.com

32inch 0 degree 715MM*410MM LCD Polarizer Polarizing Film for LCD LED TV | eBay

Size : 714mm 410mm.
www.ebay.com

I don't endorse ebay in any way, but at least a starting point.

Given how commodity TV's have become, and because of the age and likely Pain in the *** factor that will be associated with this (getting the old one completely cleaned off, getting the new one lined up right, with no air bubbles or debris) - I'd just go get another TV. Another 32" can be found for under $100.

So, can it be done? I'm sure it can. I'm also sure it's totally not worth doing.
Click to expand...
I mostly agree, but if this was cheap enough then it would fall under the "because I can" argument. I mean its not even 1080p, to begin with.
 
Stoly said:
Now my question would be if a need a 0° or 90° polarized film. Somehow I'm assuming it would be 90° but I don't know for sure.
Click to expand...
At $8, buy both. The one you don't use keep for stupid party tricks.

There's also this note a bit farther down the Ebay posting:

Note:
If you don't know which angle the polarizing film should be used for your LCD LED IPS Screen TV, please purchase Polarizer Film Angle Testing Tools at first.It will help you to save more time and purchase correct Polarizer film;
Polarizer Film Angle Testing Tools item ID: 323094107536, you can find it in my store, Any question please feel free to contact us,thanks
 
Brian_B said:
At $8, buy both. The one you don't use keep for stupid party tricks.

There's also this note a bit farther down the Ebay posting:

Note:
If you don't know which angle the polarizing film should be used for your LCD LED IPS Screen TV, please purchase Polarizer Film Angle Testing Tools at first.It will help you to save more time and purchase correct Polarizer film;
Polarizer Film Angle Testing Tools item ID: 323094107536, you can find it in my store, Any question please feel free to contact us,thanks
Click to expand...

So I grabbed a small piece of film that fell from the screen. I put it horizontally on the part that was missing and it showed the image beneath, I then rotated it 90° and it won't show anything so I'm pretty sure its a 90° polarized film.
 
Stoly said:
So I grabbed a small piece of film that fell from the screen. I put it horizontally on the part that was missing and it showed the image beneath, I then rotated it 90° and it won't show anything so I'm pretty sure its a 90° polarized film.
Click to expand...
Well.. erm. I don't know if that's true. Any angle film you have - if you rotate it 90' will do exactly what you describe, because that's how polarization just works. It doesn't mean you have 90' film.
 
Stoly said:
yeah, but where's the fun in that? ;) ;)
Click to expand...
I have tried to fix broken flatscreens before TCON boards, ribbon cables etc. I am zero for 2 and the money I wasted could have gone towards a new one anyway. But if it's just 8 bucks and you're bored/adventurous/cheap then go nuts!
 
I think most polarized sunglasses are 90*. So you could probably buy a cheap pair of them. If you can see the image without tilting your head. 90* If you have to tilt your head a little, then it's probably 45* sunglasses. If you have to rotate the glasses a full 90* to see the image, then it's probably 0*.
 
So I went ahead and bought the polarized film and I started the removing process.

The pic is before. It was so much worse than that. At the very beginning it was crackled, the 1st layer was easy to remove as it was toast by the sun/heat I assume. So I was able to peel off pretty much all of it easily(many pieces almost came out by themselves), after removing the film it was let's say usable. there were still some pieces I had to remove and that's when the polarized film peeled off, didn't notice at first as the background was white. Taped some pieces back the best I could the results in the pic.

Now, disassembled the TV leaving just the screen, removing the polarized film was less hard than I expected, I was able to peel large pieces using a hair dryer, also some of the edges were already peeling off. I really got really busy doing it and failed to take pics.

Now the hard part. there's the underlying glue and I just can't figure out how to take it off. I've watched several tutorials, but I have yet to find one that mentions what kind of solvent is used. I don't feel like using thinner or other solvents, even though the screen is glass. I tried Isoprophyl alcohol but didn't seem to work. Some have suggested I use an exacto blade to remove the glue, but I fear it could scratch the screen.

Any suggestions?

1715981884072.png
 
You fared much better than I suspect I would have if I had tried the same project.

You can try Goo Gone, I've had hit or miss luck with it. Also, WD40 will work sometimes if you let it sit a bit when IPA will not - I've had great success with that.

Some folks have had success with a towel soaked in IPA, let that sit on it for a few hours to soften it up - it never worked for me though.
 
Brian_B said:
You fared much better than I suspect I would have if I had tried the same project.

You can try Goo Gone, I've had hit or miss luck with it. Also, WD40 will work sometimes if you let it sit a bit when IPA will not - I've had great success with that.

Some folks have had success with a towel soaked in IPA, let that sit on it for a few hours to soften it up - it never worked for me though.
Click to expand...
will try, I think I have some WD40 somewhere
 
Don't use goo gone, its oily and will leave a residue.

Don't use WD40, same reason.

Use Goof Off.

1716037974497.png

This bottle here. You can buy the bigger container of it, but it's like $25 or something for the big one. This one is around $9. Get a microcloth towel, wet the towel and massage the bad spots.

Use isopropyl alcohol to clean the surface after goof off breaks down all the adhesive.


(Disclaimer: I've never used this stuff on electronics. So handle with caution. I'm not sure if it will damage anything. I think it'll be fine, but use caution anyway. Most likely the worst case would be it takes paint off any painted plastic surfaces. So make sure you wet small areas of the towel and only apply it to the screen)
 
LeRoy_Blanchard said:
Don't use goo gone, its oily and will leave a residue.

Don't use WD40, same reason.

Use Goof Off.

View attachment 3064

This bottle here. You can buy the bigger container of it, but it's like $25 or something for the big one. This one is around $9. Get a microcloth towel, wet the towel and massage the bad spots.

Use isopropyl alcohol to clean the surface after goof off breaks down all the adhesive.


(Disclaimer: I've never used this stuff on electronics. So handle with caution. I'm not sure if it will damage anything. I think it'll be fine, but use caution anyway. Most likely the worst case would be it takes paint off any painted plastic surfaces. So make sure you wet small areas of the towel and only apply it to the screen)
Click to expand...
Tnx, where can I get that? Never seen it before.
 
You can buy it at Lowes, Home Depot might have it as well. Just don't get the aerosol can of it. That version sucks.
 
Madairna said:
Yep, it's possible to replace the polarized film on your TV. I had a similar issue with my old Samsung TV. I found replacement films on Amazon; just make sure to double-check the size and type. The process can be a bit tricky, but I watched a few YouTube tutorials, and they were really helpful.
Click to expand...
I already got the film, that was the easy part, taking the TV apart piece of cake, removing the old film, tedious but not hard, removing the glue goo was hard and very laborious but got most of it. The remaining glue is next to impossible to remove. Thing is I don't really want to spend close to $30 dlls to buy a big can of goof off which is the only one I've found here. I really don't have time recently to keep with this, but hopefully I'll finish it soon enough.
 
Stoly said:
I already got the film, that was the easy part, taking the TV apart piece of cake, removing the old film, tedious but not hard, removing the glue goo was hard and very laborious but got most of it. The remaining glue is next to impossible to remove. Thing is I don't really want to spend close to $30 dlls to buy a big can of goof off which is the only one I've found here. I really don't have time recently to keep with this, but hopefully I'll finish it soon enough.
Click to expand...

Um, just buy it off Amazon (or any other place that will deliver to your house)


I'd pick up some plastic razors as well. It'll help scrap it off. Just be careful, even with plastic. Don't want to scratch the display.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Become a Patron!
Back
Top