Thinkpads Forum

I have a 6-month old X220 and a brand new X230, and the rubber feet on the computer and battery are sticking to wood surfaces. It's so bad that the finish is coming off the wood when the computer is lifted up. I have also experienced this on leather surfaces. After about a hour, the feet are "glued" to the surface.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and found a solution (other than putting felt pads on the feet)?

Yes. I put sheet of A4 tractor-feed paper between the X220 dock and wooden table desk.

I've been using a X220 for the past week and have noticed the same thing, I'm not really sure what to do about it... I never thought I'd complain that a laptop's feet would be too grippy.

I am not pleased with the damage that the rubber feet have done to my desks. Two desks now need to be refinished due to crappy rubber feet on computer. The expense and inconvenience has left me furious.

JPOESQ wrote:I am not pleased with the damage that the rubber feet have done to my desks. Two desks now need to be refinished due to crappy rubber feet on computer. The expense and inconvenience has left me furious.

Try just applying some oil the areas in question. I have had this happen to some Teak furniture with my HP notebooks and just applying a bit of oil and smoothing it out fixed the areas. It doesn't really damage the wood in my experience, just pulls the oil out of it.

I guess the new Thinkpad feet are starting to do this, my T410 doesn't.

Thank you Brian; I appreciate the tip. Unfortunately, in my situation the finish has been completed pulled up so there are now depressions where the feet rested. On one desk, the veneer was ripped off with the feet. The feet are sticking to leather as well - I have a desk with a leather inlay that is being pulled up.

Unfortunately, the damage is done. Now I'm placing a cloth under the computer, but one shouldn't have to protect surfaces from the rubber feet. Grrr.

JPOESQ wrote:Thank you Brian; I appreciate the tip. Unfortunately, in my situation the finish has been completed pulled up so there are now depressions where the feet rested. On one desk, the veneer was ripped off with the feet. The feet are sticking to leather as well - I have a desk with a leather inlay that is being pulled up.

Unfortunately, the damage is done. Now I'm placing a cloth under the computer, but one shouldn't have to protect surfaces from the rubber feet. Grrr.

Wow never would have guessed it would do that

Why not cut some clear tape to fit over the feet?
Its caused by low quality rubber and/or over application of glue to the feet. The heat is causing the feet to bond to other surfaces effectively bonding your case with the other surface. As you rip it out the side with the weaker but not weak bond is tearing the softer (leather inlay also glued onto wood or steel) surface.
This suggests a defect in design on Lenovo's part and I would consider a warranty claim along with small claims court assuming your desk is expensive.

I've experienced this, but not with a laptop (not my T61, for sure).

Does it get worse when the laptop runs hot, or is it the same all the time? If the latter, and if you decide on keeping the TP, I'd actually remove all of the feet and buy aftermarket feet for it (placed unobtrusively to any dock). I'd do the same to the dock, and perhaps just the dock, if you usually use it docked, and the same issues exists on it.

Lastly, whether or not you replace the feet, a cooling mat might be a wise purchase. I've never seen such grippy feet on the bottom of those, and they will protect any surface from the TP feet while keeping it cool (heat builds up more docked anyhow).