Old and new, and This is why we don\'t toss out broken microwaves:...

[micky]

More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

Good, the door is much easier to see through. I can actually see what\'s
going on, if it\'s bubbling or not.

The light bulb costs iirc 15 to 20 dollars. It\'s a whole assembly, and
since I don\'t want to keep the thing in parts for a week, I\'ll probably
give in and buy it in advance, instead of trying to replace the broken
bulb (which they don\'t want you to do. Maybe you can\'t even get a
matching bulb.) But all this is for years from now if/when the bulb
burns out.


Meanwhile I came across a video of what to do with the old microwave.

Take my word, you will like this, or at least within a few minutes
you\'ll know it\'s not your style, and I think you\'ll like it more if you
watch it like I did, not knowing where he\'s going, so here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2UfglFeOH8
This Is Why We Don’t Toss Out Broken Microwaves | Remake Projects
Totally Handy
1.37M subscribers

M is for million?

If you really want to know what it\'s about before you watch it, scroll
down until you see the abridged version (without video).





























Take out the power transformer, cut off one end of the secondary
winding. Punch the remainder of the winding through to the other side,
leaving an open area as big as the winding had been. Take some heavy
gauge wire. He didnn\'t say the gauge but the copper was about 1/2\" in
diameter. Loop it into the open space until it\'s full, 3 loops, and
then he attaches 2 different things to the ends of the two wires. One
is a cute curvy thing made with wire something like a thick wire hanger.
He turns it on, it gets red hot, and he burns it into the car bumper
cover he is repairing, to splice one side of a cut to the other. He also
uses it to burn decorations into wood.

Then he toook another transformer, did the new secondary the same way,
and connected its wires to thick, pointed but short metal \"probes\" he
made, mounted on arms, one fixed and one that moved up and down, with
enough reach to allow one to slide sheet metal between them, and he had
a spot welder for sheet metal. Worked very well.

Ah, it was easy to find. I just opened Firefox History and then
searched on youtube, and it was about 20 lines down.

This is why we don\'t toss out broken microwaves:

 

[Rob H]

On 25/02/2023 07:23, micky wrote:

More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

Good, the door is much easier to see through. I can actually see what\'s
going on, if it\'s bubbling or not.

The light bulb costs iirc 15 to 20 dollars. It\'s a whole assembly, and
since I don\'t want to keep the thing in parts for a week, I\'ll probably
give in and buy it in advance, instead of trying to replace the broken
bulb (which they don\'t want you to do. Maybe you can\'t even get a
matching bulb.) But all this is for years from now if/when the bulb
burns out.


Meanwhile I came across a video of what to do with the old microwave.

Take my word, you will like this, or at least within a few minutes
you\'ll know it\'s not your style, and I think you\'ll like it more if you
watch it like I did, not knowing where he\'s going, so here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2UfglFeOH8
This Is Why We Don’t Toss Out Broken Microwaves | Remake Projects
Totally Handy
1.37M subscribers

M is for million?

If you really want to know what it\'s about before you watch it, scroll
down until you see the abridged version (without video).





























Take out the power transformer, cut off one end of the secondary
winding. Punch the remainder of the winding through to the other side,
leaving an open area as big as the winding had been. Take some heavy
gauge wire. He didnn\'t say the gauge but the copper was about 1/2\" in
diameter. Loop it into the open space until it\'s full, 3 loops, and
then he attaches 2 different things to the ends of the two wires. One
is a cute curvy thing made with wire something like a thick wire hanger.
He turns it on, it gets red hot, and he burns it into the car bumper
cover he is repairing, to splice one side of a cut to the other. He also
uses it to burn decorations into wood.

Then he toook another transformer, did the new secondary the same way,
and connected its wires to thick, pointed but short metal \"probes\" he
made, mounted on arms, one fixed and one that moved up and down, with
enough reach to allow one to slide sheet metal between them, and he had
a spot welder for sheet metal. Worked very well.

Ah, it was easy to find. I just opened Firefox History and then
searched on youtube, and it was about 20 lines down.

