Fix earbud headphones with Sugru

 by monkeywidget
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"Sugru" (sugru.com) is  a air-drying silicone goo invented by Irish artist and businesswoman Jane ni Dhulchaointigh and a team of materials scientists.

Sugru starts out slightly sticky, like Silly Putty, but after a few hours solidifies into a harder rubbery texture which retains its shape but is still pliable.  It can be used to fix any variety of things, or to "hack things better" as the Sugru motto suggests.

This instructible details how to fix the silicone rings on the earbud headphones that come with the Apple iPhone.
 
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Step 1: Start with broken earbuds

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 My earbuds started out in pretty bad shape.  I use them for many hours every day and when driving.

The rubber rings on both sides was separating from the plastic.  That's bad, because obviously it looks bad, but also because the lack of ring leaves a slight sharp edge on the surface which was beginning to irritate the inside of my ears.

Additionally, one side of the earbuds was coming apart, the two plastic parts no longer glued together.

You can see what remains of the rubber from one side in the photo.
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chimbisimo says: Nov 19, 2011. 10:32 AM
At this point I dipped my fingers in soapy water to smooth it out, which made the sugru much smoother and more comfortable in my ear.
Ethanal says: Jun 13, 2010. 9:19 PM
I did the same thing with a very small length of shrink tubing. Not as cool or (most likely) comfy as Sugru, but it works great.
musick_08 in reply to EthanalFeb 15, 2011. 4:14 PM
haha i did the exact same thing a while back and it works great
monkeywidget (author) in reply to EthanalJun 14, 2010. 9:50 AM
You should post pictures!
Ethanal in reply to monkeywidgetJun 25, 2010. 8:25 PM
Pictures! Unfortunately, the band loosens over time, so I have to periodically fix it with the heat gun. I wonder how I could eliminate this problem...
Photo on 2010-06-25 at 23.15.jpg
monkeywidget (author) in reply to EthanalJun 27, 2010. 9:14 PM
maybe a silicone glue or something?
thelmer44 says: Dec 7, 2010. 10:49 AM
Very nice instructable... I plan to do this tonight considering I got my Sugru in the mail yesterday. :)
A is for Anarchy says: Nov 9, 2010. 8:01 PM
where can one buy this "sugru"?
monkeywidget (author) in reply to A is for AnarchyNov 11, 2010. 6:39 AM
Please check their site at sugru.com .

Specifically:
https://sugru.com/buy/
thelmer44 says: Nov 10, 2010. 10:27 AM
Very nice... I plan to do this to my earbuds once my sugru comes in.
BOOM5601 says: Oct 29, 2010. 8:58 AM
This i'ble has shown my why they never have Jane's full name on anything.
Kiteman says: May 23, 2010. 5:35 AM
Kiteman want sugru.  Give Kiteman sugru.

Give Kiteman sugru now!

(Once they're in production, we should have a sugru-sponsored contest!)
DavidRobertson in reply to KitemanJun 19, 2010. 2:16 AM
I got mint this morning :D
Kiteman in reply to DavidRobertsonJun 19, 2010. 11:38 AM
Ah-ha, so did I!
nickodemus in reply to KitemanJun 25, 2010. 1:00 PM
A sugru contest? That would be great!!
Kiteman in reply to nickodemusJun 25, 2010. 1:08 PM
Agreed!
your dog in reply to KitemanJun 25, 2010. 4:06 PM
seconded
lukeyj15 in reply to your dogJun 25, 2010. 4:21 PM
thirded
DavidRobertson in reply to lukeyj15Jun 26, 2010. 2:46 AM
fourth-ed?!?!?
iMakeItHappen in reply to DavidRobertsonJun 26, 2010. 4:33 AM
quinted!!!! :P
kcls in reply to iMakeItHappenJun 26, 2010. 4:53 AM
Here we go again... Sixthed!
zascecs in reply to kclsJun 26, 2010. 10:54 AM
1st-ed.
Fizzxwizz in reply to zascecsJun 26, 2010. 2:02 PM
more like skipp-ed Seventhed
zascecs in reply to FizzxwizzJun 26, 2010. 2:06 PM
No one said first so I have the right. =P
iMakeItHappen in reply to zascecsJun 28, 2010. 11:39 PM
kiteman is "1st-ed" because he said "i agree", then we all agreed with him.... just sayin
zascecs in reply to iMakeItHappenJun 30, 2010. 11:14 AM
Nope, he just agreed, but wasn't "officially" the first to agree with anything. =P


he didn't know this chain would happen... lol ;)
chardlz13 in reply to zascecsOct 14, 2010. 6:31 PM
Dodecagonneded
Fizzxwizz in reply to zascecsJun 26, 2010. 6:12 PM
aww
tanmanknex in reply to zascecsJun 26, 2010. 5:10 PM
Good point. ;)
dvnfntn in reply to tanmanknexJul 5, 2010. 12:39 PM
8thed
toogers in reply to dvnfntnJul 10, 2010. 12:16 PM
100001sted because at least that many people would agree.
sabbysayshi in reply to toogersAug 9, 2010. 11:01 PM
one hundred thousand seconded
AJBrawlLvr in reply to sabbysayshiSep 1, 2010. 8:31 AM
FIRST!!!!!!! what? no one said it yet....
minnesotatexan says: Sep 19, 2010. 6:23 PM
Say folks, has anyone taken their broken earphones into an apple store? They will more than likely be happy to replace them if they don't show signs of abuse. I've seen them do it over and over when I worked there part time. I never saw them charge for a replacement.
Phoghat says: Jul 17, 2010. 8:29 AM
my iPhone ear buds don't really fit my ears well, can I use this as a custom mold-to-fit?
tictaclad in reply to PhoghatSep 14, 2010. 3:24 PM
thats exactly whati thought of!
karthikvasudevan says: Aug 22, 2010. 5:48 AM
OR this could work too. http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-way-to-noise-insulate-your-earphone/
motadacruz says: Aug 8, 2010. 2:57 PM
Wow, that stuff is awesome! I got broken buds like that for a long while now. Awesome instructable, thanks!
fullerenedream says: Jun 27, 2010. 3:01 PM
Nice. I like the vibrant orange with the white, too.
Pie Ninja says: Jun 26, 2010. 3:35 AM
I wonder if I could make a pair of fitted shoes with sugru...
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