Yes you can. Here is an iFixit page to replace the WiFi antenna: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+6+Wi-Fi+Antenna+Replacement/90315#s170552
Also here is a WiFi antenna on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Antenna-Signal-Ribbon-Replacement-Module/dp/B07BWD5N8Z/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543734241&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wifi+card+iphone+6&psc=1
your analysis is spot on for both, as both methods have pro's and con's. one of the reasons i went away from method 1 is because of the order of installation that you pointed out. even with the second, order can still be a bug-a-boo.
this is why i pointed out the repair guides at ifixit.com (when i discovered those guides, it was like "where have you been all my life??"). those guides give tear-down and re-build steps with pictures and with screw specs.
regarding sorting the screw sizes with the part, sometimes i just eyeball it, sometimes it's pretty clear, sometimes it's trial and error, but at most you're dealing with 5 screws, but at least you know those belong to that part. i actually did get a digital caliper/micrometer - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFFYCXS - mostly because i always wanted one, but differentiating iphone screws gave me a real justification. it's under $15 and i'm sure you'll find other uses for it around your home and/or shop.
here's my biggest problem with a mat, even a magnetic one - things fall off tables, stuff gets knocked around the work surface, magnetic mats aren't as strong as you might think and murphy and/or gravity will win more times that you'd like.
for the on-hand/immediate work, i'll use stainless steel sauce cups - like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XYZ6JWX - to hold screws and parts. if i will be stepping away for more than 5 minutes, i'll transfer every cup into a baggie and that goes into a bigger baggie associated with that particular phone. otherwise, all the parts and screws are organized and separated. i actually buy mine at a local restaurant supply store for around $0.35/each.
give the mat a shot. i've been-there-done-that. maybe you'll have better success with it than me. haven't learned the hard way, i swear by my cups and baggies (+ ifixit guides) process.
good luck to you and happy holidays
for stripped screws, except pentalobe, i have one of these which i use very carefully, but i've had decent success with it.
https://www.searshometownstores.com/product/Craftsman-52514-3-pc-ScrewOut-Damaged-Screw-Remover-Set
as far as starter tools go, this has served me very well
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DHV7RND
i do repair/rehabbing at a parts replacement level only. it's a hobby/side-hustle only. not enough to put my kids through college, but last year, it bought me a nice set of golf clubs.
like all business models, get your resources cheap (broken/salvage phones and parts) and get the best price you can for selling them, then managing/minimizing all the other costs - ebay is a great selling forum, but they take 12% as a seller's fee (cost of doing business). if you go at it for a while with minimal investment, and you can make a profit, then you might have something. if not, then it's just another money consuming hobby, but at least you'll have some skills, useful tools and maybe and extra phone or two out of it.
good luck to you
first remember the golden rule - the battery is the first disconnect and the last reconnect. you say you've done phone repairs before so you presumably know this, mostly saying out loud for other readers.
the home button is tricky but not difficult. the biggest issue with the 7/7+/8/8+ home buttons is that it's adhered to the backside of the screen display. you can use heat (hair dryer or heat gun, be careful with the latter) to loose the adhesive, but avoid direct heat on the home button flex cable. then i use a lab spatula (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D9L8BX1) to slide under the flex assembly and gently separate it from the display base. others suggest using an x-acto blade, but the risk of cutting into any part of the assembly is too great in my opinion. the lab spatula is thin, but the edges are blunt and there's no risk of cutting unless you use a very large amount of force at a bad angle.
when you attach the home button bracket, make sure you don't over-tighten the middle screw that actually attaches to the home button itself.
if you are doing this to keep the original home button with the original motherboard, everything should be fine.
good luck to you
Thank you for your answer. What equipment should I have if I did want to replace only the digitizer instead of the whole screen assembly? Would it be something like this? https://www.amazon.com/YaeCCC-Separator-Machine-Digitizer-Removal/dp/B0797PXR6W/ref=sr\_1\_3?keywords=Touch+Screen+Removal+Tool&qid=1648401929&sr=8-3
I use one very similar to this <strong>https://www.amazon.com/Homidic-Handheld-Electric-Portable-Embossing/dp/B07P5WFHJ7/ref=sr_1_30?crid=1HAL3KCS3FKTB&keywords=heat+gun&qid=1643128784&sprefix=heat+gun%2Caps%2C72&sr=8-30</strong>. It works well enough for screen replacements and loosening battery adhesive tabs that decide to break. There is no temperature control, and the first time you power it on you will smell the plastic nozzle heating up, but for the price and starting out with repairs its great.