This is why we don\'t toss out broken microwaves:

Yea, like most people has a lathe, a welder machine and cutting discs.

 

[alan_m]

On 25/02/2023 07:33, Rob H wrote:

Yea, like most people has a lathe, a welder machine and cutting discs.

Like a lot of Youtube videos titled something like \"DIY - make this
useful widget in 15 minutes\"

They often start off with manufacturing something with simple hand tools
but then quickly progress to machines or tools that a large engineering
company would be proud to own.

It appears that in the USA anyone that does DIY has a fully equipped
workshop in a workspace the size of a large barn.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

 

[Brian Gaff]

That seems a little bit niche, and rather a big lump to lug around to me.
I would say that it might be better to remove the transformer, and put it
in its own box and do it that way. Another use for them, according to an
electronics buff, is to liberate a couple and wire them in such a way that
you can get enough voltage after rectification and smoothing, to allow some
of the power valves often on the market cheaply and used in RF
amplification for up to 10 kw, but normally in this country at 400 wats, as
its cheaper than getting the main transformer replaced. I doubt it looks
very nice though.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
\"micky\" <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote in message
news:e2bjvhljv5jbpcbcp6niddr3kebcuj87u4@4ax.com...

More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

Good, the door is much easier to see through. I can actually see what\'s
going on, if it\'s bubbling or not.

The light bulb costs iirc 15 to 20 dollars. It\'s a whole assembly, and
since I don\'t want to keep the thing in parts for a week, I\'ll probably
give in and buy it in advance, instead of trying to replace the broken
bulb (which they don\'t want you to do. Maybe you can\'t even get a
matching bulb.) But all this is for years from now if/when the bulb
burns out.


Meanwhile I came across a video of what to do with the old microwave.

Take my word, you will like this, or at least within a few minutes
you\'ll know it\'s not your style, and I think you\'ll like it more if you
watch it like I did, not knowing where he\'s going, so here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2UfglFeOH8
This Is Why We Don\'t Toss Out Broken Microwaves | Remake Projects
Totally Handy
1.37M subscribers

M is for million?

If you really want to know what it\'s about before you watch it, scroll
down until you see the abridged version (without video).





























Take out the power transformer, cut off one end of the secondary
winding. Punch the remainder of the winding through to the other side,
leaving an open area as big as the winding had been. Take some heavy
gauge wire. He didnn\'t say the gauge but the copper was about 1/2\" in
diameter. Loop it into the open space until it\'s full, 3 loops, and
then he attaches 2 different things to the ends of the two wires. One
is a cute curvy thing made with wire something like a thick wire hanger.
He turns it on, it gets red hot, and he burns it into the car bumper
cover he is repairing, to splice one side of a cut to the other. He also
uses it to burn decorations into wood.

Then he toook another transformer, did the new secondary the same way,
and connected its wires to thick, pointed but short metal \"probes\" he
made, mounted on arms, one fixed and one that moved up and down, with
enough reach to allow one to slide sheet metal between them, and he had
a spot welder for sheet metal. Worked very well.

Ah, it was easy to find. I just opened Firefox History and then
searched on youtube, and it was about 20 lines down.

This is why we don\'t toss out broken microwaves:

 

[Max Demian]

On 25/02/2023 07:23, micky wrote:

More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

Good, the door is much easier to see through. I can actually see what\'s
going on, if it\'s bubbling or not.

The light bulb costs iirc 15 to 20 dollars. It\'s a whole assembly, and
since I don\'t want to keep the thing in parts for a week, I\'ll probably
give in and buy it in advance, instead of trying to replace the broken
bulb (which they don\'t want you to do. Maybe you can\'t even get a
matching bulb.) But all this is for years from now if/when the bulb
burns out.

The lamp on mine is behind one of the internal grills and looks as if
the whole thing would have to be disassembled to replace. It hasn\'t so
far, and I imagine it could be dangerous to take it apart, with high
voltages being retained.

Someone *did* throw out a microwave near where I live, so I retrieved
the turntable and roller guide in case I break mine, as they charge
about £25 (including p&p) for a replacement and the oven only cost £40.

