August 2005
By
Subscription Only
Published
by Dave’s Repair Service, All Rights Reserved
***************************************
In this issue:
1) Cool Tool Dept: Upholstery Foam for Over-Range
Microwaves
2) Time to Lube Your
Refrigerator Door Seals Again!
1) Here's
the easiest way I've ever found to remove or lower OTR (over-the-range) microwave ovens
for service.
After struggling with other
methods, including 'grunt and try to lift it yourself' (then
take pain relievers for your back for 2 weeks), and hiring a helper (when one can be found I've found this
solution, and it's been simply elegant!
To be honest, it wasn't my
idea (have you ever had a truly original idea? I've built so much on
what others who've preceded me have done, I really have to
wonder. But enough philosophy. That's
about as deep as I get; back to
microwaves...)
Someone at Whirlpool came up
with this back when we were busily pulling their
units for their 'big recall' a few years ago. I've been using it
ever since, and been really pleased with the results. On the
Whirlpool-built units, you can remove the entire cabinet, using a stubby
screwdriver, without unhooking the unit from the
wall!
Visit your friendly
neighborhood upholstery company, and buy several pieces of high
density upholstery foam. The kind they use in sofas, easy
chairs, etc. It's not cheap (but neither is back surgery!) although
some companies may be willing to let smaller pieces go at very
little cost.
I use three 4'' thick pieces,
each 16'' by 24'', and they work perfectly for me, but
smaller, odd-sized ones probably would too.
I also carry a 22'' by 24''
piece of heavy cardboard, scored and folded in the middle, to
place on glass range tops under the foam. That's probably not
necessary, but I've always been paranoid around expensive glass
(probably comes from some unpleasant childhood experiences - you
don't want to know! <grin>).
This whole package carries
nicely in an 18'' plastic milk crate, which also happens to be the
perfect size to flip upside-down and stand on to do the work
(without having to pay a helper!).
You'll normally stack 2 or 3
pieces of foam, depending on the height of the microwave.
Remove the large bolts that anchor the unit to the overhead
cabinet, and carefully tip it down onto the foam (some units also
have a safety latch you pull to unhook from the wall mounting
plate).
If you need to remove it
completely, just unhook the back from the wall plate, and let it
settle onto the foam. Makes it much easier to reinstall, too.
Just rest it on the foam, tip it up and hook the back, and pivot the
front up into place. Very nice, and no embarrassing
grunting.
If any of you guys have found
other uses for this handy foam, please let me know. It lasts
a long time, and has been a super tool for this job, but I know
there must be other uses...
2) If you've been getting
the DRSNews very long, you know that every year about this time, I remind you
to do something that will save you a bunch of money on
refrigerator service.
And it's that
time again!
If
you want to avoid ever replacing your refrigerator door seals (or
entire door assemblies on newer ones!), grab the Vaseline(tm) and
click over to this article:
http://www.DavesRepair.com/DIYhelp/DIYrefseallube.htm
***
Thanks once again for inviting me into your inbox!
As always, if you have any topics you’d like to see discussed in an online article, let me know and I’ll do my best to oblige. And
don't forget those testimonials! Many thanks if you've already sent yours in! I'm posting them just as fast as I can!
God
bless you and yours,
Dave Harnish
Dave’s Repair Service
New Albany, PA
drs@sosbbs.com
www.DavesRepair.com
Growing
Old is Natural. Growing
Up is Optional.
Laughing
at Yourself is Therapeutic!
Proverbs 17:22