Auctioning this on ebay for a charity I like - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134975046514

I had to replace the top screen on my ds lite and I remember rolling the ribbon cable in the hinge and thinking how the employees must have been professional cigarette rollers in the factory.

20:33 "What's the harm eh?" So I know this was a rhetorical question and you weren't specifically asking for criticism, but in the interest of educating everyone and to help maintain the longevity of consoles everywhere I wanted to offer this tidbit that I've found most people aren't aware of. Love the channel BTW, that Pokedex shell kicks ass. Many switches and pots have a lubricant inside applied at the factory. Flooding them with alcohol washes away the lubricant, causing friction wear to occur faster. Not all switches and pots are lubed, and I don't know if the nintendo ones specifically are or not, but it's usually best practice to either; only clean pots and switches that have demonstrated malfunction, or after cleaning them, add an electronic lube like Deoxit fader grease that's easily applied with a syringe, or F5 spray lube, that I would spray into another container and use a dropper to dispense. Absolute best practice would definitely be to clean and re-lube everything, but it's being pretty nitpicky and it's often not necessary to keep a console working. Stylus sheath is a good term. Love it.

30:30 the directional pad and buttons from the original shell are made to a different thickness then the replacement once and the shell is made to the replacement buttons and directional pad thickness so the ds lite is not wanting to be seated flush with the bottom shell do to the to thick buttons and directional pad. I hope this helps clear any confusion everyone is wondering about.

Honestly, stylus sheath is probably the best name I’ve ever heard somebody call that so now I will always call it a stylish sheath

I gotta say, it's impressive just how cheap the DS Lite was considering how much seems to be packed into it. And I know with mine I had put in several thousands of hours and its hinge never became loose, the screens always looked nice, everything just worked. I'm fairly confident I put even more time into it than I did my Game Boy Pocket.

Man this had main channel potential for sure!!

26:33 that little sticker thing is to connect the cartridge slot to ground on the pcb. without that metal covered sticker there would be one more wire that you'd have to run from the pcb over to that bottom cover.

That's so sad about the shell not sitting flush when closed. It's such an awesome looking piece. Regardless, I enjoyed watching the video. These long form repair/mod videos are what made me sub to you in the first place. :)

Stylus sheath is such a good name that I have completely forgotten what I used to call it

Hey Elliot, thanks for this. I’ve had a real busy and stressful day. Had to wake up early, go through a long school day, and go to a 4-hour baseball practice. It was great to finally get to relax for half an hour and watch what you do before I need to get back to more work. I have a whole essay for an AP class due tomorrow, and I have to do the whole thing tonight (even though it’s a “group” research project you know how those things usually go). Thank you so much for giving me a chance to calm down and take a break from my busy day. Also I absolutely love the DS lite. It was my first console and now that I’m older I love taking it apart. I wish I could have had a guide as detailed as this when I started. I have a couple the DS lite motherboards that I try to use for experimenting with technology and stuff like that (I plan on going college for computer science and electrical engineering mainly because your videos got me hooked on tech), and I have some DSes that my siblings and I use. One thing to note is that the DS lite only needs the battery to boot. As far as I can tell even a dead one works too. As long as you have the board plugged in you can just hook up the battery then take it out as soon as it turns on. It makes the DS easier to test, so I hope that would be helpful to you sometime in the future. And as far as I can tell, that little thing under the stylus sheath and the sticky bit on the GBA slot’s cartridge shield do absolutely nothing. Sorry, that’s a lot to read, but thank you so much Elliot!

i actually just did this shell swap from this company, i got the Japanese Famicom one and RIGHT AT THE END literally last screw i put maybe 2% more torque than usual cause the bottom shell wasn't seated properly and i stripped the threads on the shell, So for anyone that does this just make sure that it all seats properly before trying to screw the back on!! Solid Video Elliot! Killing it as always!!

