hinge is about to crack , options? ( Not repairing coz I suck at it )

[distant nest]

Hi guys I have bought this Nintendo 3DS LL around 5 months ago, and just today I noticed that there is a hairline crack on the hinge of it. It is the right hinge. So I searched the internet and mostly people were suggesting to Shell swap it, I tried asking a repair shop but they declined the work saying that it was complicated. I saw some videos and knowing how I but I am with repairs I don't want to risk the console. So

So I have decided that this council can probably stay in my room away from other people in one position ( I really like to play it in the second clic ) maybe when the crack gets worse I will have to duct tape it and stay in that same position so it won't further damage. Is my plan correct? Or let's say a possible solution? Cuz I have not seen many people sharing their experiences using duct tape and leaving it in one position

Meanwhile I also used some fabric and using a double sided tape I placed one side on a black fabric and the other side I stuck it on the hinge. Will that work? Or did I make my case worse?

[hoary vessel]

it’s easy to do a shell swap if you are careful, you can find them on ebay and tutorials on ifixit.com

[chilly pelican]

Nintendo has 15% of parts left u might be able to repair

[hoary vessel]

don’t repair with nintendo. o sent my 3ds with slight homebrew remansnts nd the broke it even more and wiped the whole thing clean

[chilly pelican]

Don't repair with nintendo i sent my 3ds with slight homebrew reminisces and they broke it even more and wiped the whole thing clean

Is that what ur saying?

[proud totem]

Its not easy to do a shell swap

[proud totem]

Youre not supposed to send a hacked console to nintendo

[hoary vessel]

i didn’t know it was homebrewed, i bought it used and they said they removed cfw

[hoary vessel]

it’s pretty easy ngl

[proud totem]

It definitely isnt. Difficulty can be subjective but a midframe replacement/shell swap requires pretty much a full disassembly. Calling it easy is very deceptive.

[hoary vessel]

sorry

[distant nest]

So an update in this thread for future people my hinge finally cracked but since the double-sided tape with the fabric was stuck there it has not lifted up and it is in a clear case with hinges and I have decided I won't open it or close it. I leave it in a drawer and play it at home only and it is been holding well. I just couldn't make myself do a shell swap because I really really am bad with electronics.