Iphone 4s in metal shops?

[section8joe]

Anyone having issues with their iphone 4s receiver shorting out in their shops?
I'm on my 4th phone in 2 months. I never had and problems with my older iphones( edge, 3g, and iphone 4). I believe metal dust is getting into the receiver and eventually shorting out the receiver. After I replace my second iphone 4s, I realized metal dust may be the culprit so I started putting the phone is a sealed ziplock bag. Even though it's in a sealed bag my phone is still getting dust into the receiver. Anyone else have this problem? By the way the receiver doesn't completely short out. The volume level is just barely audible.

 

[afazz]

I'm on my 2nd iPhone 4s in one month, and I think that's what killed my LG Cosmos. Now I'm trying masking tape over the receiver/camera, but I have no idea if that will work, and it still doesn't protect the other speakers. I have worked in or been around metal shops since before my first phone and never had a problem until now.

 

[Zeke]

They probably weren't made for carrying down into a mine.

I'd be more worried about your lungs if the dust or whatever can get into t bag.

 

[flht1997]

cant say about the phone, but i am on my 4th charger for my Mac book pro in less than 2 years. magnetic cords may seem like a great idea till metal dust builds up and is near imposible to remove.

 

[section8joe]

I'm on my 2nd iPhone 4s in one month, and I think that's what killed my LG Cosmos. Now I'm trying masking tape over the receiver/camera, but I have no idea if that will work, and it still doesn't protect the other speakers. I have worked in or been around metal shops since before my first phone and never had a problem until now.

Ive been taking mine to the apple store and they are replacing them for free but I'm sure I'm gonna get cut off at some point.

I also use a respirator when I'm cutting/grinding.

 

[MatthewM]

I swapped out two iphone 4s' thus far for call volume issues as well. After a month or so I couldn't hear a thing out of the earpiece; I have no idea why it happened but suspected something with the bluetooth system in my truck. I could be completely wrong and metal dust in the phone could have been the issue. The genius bar folks could not find the source of the problem so they switched them out no questions asked. If you find a solutions, I sure would love to hear it.

-Matt

 

[afazz]

I also use a respirator... Maybe 3M makes one that fits the iPhone?

The Apple store also replaced mine without many questions, the process was pretty painless. They checked for water damage, blew out the speakers with nitrogen, looked at the speakers with a magnifying glass, then handed me a new phone.

Did you guys have problems with your previous phones?

 

[65gregg]

Watch the video imbeded in this link, this case seals your phone pretty well.
http://store.griffintechnology.com/iphone/iphone-4s/survivor

 

[jeffmoss26]

That looks similar to the OtterBox defender case I have for my iPhone.

 

[section8joe]

No problems at all with any other iphones.

 

[CARS]

I leave my HTC Thunderbolt in the office.

If i am working, I can't talk anyway. If someone calls I check my messages and call them back.

I was more worried about TIG welding with the phone on me than I was about dust, but ya... I can see that screwing things up.

 

[section8joe]

Watch the video imbeded in this link, this case seals your phone pretty well.
http://store.griffintechnology.com/iphone/iphone-4s/survivor

The receiver is still exposed with this case. You really can't cover the receiver with a phone cover because you won't be able to hear too well.

 

[sr4440]

here's a option.

http://www.liquipel.com/

Joe

 

[Shadowdog500]

Check out this life proof case. It is fully waterproof, dustproof, etc. for $79 it better be.

I have an Otterbox, and dust would still get in the sensitive areas, I think it is more for surviving a drop or scratch.

http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-store/apple-cases/iphone-4-g2?gclid=CPyGld_Fja4CFULc4AodNggdqQ

Here is a video of someone using their iPhone as an underwater camera while snorkeling while in a life proof case.

Here is another

Install video,

Chris

 

[darkzero]

I don't have an iphone or work in a metal shop but I do machine stuff at home & leave my Android laying out. I would occasionally get fine metal dust accumilated by the ear speaker.

One time I tried blowing it off with compressed air. Seems like the "dust" passed through the speaker grill & got into the speaker. Nothing but rattling after that. I to replace the speaker & now when I see the build up I just wipe it off the best I can. Haven't had the problem since but I keep a spare speaker on hand just in case anyway.