--
Max Demian

 

[Retirednoguilt]

On 2/25/2023 8:57 AM, Max Demian wrote:

Someone *did* throw out a microwave near where I live, so I retrieved
the turntable and roller guide in case I break mine, as they charge
about £25 (including p&p) for a replacement and the oven only cost £40.

When our microwave needed to be replaced, I salvaged not only the
turntable and roller guide, but also the plastic spindle that sits on
the turntable motor\'s shaft and has horizontal leaves that fit into the
underside of the turntable. I once had one of those spontaneously crack
apart and the replacement part (plus shipping) seemed disproportionately
expensive for a small piece of molded plastic. Good to have a spare.

 

[Bob F]

On 2/24/2023 11:33 PM, Rob H wrote:

On 25/02/2023 07:23, micky wrote:
More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

Good, the door is much easier to see through.  I can actually see what\'s
going on, if it\'s bubbling or not.

The light bulb costs iirc 15 to 20 dollars.  It\'s a whole assembly, and
since I don\'t want to keep the thing in parts for a week, I\'ll probably
give in and buy it in advance, instead of trying to replace the broken
bulb (which they don\'t want you to do. Maybe you can\'t even get a
matching bulb.)   But all this is for years from now if/when the bulb
burns out.


Meanwhile I came across a video of what to do with the old microwave.

Take my word, you will like this, or at least within a few minutes
you\'ll know it\'s not your style, and I think you\'ll like it more if you
watch it like I did, not knowing where he\'s going, so here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2UfglFeOH8
This Is Why We Don’t Toss Out Broken Microwaves | Remake Projects
Totally Handy
1.37M subscribers

M is for million?

If you really want to know what it\'s about before you watch it, scroll
down until you see the abridged version (without video).





























  Take out the power transformer, cut off one end of the secondary
winding. Punch the remainder of the winding through to the other side,
leaving an open area as big as the winding had been.   Take some heavy
gauge wire.  He didnn\'t say the gauge but the copper was about 1/2\" in
diameter.  Loop it into the open space until it\'s full, 3 loops, and
then he attaches 2 different things to the ends of the two wires.  One
is a cute curvy thing made with wire something like a thick wire hanger.
He turns it on, it gets red hot, and he burns it into the car bumper
cover he is repairing, to splice one side of a cut to the other. He also
uses it to burn decorations into wood.

Then he toook another transformer, did the new secondary the same way,
and connected its wires to thick, pointed but short metal \"probes\" he
made, mounted on arms, one fixed and one that moved up and down, with
enough reach to allow one to slide sheet metal between them, and he had
a spot welder for sheet metal.   Worked very well.

Ah, it was easy to find.  I just opened Firefox History and then
searched on youtube, and it was about 20 lines down.

This is why we don\'t toss out broken microwaves:



Yea, like most people has a lathe, a welder machine and cutting discs.

Yep. Got \'em.

Also, a couple old microwave transformers.

 

[SteveW]

On 25/02/2023 08:40, alan_m wrote:

On 25/02/2023 07:33, Rob H wrote:


Yea, like most people has a lathe, a welder machine and cutting discs.


Like a lot of Youtube videos titled something like \"DIY - make this
useful widget in 15 minutes\"

They often start off with manufacturing something with simple hand tools
but then quickly progress to machines or tools that a large engineering
company would be proud to own.

It appears that in the USA anyone that does DIY has a fully equipped
workshop in a workspace the size of a large barn.

I don\'t have a lot of space, but I do have a lathe, milling machine,
pillar drill, welders and a whole lot of other stuff as it happens.

The copper probes that he made for the spot welder, could have been made
with hand tools, they would just not be as neat and it would have taken
longer.

 

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 25 Feb 2023 10:28:24 -0500, Retirednoguilt
<HapilyRetired@fakeaddress.com> wrote:

On 2/25/2023 8:57 AM, Max Demian wrote:


Someone *did* throw out a microwave near where I live, so I retrieved
the turntable and roller guide in case I break mine, as they charge
about £25 (including p&p) for a replacement and the oven only cost £40.


