this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2025
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Does anyone have any advice on how to make homemade conductive paint to fix a cracked carbon trace in a game controller? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by over_clox@lemmy.world to c/askelectronics@discuss.tchncs.de
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It's the trace going towards the mode button, so I'm pretty sure resistance won't exactly be critical over a ~3mm gap, as long as it recognizes when the plunger button is pressed down.

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[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I'm actually considering using a short piece of patch wire and tacking the ends down with Pepto Bismol, which is partly conductive and will dry similar to a paint, but I dunno if the acid in Pepto Bismol might cause any long term board damage, or if it'll even be conductive enough after it dries.

Right now I have a test sample card with a line of Pepto Bismol drying out to test with my multimeter later. However that experiment goes might just only add up to a curiosity though, I'm sure there's gotta be a better way to make more proper conductive paint, and I'm totally open to ideas.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

If you have most of the equipment, why not get a soldering gun instead of using pepto bismol? Seems like a creative solution but I don't think it will hold up to vibrations or even regular use.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

You can't solder to a carbon trace, this ain't the copper layer.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Update: Nope, Pepto Bismol is useless as any sort of substitute for conductive paint.

Yes, Pepto contains bismuth, a conductive metal. But it also contains some mild acid and whatever other ingredients too.

While still wet, it's lightly conductive, but once it dries, it's about as good as an insulator.