Dremmel cut a line and turn out with a flat head
Superglue a Pentalope in the hole and turn
Get a rubber band and turn it through that
Buy some screw grab compound: https://www.amazon.com/Align-Rite-Screwgrab/dp/B0000DD2JZ
If all else fails then drill through the thread
that's not a simple question. it's like saying "what do i need to play golf?". it could be as simple as "golf clubs and balls" or the answer could be all the items, devices, gadgets, aids and accessories, all the way up to a powered golf cart and a trailer to transport it with.
what things do you think you'll need?
there are no "all-in-one" kits that will give you everything.
one of the key things to know is what level of repair work are you planning on doing?
a one-time on your current phone?
a hobby level or occasional repair?
a regular side gig?
a full time job?
or setting up a professional level shop?
lastly, are you the type of person who needs a specialized tool for every function?
for example - to heat areas of your phone to loosen the adhesive, you can use a heat gun or hair dryer, or you can buy an iOpener tool, or even make one with a sock and rice.
you definitely need a precision screwdriver kit with all the key bits - philips, tri-wing and pentalobe. i got one that has over 100 bits (lots of uses on stuff other than iphones), suction cups, spudgers and separators from amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DHV7RND) but there are plenty to choose from.
along with that, i have dental tools, tweezers and hemostats (which i already owned), a Milwaukee heat gun, a multi-positional alligator-clip stand to hold the screens upright while i work on the removing the flex cable plates (i don't use the alligator clip jaws to hold things, but the articulated armatures that support the clips - sure there are specific tools to do this, but i already had this on the bench).
i'd say that's the bare minimum.
sure you can get tools for every little form and function or you can make do with things you have. but the more phones you intend to work on, you may find that some of the tools that i'd call a luxury or optional, may actually be useful to you.
first i got this 130 piece precision tool kit (good for way more stuff that just iphoes)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DHV7RND/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
for heat, i have the heat gun i use with my shrink wrapper, but even a 1500 watt hair dryer will work, just takes a little longer.
regular suction cups that come free with parts (battery, screen, etc) will do fine, the tool kit as them. if you want to spend the $$ on a dual suction cup tool, that's up to you. i do fine without one.
used medical/dental tools come in very handy for various purposes.
beyond that your best bet is having a collection of parts, case assemblies and screens for diagnostics - cheaper than dedicated test equipment, unless you're looking to ramp up to a full pro shop very quickly.
do to it as a hobby or side hustle, it helps to have the parts that phones you repair are lacking. a good screen so you can check out a phone back when the customer's screen is shattered. a back case that you can drop in a mobo, speaker, charging port to test. ebay is a good place to get workable part that will be part of our test bench.
i've rehabbed over a dozen phones and the only "startup" materials i've bought is the screwdriver/toolkit.
good luck to you.
Thats first link i found after 3 seconds, not a word about iPhone 8 compatibility
i’d probably go with a different one, since that one has one star with 2 reviews, i usually just go for the top rated ones.
here’s one with 4 stars for a Black iPhone 8 (4.7) it’s on the US amazon tho
for iPhone 8 Screen Replacement LCD Display & Touch Screen Digitizer Replacement Full Assembly Set with 3D Touch and Free Tools (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBDVY45/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KOwICbDEXVHHX
That one will probably be great but if I’m spending already $15 for a one time use screw driver I’d rather double it and get this from ifixit.
Any cheaper alternatives to ifixit it or wiha?
(ifixit has the bit for $2.99 but shipping kills the deal)
Vastar 12 Pieces Cell Phone Repair Tool Kit for iPhone 4/ 4S/ 5/ 5C/ 5S/ 6/ 6 Plus/ 6S/ 7/ 7 Plus/ 8/ 8 Plus/ iPhone X/ iPad 4/ 3/ 2/ Mini, iPods and More with Vastar Cleaning Cloth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X60B0GY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NbcZAbQA8XP9Z