When our microwave needed to be replaced, I salvaged not only the
turntable and roller guide, but also the plastic spindle that sits on
the turntable motor\'s shaft and has horizontal leaves that fit into the
underside of the turntable. I once had one of those spontaneously crack
apart and the replacement part (plus shipping) seemed disproportionately
expensive for a small piece of molded plastic. Good to have a spare.

All our townhouses were alike when built, and when my neighbor remodeled
I even took the lid from the toilet tank, in case I ever break mine. I
don\'t know where I put it.

And I had a cardboard cylinder of toilet bowl cleaner in the cabinet
under the sink and the fumes damaged the hinges, so the door sits open
an inch all the time, so when someone else remodeled, I took spare
hinges.

When someone else got a new furnace, I took the whole oil pump, sprayer,
transformer, electrodes, and the electric control box. I\'ve used the
transformer and the control box to replace ones that failed. (Later I
found out that they sell universal transformer replacements and probably
control boxes that will fit, but this way I have the part right there,
and free.)

And early on, when someone threw out the folding, stiff plastic shower
stall door, it was too long for me to have a nice place to put it, so I
asked my girlfriend to store it. She had a really big basement with
extra-high ceiling, so her prior husband could lift weights. We broke
up a year later and I\'ll bet she still has it, 30 years later, and
doesn\'t know what it is or where she got it.

Meanwhile, my door is still in good condition. I thought the solvents
would evaporate and the door would become brittle. Maybe it has but I\'m
very careful.

 

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 25 Feb 2023 07:33:39 +0000, Rob H
<rob@despammer.com> wrote:

Yea, like most people has a lathe, a welder machine and cutting discs.

He\'s using a drill press, and I have a cheap device that holds a hand
electric drill and turns it into a drill press. There are even cheaper
things that just hold the electric drill in place. I did think about
buying a cheap drill press, but cmoputers interfered and I don\'t spend
as much time doing active things anymore. Instead I sit a this desk
getttng fat.

Plus I have a double grinding wheel** and you could just hold the rod up
against the grindstone and carefully rotate it in your fingers. After
the end is tapered, cut it to the right length. And I have an angle
grinder that he used. And I think maybe you could even just use an
electric sander???
**My grinding wheel was very cheap. It is just a bracket with an
axlet that holds a grindstone or wire wheel at each each. I added a
left-over motor I got somewhere, that already had a pully, and I bought
belt and mouted it all to a board, which is clamed to my workbench.

The angle grinder has cutting and other discs.

I have a very cheap set of taps and dies, under $10, although probably
not one that big. Maybe one could use speed nuts if they make them that
big. Maybe one could just thick nails, if they woudln\'t overheat.

I don\'t think he used a welder. In fact he made one.

Plus it\'s an excuse to buy more tools and that\'s always good.

 

[Adrian Caspersz]

On 25/02/2023 07:23, micky wrote:

More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

<snip>

He also
> uses it to burn decorations into wood.

Sadly some individuals have been killed attempting this.

--
Adrian C

 

[Andy Burns]

Adrian Caspersz wrote:

micky wrote:

He also uses it to burn decorations into wood.

Sadly some individuals have been killed attempting this.

Yes, people have been killed using high voltage to make Lichtenberg
figures in wood with high voltage ... but what I saw was not that,
rather high current heating an element red hot to \"brand\" wood.

 

[Andy Burns]

Andy Burns wrote:

using high voltage to make Lichtenberg figures in wood with high voltage
^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^

I blame low caffeine levels

 

[server]

On Sat, 25 Feb 2023 02:23:20 -0500
micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:

Meanwhile I came across a video of what to do with the old microwave.

Take my word, you will like this, or at least within a few minutes
you\'ll know it\'s not your style, and I think you\'ll like it more if
you watch it like I did, not knowing where he\'s going, so here is the
link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2UfglFeOH8

That\'s been done so many times before. Hot staplers are £25 on Amazon.
Spot welders need a fairly high and repeatable clamping force (and a
timer) to make good welds, a wonky bit of plywood isn\'t a good choice
for this - you\'d do better using your MIG/TIG welder to make button
welds.