These custom off brand shells are so cool, I love it when I stumble upon a cool one once in a while

Thank you so much for the video! A few months back I brought back my old DS Lite from my parents place with the intent to repair it. I got it used from ebay many years ago and it lasted me only like 2 or 3 months because it too had been shell swapped but the previous owner just violently shoved the screen ribbon cable through the hinge, crumpling it all up and so the screen would just die on me. Now with this video I'm feeling ever more confident in repairing this little guy some time in the future with a new shell and screen :) Glory to the stylus sheath!

I did one of these a few days ago! On their website, the buttons are supposed to be white face buttons, blue start and select, black d-pad and red shoulder and power/volume switch. They work well enough and look good in that color combo. Also they use the white top screen bezel as well. Nice look with the originals though! Also mine closes fine? Not sure if it was because I got it from ExtremeRate on Amazon rather than AliExpress. I've also done one of their clear shells too!

2:13 Just some advice for anyone dealing with any type of proprietary screws a flathead small enough usually works if you wedge it in there

These longer style videos are my absolute favorite from you. Cheers mate, stay well

This is like having a nightmare but you are awake and on youtube. Amazing tutorial, taking nothing away from you but what the heck were they thinking

I did a shell swap on the original ds. Fun to do. I have a ds lite that is on the brink of a hinge breaking. Thank you for this video. Love the content.

Stylus Sheath : "Because you told me too!"

It’s crazy you posted this after I failed my ds shell swap last night 😂. I actually got through the ribbon cable part no problem but I ended up destroying the digitizer trying to take the bezel off

Appreciate the more in-depth guide to re-shelling the DS Lite. Hope the next time I try this I won't have to resort to using an official shell piece alongside the new shell when putting it together

I do love that you picked the red stylus sheath, but I think the black would have worked great too. A small bit of hair dryer heat might help straighten that lid, but obviously it would have to come back apart.

Yay! Something to watch at work!

I finally got this shell delivered today! And it turned out so beautiful man I love it, thankfully i got some experience with ds lites but your video still helped a lot here and there. But now i honestly don't know what to do with it i got way to many handhelds so i'm probably never gonna play it, I'm not sure if i should sell it because i am kinda proud about how amazing it turned out

This is the video I needed, I found a broken DS Lite and I've to change the shell (and probably the motherboard) hearing that your first time doing this was when you were a kid gives me enought confidence to not fuck it up

Wow cool find! I'm genuinely curious to see your daily shopping activity 😅

Edit: Just saw the ending, and want to say my replacement shell has this exact problem in regards to closing. Lot's of DS Lite third party shells are faulty in some way or another. This problem was just visual, but as I described below they may also have defects which can cause damage. Try to get an original shell from a defective unit if you can! Idunno about the difficulty of this. It was my very first mod and it basically gave me experience with every type of component challenge (except soldering thank god) in a noob friendly way. Yes the ribbon cable is fragile and the rubber screw covers can get damaged, but you've gotta learn to handle those if you want to start modding any handheld. The ones in the DS Lite are not the most fragile in the world. It's for sure easier than the 3DS or a joycon, and good practice if you want to work on those. The only problem I had was that my replacement shell was absolute garbage (even when i bought it from Zedlabs) and closing it cracked the EM-10 filter on the motherboard (a little plastic square next to the battery housing was just a little off). If the shell you've bought is good (or even better, from a defective DS lite) I think this is actually very good first/second build. And most importantly, a DS lite is a lot cheaper to replace than a GBA if you've screwed it up!

From "i don't mind if you call it that" to "if you're watching this video you must now call it a stylist sheath" lmaooo, also keep this type of shi up, we love it!!

Cool re-shell! I really like the Stylus sheath, it really suits the mod 🙂

Hey Elliot, groovy job aligning the stylus sheath! Sorry about the top half bend. I don't usually ask the following because it's probably irrelevant, but if you or any other commenter might know I'd appreciate it. I'm looking for a KZfaq tech restoration/repair channel I used to watch but forgot to bookmark and KZfaq nuked my watch and like history from far enough back that I can't search my own history for it and I want to start watching his videos again. I distinctly remember the guy favored a TS-100/TS-101 soldering iron, has a Canadian or Midwestern/North-midwestern American accent/dialect (like Chicagoan, Wisconsin, or Michigan region), and has definitely done repairs on consoles like the Sega Master System (though KZfaq searching has been abysmal for trying to find these videos on keyword searching alone).

