Anyone else have a problem with phone speakers?

[MagnumForce]

IPhone, HTC, Samsung, LG, I kill the loud speaker on my phones like nothing. Not from blowing it but from the weld shop environment I work in. Metal dust is just awful.

I blow my nose and it's always just black so you can imagine what it does to a magnetic speaker. Does anyone else fight with this too?

What kind of phones does GJ have?

 

[ecotec]

The speaker in my iPhone is messed up. I think that tradesmen are hard on phones.

 

[Stooge]

i think i have a droid razor? just looking at it now, theres a few little metal slivers, alot of metal dust and what im assuming is auto body filler dust stuck to the outside of the speaker screen. I try to hit it with the air gun sometimes but it doesnt do much and on full volume in my pocket, i can barely hear it. it's been the same for the last few phones i've had, they just dont seem to last long with me.

 

[RedneckWelder]

The speaker in my iPhone is messed up. I think that tradesmen are hard on phones.

I ended up giving up my smartphone because the cost was too damn high each month for me to stomach.

One of the benefits of going back to a dumb phone is I was able to pick up a Casio GZOne Ravine 2 for $40 on Ebay and put it into service. These phones are cheap on Ebay (Verizon only)...and the selection of tough dumb phones is much better than the smart phones of the same type

The only thing I can suggest otherwise is a good case to protect it (which is what I used when I had a smart phone) and if you can, keep the phone in your toolbox or otherwise covered. I can't talk on mine during work anyway so this is what I do.

And you may want to consider a respirator (either normal or a powwered one) due to what you are sucking into your lungs...the older welders who used respirators told me to go that way because many of their colleagues who did not suffered lung illnesses...

 

[Professur]

I fix phones every day ... 90% of them have at least a few grains of magnetic sand or such stuck to the speaker. Some are prickly with filings.

 

[CJM8515]

You need a heavy duty case. I have an otterbox case and my iphone looks and functions like brand new.

 

[MagnumForce]

It's a robotic weld shop, a respirator would do little unless I wore it 8 hours a day. Not willing to give up my smart phone as I rarely use it as an actual phone and cases purposefully leave speakers open and mine goes in the toolbox albeit the open top so I can plug it in. I am Capital Maintenance in my plant so need a phone for email and photos.

Sounds like it is just the nature of the beast then.

 

[ecotec]

I tried the case route, too. It has it's own issues. When I was working at the steel mill, my case would fill up with sweat condensation between the case and the phone almost every day.

 

[Stooge]

i had whatever the fanciest/ most heavy duty case from otterbox when i first got this phone and used it for about a week. was way to big to keep in my pocket and had some sticky neoprene type "skin" that slipped over the hardshell case and would grab the inside of my pocket when i'd pull the phone out and dump whatever was in there on the ground. the screen protector is pretty roughed up and scratched and makes the touchscreen pretty clumsy

 

[CJM8515]

Im no sure what you guys are doing, but my otterbox is fine. The speaker is covered up by the case and the only things left open are the camera and the earpeice. Then again I DONT take my phone out during work unless my hands and area are clean. It rides in my back pocket with the clip and all.

 

[MagnumForce]

I don't use a screen protector, cause more trouble than its worth and gorilla glass is nigh impossible to scratch anyway. Just make sure your case is over the edge so you can't drop your phone flat on the glass. I use a slim silicone case as it fits in my pocket that way. Not a fan of holsters as they look dumb and get caught on things easily.

 

[dgshear]

I had the same issue with my previous Motorola Bionic. I replaced the speaker twice before I decided to switch phones. Ended up with an iPhone with a LifeProof case. Case is water and dust proof, so far phone still works great. Also, the case is much smaller than an OtterBox for the same phone. The case cost more than I liked, but I think it was worth it since I haven't had to deal with the speaker issue.

 

[beamrider]

I cut a small piece of #500 SS mesh, and slip it in between the speaker, and my case. Makes a great grit/**** filter...

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[efb16acrx]

I worked for a company that gave all of us Casio Gz'Ones (which we affectionately called JizzOns). Pretty tough phones, but of course, there's always some lunks who can break anything you give them.

We had them too. Mine got ran over by my service truck in the mud and still worked fine. They replaced them with commando smart phones for some reason, and well, they dont even work right out of the box....

 

[slyonedoofy]

There is a company called Ballistic that makes phone covers. I have used them for years and my phone stays looking new even when I'm out in the field doing pickup work. (sheetrock, insulation, framing, plumbing, electrical, etc...)

Been using them for 5 years and no complaints. Cheaper than Otter box and in my opinion better.

 

[APEowner]

I've had that issue. I've had some success with taking the back cover off, putting a piece of tape over the speaker and putting the cover on. It does affect the sound a bit but it keeps the metal filings out of the speaker.

I've ultimately decided that it's better to just not bring the phone into the metal shop in the first place.

 

[crewchief888]

no problems at all.

i leave the phone in my service truck all the time.

when i get back in the truck i check for messages.

 

[G_P]

The Galaxy S5 is waterproof to 3 feet and totally dustproof. So there must be something to keep water out of the speaker. If water cant get in neither can metal shavings. I have one and its in an Otterbox Defender case. Had it around plenty of grinding and metal cutting with no ill effects.

 

[MagnumForce]

Currently have an s5, killed the speaker. I think maybe some cheese cloth in the back of the case may be in order next time.

 

[Hammer1963]

I am famous for killing the speaker in my phones and I rarely keep it on my person while I work. I work in a body shop and grind steel multiple times a week. I have used tape to remove most of the steel fragments from the speaker cover, but still kill the damn things. Apparently small micro fragments are making their way to the speaker whilst it is in my pocket 2-3 minutes a day. Very frustrating and expensive!