What I learned this weekend:
When disassembling a 3rd-generation iPod Nano for use in a homebrew marriage of iPod and amplifier...
...do NOT try to separate the logic board from the battery shield. I either torqued and damaged the logic board attempting this, or (more likely) it's an Apple design feature that the logic board be in contact with the shield for grounding or some such.
A better approach may* be to remove the battery from the shield, and Dremel the shield down a less-unwieldy size. Unless of course, there's some other Apple design feature that wants the battery in direct contact with the shield too... (note, I'm mounting this in a "heatsink" case, so I don't lack for places to mount the battery to deal with heat dissipation, once separate from the shield). Back to the intartubez for another broken iPod, I suppose.
*I have not actually tested this "better approach", so it's only potentially better at the moment.