I could imagine an anime character, drawing their sword, but instead of a sword it’s a stylus because stylus sheath

This is amazing tutorial, despite me not owning DS, I really love detailed and well explained tutorials about modifying HW.

I'm really glad you go with the original Buttons. It just looks so nice! The black and red looks really good. Maybe to go with the OG Pokédex Style they could have added green and yellow buttons. It's just really sad that it doesn't close properly.

The ✨Stylus Sheath✨ my favorite line

Happy to watch the Stylus Samurai installing his Stylus Sheath. Great video!

In the realm of modern artifacts, akin to the fantastical creations of Middle-Earth, there lies the "Stylus Sheath," a slender and mystical dwelling crafted with the precision of Elven smiths. Resembling the scabbards of elvish blades, this sheath, no more than a few inches long, is a narrow, elongated cavity, seamlessly integrated into the side of a magical tablet known to some as the "Nintendo DS Lite." Its surface, smooth and unassuming, is imbued with the subtle artistry of the dwarves, featuring gentle curves and an elegance that belies its mundane purpose. This sheath, a guardian of sorts, holds within its confines a slender wand, a "stylus," with the grace of a wizard's staff. It is a tool of interaction between realms, a bridge between the world of mortals and the digital lands that lie within the tablet. The sheath's design is deceptively simple yet functional, allowing the stylus to slide in and out with ease, much like the swords of Gondorian knights into their sheaths. In color, it often matches the hue of its host device, ranging from the deep blacks of Mordor to the silvery whites reminiscent of the walls of Minas Tirith. This unification of color creates an aesthetic harmony, making the sheath not just a holder, but an integral part of the tablet's mystical allure. In essence, the Stylus Sheath, though a small and often overlooked part of this modern-day artifact, carries with it the elegance and mystique of the legendary crafts seen in the tales of Middle-Earth.

Brings back memories of the indigo league anime, great job!

The first mod that I did was on a DSi XL. I've always wanted a yellow DSi XL since yellow is my favorite color and i saw a picture of a yellow DSi XL. After doing some research, I found out that the yellow DSi XL never came out in the US and so I bought a Japanese Yellow DSi LL (XL) on eBay. I had a different DSi XL and so I took out the USA mainboard and then took out the Japanese mainboard and replaced it with the USA mainboard. because I was only messing with the mainboard and not the other boards and the top screen, the whole process was basically just unscrewing screws and unplugging ribbon cables which was fairly easy.

Pouring IPA into the lid *directly above the screen* sent my heart racing. I recommend not doing that-speaking from experience. There *are* places isopropyl can't evaporate from. Also, regarding the bowed top shell, try loosening and re-tightening the top shell screws! You can easily trap tension in the multilayered plastic sandwich.

Watched this and had to do it myself. I'd never done any mods on anything at all before, and thanks to the video it went pretty great! I did however break the digitizer clip on a motherboard, and ripped the digitizer off of the ribbon cable because I thought it was a screen protector. At least I bought two DS lites to do this, I knew I'd break some stuff on my first go.

Stylus sheath is honestly the best name you coulda called it and I have no idea what other name it could possibly have

I really enjoyed the STYLUS SHEATH

Anyone else have those permo-raised bumps on their DS Lite inner casing from overtightening the internal screws when reassembling back in the day? Or considering becoming an hero over the R and L springs? Ahhh, good old days.

bowing top is a common problem with aftermarket shells. Bought a black aftermarket shell and that has exactly the same problem of the screen not closibg all the way because it is bowed

Man I can’t wait to start rewatching videos of yours like this once I graduate and find cheap consoles to reshell and personalise

I dont no why this is the most complicated things that i see instead my math teacher but i enjoy this one better

I’ve found if you use a heat gun on the back and set something sort of heavy on it, it can help with the warped shell

Stylus Sheath : "Because you told me too!" Amazing work Elliot!