 

[Sam Plusnet]

On 25-Feb-23 8:40, alan_m wrote:

It appears that in the USA anyone that does DIY has a fully equipped
workshop in a workspace the size of a large barn.

Anyone who does DIY - on YouTube - has a fully equipped...

--
Sam Plusnet

 

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 26 Feb 2023 17:05:25 +0000,
<nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote:

On Sat, 25 Feb 2023 02:23:20 -0500
micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:


Meanwhile I came across a video of what to do with the old microwave.

Take my word, you will like this, or at least within a few minutes
you\'ll know it\'s not your style, and I think you\'ll like it more if
you watch it like I did, not knowing where he\'s going, so here is the
link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2UfglFeOH8


That\'s been done so many times before. Hot staplers are £25 on Amazon.
Spot welders need a fairly high and repeatable clamping force (and a
timer) to make good welds, a wonky bit of plywood isn\'t a good choice
for this - you\'d do better using your MIG/TIG welder to make button
welds.

But -sob- I don\'t have a MIG/TIG welder. more sobbing. I do have a
broken microwave.

I think HD sells both wonky and nonwonky plywood. I\'ll ask for nonwonky.

 

[Sam Plusnet]

On 25-Feb-23 13:57, Max Demian wrote:

On 25/02/2023 07:23, micky wrote:
More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

Good, the door is much easier to see through.  I can actually see what\'s
going on, if it\'s bubbling or not.

The light bulb costs iirc 15 to 20 dollars.  It\'s a whole assembly, and
since I don\'t want to keep the thing in parts for a week, I\'ll probably
give in and buy it in advance, instead of trying to replace the broken
bulb (which they don\'t want you to do. Maybe you can\'t even get a
matching bulb.)   But all this is for years from now if/when the bulb
burns out.

The lamp on mine is behind one of the internal grills and looks as if
the whole thing would have to be disassembled to replace. It hasn\'t so
far, and I imagine it could be dangerous to take it apart, with high
voltages being retained.

The lamp in our microwave is just the same, but as it has carried on
working for the last 40-odd years, it will probably carry on for a few more.

--
Sam Plusnet

 

[Sam Plusnet]

On 26-Feb-23 8:39, Andy Burns wrote:

I blame low caffeine levels

It\'s a scourge, and the NHS seem to ignore this terrible condition.

--
Sam Plusnet

 

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 26 Feb 2023 08:30:51 +0000, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Adrian Caspersz wrote:

micky wrote:

He also uses it to burn decorations into wood.

Sadly some individuals have been killed attempting this.

Yes, people have been killed using high voltage to make Lichtenberg
figures in wood with high voltage ... but what I saw was not that,
rather high current heating an element red hot to \"brand\" wood.

I was going to ask what he was getting at. Thanks for pointing out the
difference. I watched a vidoe of Lichtenberg etc, and it looked a lot
more dangerous and came with many warnings. There was also a suggestion
to make Lichtenburg tattoos. They said thay\'d tried it but it was too
hard because they wouldn\'t stop twitching.

 

[legg]

On Sat, 25 Feb 2023 02:23:20 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

More good and bad about my new and old microwaves.

Good, the door is much easier to see through. I can actually see what\'s
going on, if it\'s bubbling or not.

The light bulb costs iirc 15 to 20 dollars. It\'s a whole assembly, and
since I don\'t want to keep the thing in parts for a week, I\'ll probably
give in and buy it in advance, instead of trying to replace the broken
bulb (which they don\'t want you to do. Maybe you can\'t even get a
matching bulb.) But all this is for years from now if/when the bulb
burns out.

They should make lamps and fuses more easily replaceable.
Platter replacement is too exxpensive - should be made
available retail, where ovens are sold.

Microswitches in the door will last longer if the microwave
is paused or stopped before opening the door. Too many people
use a door pull to terminate cooking.

RL