 

[1948]

i always keep mine covered up when im working in a shop(with the cord hooked up to the stereo so i can listen to music from it and hear phone calls). the magnets gather the steel metal dust and also the red hot sparks can burn the glass. it costs way to much money to just let it go to junk.

 

[jkruger54]

I leave my phone in the truck. Don't bother me, I'm workin!

 

[Big-Foot]

I had the same problem with my Palm Pre... Now that I have the iphone 4S, I just keep it down inside one of my front pockets.. I did not realize that they were susceptable to metals dust as much as my old phone.. Thanks for the heads up..

Btw, the way I saved the speaker on my Palm Pre (after I figured out what the problem was), was to put one of those small circular bandaids over the speaker. I could still hear the speaker fine and the gauze in the bandaid stopped the slivers of metal from gettin in there..

 

[1948]

I leave my phone in the truck. Don't bother me, I'm workin!

thats all fine and dandy until you get trapped under the car or something.

 

[turbobu]

I've been through the same **** with about 10 Motorola bionics. Provider keeps replacing them under warranty and I'm not eligible for an upgrade for another year. I'm ready to buy my own but I don't want to buy a $300-$600 problem phone. I had a Droid X2 before for 2 years and never had this problem although I did kill it sand blasting with it in my pocket.

A buddy of mine who does car fab for a living has a iPhone 4 and treats his terrible and has no problems.

I was considering a Samsung S3 or Note 2 (maybe too big wife just got one and loves it). I have always had Android smart phones so I'm not sure if and want to switch and there are as many switching from iPhone 4 and 5 to Galaxy's as there are Android users switching to iPhones.

I'm sick of messing with it.

Leaving my phone in the truck is NOT an option for me as I operate a one man heating and cooling business that relies on me answering the phone everytime it rings, returning calls even 2 mins later in the summer is TOO late.

I've also had my hand trapped and couldn't get my phone out of my pocket, luckly my daughter heard me screaming otherwise I might have lost a finger or 2!

A ziplock bag as others have suggested on other sites won't work either as I've slipped my phone in my jeans pocket even after they've been washed several times and gotten metal in the speaker that way and it only takes one time.

 

[Trey T]

If it's a hazard to your phone, I can't imagine the damage it does to your lung. Any metals into your lung is BAD!

 

[BadAppleGarage]

I had this very problem. First with a couple of Droids, then with my first two iPhones. Got a third iPhone within the first year of switching over because of this issue.

Yes, it is metal dust getting into the speaker where you listen. Speaker=magnet.

I got a Lifeproof case (found them cheaper on eBay) and have had no problems since. It's kinda cool having a waterproof phone. Call and text from the shower, never have to worry about being pushed into a body of water, rain. There is a "sweetspot" in the ear piece for listening. You have to position the phone in the right spot to hear, but there is no "muffling" of audio because of the case.

Highly recommended.

 

[turbobu]

I had this very problem. First with a couple of Droids, then with my first two iPhones. Got a third iPhone within the first year of switching over because of this issue.

Yes, it is metal dust getting into the speaker where you listen. Speaker=magnet.

I got a Lifeproof case (found them cheaper on eBay) and have had no problems since. It's kinda cool having a waterproof phone. Call and text from the shower, never have to worry about being pushed into a body of water, rain. There is a "sweetspot" in the ear piece for listening. You have to position the phone in the right spot to hear, but there is no "muffling" of audio because of the case.

Highly recommended.

Great one solution causes another issue, I'm half deaf from the same type of work! Maybe I need to just switch hobbies.

 

[turbobu]

If it's a hazard to your phone, I can't imagine the damage it does to your lung. Any metals into your lung is BAD!

Well dust masks help protect the lungs and the body also has built in defenses for dust too, nasal hair, snot, saliva, etc...
Just seems the phone manufactures don't see a need to protect against this.
Besides cars hobbies are additions to gearheads just like crack, even if it's going to kill us we are in for the next "hit".

 

[DekeT]

thats all fine and dandy until you get trapped under the car or something.

You sound like a good candidate for "life alert". Wear it around your neck and no one will even know it's there.

 

[SteveL]

Any of the same issues with an I-pad? I have mine in the shop all the time and never thought about having an issue with metal dust.