Why Nintendo didn’t do this to begin with is beyond me. You successfully made something I would’ve been hyped to get on my birthday years ago.

Massage the top housing by twisting it back and forth gently and eventually it sits flush. It’s because of the four screws that pull the front back and make it bow up.

Fair warning when it comes to extreme rate shells, they’re great quality for a reshell but I don’t recommend setting the white wire (the mic) below the board like you normally would, twice I’ve had to put it under the ds cartridge just like the black wire (antenna) because the wire makes it just thick enough to not seat the mobo properly and due to that the shell won’t properly close and trying to force it will break the lcd.

Stylus sheath really is a good name, It's like a katana for ur ds

i did an ExtremeRate shell swap for my DS lite recently and I went with their chameleon purple blue shell + black buttons and it turned out SUPER NICE. It's not perfect which was be expected with 3rd party stuff, but it looks and feels super high quality.

The stylist sheath is great

You should put like “complete ds lite teardown” or something in the title! Because this video is just such a good general tutorial as well :)

Elliot is the King of the Stylus Sheath! Your videos always brighten my day. Thank you for your wit and your overall passion for gameboys and modding!

Custom shells can be cool, I might get some eventually. I did a shell swap once, taking the internals out of a broken shell and putting them into a good OEM shell that had broken internals. Hardest part is definitely getting those wires back through the hinge, and that is even harder to do on DSi and 3DS consoles because there are more wires.

I never had the patience or hand coordination to do these breakdowns of these handhelds. Replaced my Switch screen without all the tools on hand, because I tried to do a shell swap only to rip a cable to the screen and had to wait 2 weeks for a replacement. put it all together but now I see little particles of debris between the screens.

Honestly what I struggled with the most when reshelling my DS lite was the volume and power button lining up and also the shoulder buttons randomly trying to fly off my desk when I messed up. Also if you are doing an after market shell, always shave down the corner of the battery compartment nearest to the charging port. Lots of EM 10 filters lost from that corner.

Even for me, who repairs DS Lites for three years now, this is still entertaining. My first mod was on a GBA. Thanks to your videos, which made me want to do the mod.

I love that taking apart a ds reminds you of your mortality

Edit: Stylus sheath. My first ever repair was replacing my white DS Lite's top screen. The hinge and top screen broke. I did it over 10-15 years ago following a guide. This video is way easier to follow. Sadly I lost that DS 😢.

Just did this to a DS that this video made me buy and it went super well, no cover bow. I don't know if this apparent manufacturing issue was solved by ExtremeRate in the meantime (it has been out of stock, so they might have had an opportunity to review this) or if I was just lucky. Small piece of advice - the original screw of the Gameboy cartridge cover poked a small bump on the opposite side of its shell, it seems that the screws provided by ExtremeRate are ever so slightly smaller, so you should use them. But, also from my experience, the heads of these screws seem easier to strip, so beware (make sure you have the proper size screwdriver, ideally one better than the one provided)

There totally does seem to be a bit of bowing in the plastic. Might be worth going back over some of the screws and making sure they’re not over-tightened, which can cause them to slightly warp plastic housings. Unfortunately as we know, AliExpress deals mainly in low prices and not the highest quality. Still a lovely build though, great vid!

The screen potentially isn't laying flat as the genuine buttons/dpad are probably slightly taller than the cheap aftermarket ones. Also the genuine membrane being thicker too could be causing the dpad to sit taller.

Man, the algorithm was spot on with this one. I was just thinking about doing something like this!

