Over time, the rubber pads on the back of the RG350P, RG350M, RG351P, and RG351M starts to leak adhesive, leaving a sticky mess. Here’s how I removed those pads (and the gunky adhesive) from my device.
RG350 and RG351 Rubber Pad Removal
Over time, the rubber pads on the back of the RG350P, RG350M, RG351P, and RG351M starts to leak adhesive, leaving a sticky mess. Here’s how I removed those pads (and the gunky adhesive) from my device.
Retro Game Corps 
Couldn’t you take the back off first so you don’t get it all over the rest of the unit?
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Definitely. I thought about it but my issue was that the battery is stuck to the back cover, so I was worried about touching the battery with anything, and I don’t have the tools (i.e. double-sided puffy tape) to be able to re-adhere the battery if I pulled it off). Definitely didn’t think that I’d be going in with baking soda and oil when I started the video rolling, but I had to go with it 🙂
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The pads are a nice idea, but they’re not positioned in a way that’s helpful to me at all. I’d like to see a future device where the entire back plate is coated with a thin soft-touch layer, like the lid of a ThinkPad.
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Ah, that’s a nice idea 🙂
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Thanks for the tips!
Like Scott said above, I would remove the back cover before going into the sticky and oily mess.
As well, I am not sure whether using nail-color-remover is a good idea for plastic ones: acetone is hard on plastics and some of these remover fluids are acetone-based. But maybe I am wrong.
I would go for your wife’s proposal: oil is a very useful solvent and helps removing these sticky adhesives.
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Good points, thanks ZeBug!
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Alright, you remember when I told you that Goo Gone, Goof Off, and WD-40 was a good thing to remove stickers from your SD Card? I didn’t mean for you to remove the rubber grips! If you’ve got problems with the pads, removing them isn’t a good idea!!! Clear silicon adhesive will work with minor damage. A full adhesive removal and replacement only works if you have a neoprene rubber replacement ready. Don’t be insipid!!!
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I was never a fan of the pads in the first place, so removing them was an improvement to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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The pads don’t really make it nicer to hold for me, but they do make it much nicer to set down on a table without it sliding all over or scratching up the back. While playing I just don’t really notice them, but I think the cutout area where they used to be would probably become a fidget point for my fingers and get really annoying.
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