Nexus 4 Wood Back Replacement.

[Leland Sindt]

A while ago the glass back on my Nexus 4 broke, I ignored it for as long as I could but eventually had to do something to repair it. I didn't want to simply replace it with another glass back as I feared it would quickly break again. With a little trial and error I was able to make a series of real wood veneer backs that can be glued in after the glass is removed..

The development process can be seen in the following Video

.

Example of the hand made version

Eventually, I was able to complete a laser cut version that looked much better.

Example of the finished product.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

[srkmagnus]

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing!

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

My hat's off to you!

Just ordered the curly maple one, and about to post this on the blog so more people can see it. This is beautiful.

 

[npco543]

Awesome job, I had thought about doing the exact same thing if the black of my Nexus 4 ever broke. Thankfully it hasn't yet, because that looks like a LOT of work!

 

[UJ95x]

If only it were this easy, or even possible on the Moto X

 

[ottscay]

That's pretty freakin' awesome!

 

[BobDaNob]

Now, that's straight sexy right there. Wow.

Brb, gonna be 'accidentally' dropping my N4. lol

 

[UJ95x]

Now, that's straight sexy right there. Wow.

Brb, gonna be 'accidentally' dropping my N4. lol

I don't understand why it HAS to be broken for it to work?

Posted via Android Central App

 

[BobDaNob]

I don't understand why it HAS to be broken for it to work?

Posted via Android Central App

It doesn't, but I'd hate to have a perfectly good glass back just lying around feeling sad for himself because he'd be all alone. lol

 

[Fairclough]

Thats awesome.
I presume the Qi works well? (Noticed you kept the receiver pad in - not that i use mine)

 

[zrxoa1]

Can the rear glass be easily removed if not broken? OR Can the wood just cover the rear glass?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[npco543]

The glass is glued in, so it would be unlikely that you'd be able to remove it without breaking it in the process. Sure, you could always just glue the wood on top of the glass, but it would add to the thickness and not look as integrated. Another option would be to purchase a replacement back, remove the glass and put the wood in that. That way, you retain your stock glass back if you don't end up liking your results.

 

[jdbii]

That is cool!! I'm getting one. Thanks.

 

[stoneworrior]

Thanks for the share Jerry, I just bought one myself.

 

[Leland Sindt]

The response has been amazing... Thank you all. I /just/ finished shipping. I plan to respond to questions here, in the blog post, and via email starting Monday night.

 

[bailey009]

Are you going to make more? Your web store only has 3 left

 

[jeffandpamsmith]

I want one too, but cant tell from the video, how hard it it to get the old broken/cracked glass out? I didn't realize you had to scrape it from (what exactly are we scraping it from?) and you video doesn't look like you got all the glass out, did you? Also, it it bare wood of finished so it doesn't absorb oils and dirt.

Looks beautiful...I just don't get the "ugly" comments, some people just don't appreciate wood I suppose.

 

[Leland Sindt]

I presume the Qi works well?

I have not tested the Qi charger, but I have checked to make sure the HFC works... As long as the antenna is intact I cannot imagine why it would not work.

 

[Leland Sindt]

Are you going to make more? Your web store only has 3 left

I have another stack that are unfinished, but its going to take me some time to get them finished, and listed...

 

[Leland Sindt]

I want one too, but cant tell from the video, how hard it it to get the old broken/cracked glass out? I didn't realize you had to scrape it from (what exactly are we scraping it from?) and you video doesn't look like you got all the glass out, did you? Also, it it bare wood of finished so it doesn't absorb oils and dirt.

Looks beautiful...I just don't get the "ugly" comments, some people just don't appreciate wood I suppose.

Removing the glass is a task, but I have done it twice now and received repots that it is and entirely completable task. The glass is glued to the the plastic that makes of the rest of the back/sides of the phone.

The wood veneers are finished with spar urethane a favorite finish of mine.

I too think that they are beautiful, but hey to each their own.