Super cool DS Case! Truly inspired design. You are now obligated to play all Pokémon games on this thing. Love it sincerely. Undeniably this is fantastic background viewing. Sorry for the disjointed message just have a lot to get out. So chances are you suspect there's a hidden message here. Hate to say it but if there is I'm not gonna give any hints. Even if you ask nicely. Anyway I'm running outta things to say. Thanks for reading this. Hope you have a fantastic day. ❤

I just have a pokedex skin on my 3ds xl. It takes just a minute to install and looks great. It's definitely not as great as a full pokedex shell, but it saves me a ton of time and hard work. I'm sad that I could not find a good DSi pokedex skin, because that would fit so perfectly because it has an actual camera like a pokedex has.

Stylus Sheath. I love your content. Always hands-on and extremely detailed.

That actually doesnt bug me that mutch, the ds is beautifull

Stylus Sheath! Btw good job on the shell swap, you made it look so easy! I myself opened a NDSL before and it does not ends very well 😅 so yea good job!

'Stylus sheath' New phrase of the week haha

Stylus sheath! “If you wanna call it that, I don’t really mind”😂

The interior of the top half of that Pokédex kinda reminds me of a Game and Watch. Sucks about the top being bent (cuz that Pokédex shell looks *AMAZING*), but I think that's just a common occurrence even with the stock factory shells - my DSlite has that issue to a degree, as does my N2DSXL.

stylus sheath sounds like i’m about to whip out a katana and fight someone but with a nintendo stylus 😂

such a good reference video for anyone fixing stuff on their DS lite in general

I had an anxiety attack watching you do this. Major kudos, brother, I could never do this with any amount of confidence, let alone as well as you do. Also, stylus sheathe.

A lil piece of advice for anyone shell swapping. There's no need to disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the touch screen because it's small putting it back in Is just a pain and can get by without removing it. Also since the ribbon cable is so small it's also very delicate

I had the same issue when I went and restored / customized my childhood DS Lite last summer. I guess it is one of the cons of buying an aftermarket shell. Oh and I definitely think it should be called “ stylus sheath “.

I just seen these kits on Amazon I think I’m gna pick one up and give some life to my old NDSL. it’ll be a nice project to sit down with

Pretty sure that small bit on top of the stylus sheath is a latch that locks the stylus in so it doesn't just randomly fall out

For the antenna connector tie thread to it before you remove it then leave the thread through the hole then untie. Do swap then re-tie thread and pull back through 👍

It's a *stylus condom.* It's there keep all your hand schmutz that's on your stylus from infecting the motherboard and protect the intricate components from getting damaged by allowing smooth entry whenever you jam in the stylus too hard.

You did just an excellent job finessing the stylus sheath. Bravo!

Stylus sheath is best name for it. Also a nice way to get the top screen to lay flat, you could try using yarn to tie it down and leave it tied down for a month to give it new shape.

That black antennae wire has been the bane of my life 😂, but perseverance has paid off as it's gotten easier

0:50 i would not advice starting with the ds lite. Me who broke like 5 ds lites before i learned how to properly work on them. Jokes aside, ds lites have become my bread and butter so see that extremerate is making ds lite shells gives me hope to actually start making and selling some of these ds lites i have lying around in parts.

im not convinced that part had a name before now so stylus sheath it is then, gets the point across with no room for confusion

the mate finish reminds me of the first Nintendo DS, a friend had the red one and what a beautiful machine

i love this case

Man, thing looks epic!

Loving the name Stylus sheath. Great informative Video. I thought i ruined one of my DS lites trying to change shells but seeing this gives me confidence i can salvage it.

cool project! my favorite part was the stylus sheath one, cheers

Stylus sheath has entered the lexicon

I think the OEM buttons may be the reason why the shell won't close. Maybe they are slightly different in height when compared to the aftermarket.

Never really had to call it anything but stylus sheathe is now forever embedded in my brain.

i'd like to see this design for a gba sp, i think a red gba sp with the pokedex design would look so clean

Stylus sheath is what I'll call it from now on thanks to you.

I wish extreme rate would come out with shells for more consoles, they have the best quality for the best price