Things to do with old washing machines.

[alchemysa]

It always seems a bit of a waste to throw out an old washing machine. I always feel that there's still a lot of good stuff still 'in there' if only i had some idea what to do with it. (Pumps, motors, drums etc.)

This was a perfectly good top loading machine until a 50 cent part in the circuit board burnt out and made a repair uneconomical. So I pulled it apart to make it easier to scrap. (I give all my old metal to a mate who collects scrap) . But just before I crushed the cabinet I had a little spark of an idea. This would make a good stand for the new front loader! It was an easy job. I just cut it down with an angle grinder and add a painted chipboard top. I left some 'tabs' in each corner to screw on the top, and ran some slit plastic tube around the top of the sides to give it a little bit of cushioning. The best thing is that the base already had four adjustable feet so it could be easily levelled on our laundry floor.

A 'bought' stand for a top loader will set you back about $200 so I was pretty pleased to get some added value out of the old machine.

Perhaps other members have come up with some other clever ideas for old washers or driers.

 

[caver]

I've seen people use the drum out of top loaders for a fire pit.

 

[txdon]

The tub can make a burn barrel.

edit- wow same type idea posted on exact same minute.

 

[Bill 55]

I filled the tub with topsoil and planted onions in it, after the onions got eaten I did a couple of batches of radishes.

 

[jaotguy]

pull the hot and cold water valves from the unit ..... put them on timers and water your lawn / fill tanks /

square motors have 2 speeds ( 3 wires ) for drill presses / band saws /

if they still "work" ( not all cycles ) and you need to wash potatoes before storing or making a big bag of clean baking taters / carrots / beets

 

[LJH]

Or old dryers:

 

[ultrarunner]

Very clever...

I hate to see things go to waste when I know how much effort it would take to make.

My family has mixed feelings about my skill. I have managed to keep mom's appliances from the 60 and 70's in tip top shape.

Her 1967 Kenmore Dryer "Died" last week and everyone but mom said thank God...

Less than $5 for a new belt and she's back in service...

Good deal on the washer stand!

 

[Gary Fowler]

The washer stand was a great idea and the only difference from the store bought one is lack of a pull out drawer, but for over $200 savings, not a bad deal. Those stands (wife wanted them on her new front loading washer and dryer) sure save the back from bending low putting in and taking out clothes so they were worth the money to my wife. Old washer/dryer was still in working order so they both went to a daughter whose dryer just happened to go bad about the same time as our new house was finished. New house always requires all new appliances, hence my shop has a nice big refrigerator in it also which keeps my water bottles and beer cold and also catches the overflow of items during holidays and big gathering.

 

[tcreeley]

I use this site to get parts. I kept our old combo washer dryer going for ever, the dishwasher, etc..
Appliance Parts, Lawn Mower Parts, Heating & Cooling Parts. 365 day returns.

 

[Travelover]

I put a search on eBay for the circuit board in my just-out-of-warranty dryer and within two weeks someone posted one for $75. I'm sure Sears pays $5 for this board, but they sell it for $200, so I felt like I got a deal.

The stand idea is a good one. Those commercially available ones are overpriced.

 

[alchemysa]

I put a search on eBay for the circuit board in my just-out-of-warranty dryer and within two weeks someone posted one for $75. I'm sure Sears pays $5 for this board, but they sell it for $200, so I felt like I got a deal.

The stand idea is a good one. Those commercially available ones are overpriced.

The washer I scrapped had 2 circuit boards worth $100 and $75 each. I visually checked them and found two fried components that I replaced for about $2 but they blew again so the fault was something beyond my electronic abilities. Yeah, the commercial stands are rather pricey at over $200 when you consider that the front loader itself was only about $550. Admittedly they do have a drawer, but we didn't need that.

Entire expenditure for my stand was $4 for a rattle can of gloss white to spray the chipboard.

 

[alchemysa]

Very clever...

I hate to see things go to waste when I know how much effort it would take to make.

My family has mixed feelings about my skill. I have managed to keep mom's appliances from the 60 and 70's in tip top shape.

Her 1967 Kenmore Dryer "Died" last week and everyone but mom said thank God...

Less than $5 for a new belt and she's back in service...

Good deal on the washer stand!

The old washer was about 10 years old and didnt have much in that could be be repaired by a home handyman. There's very little 'mechanical' stuff in it. The motor was integrated into the bottom of the drum, directly connected to the agitator, and the speed and direction of it was all electronically controlled. No belts, or levers, or any of that other stuff that we used to be able to replace. It was a nice machine while it lasted.

 

[pmhowe]

"I filled the tub with topsoil and planted onions in it, after the onions got eaten I did a couple of batches of radishes. "

Next time, don't add soap.

 

[JDgreen227]

Really admire your creative idea and it is a clever form of recycling...I have always admired those who try to repurpose something so it does not end up in the trash. Thank you for sharing the concept.

 

[tcartwri]

The washer I scrapped had 2 circuit boards worth $100 and $75 each. I visually checked them and found two fried components that I replaced for about $2 but they blew again so the fault was something beyond my electronic abilities. Yeah, the commercial stands are rather pricey at over $200 when you consider that the front loader itself was only about $550. Admittedly they do have a drawer, but we didn't need that.

Entire expenditure for my stand was $4 for a rattle can of gloss white to spray the chipboard.

Maytags I'm guessing. The burned circuit was probably the control for the door lock. I did mine about three years ago, and you have to do the repairs on the board and replace the door lock at the same time. I'm now replacing the drum bearing for the second time on the same unit.

Pisses me off how cheaply these things are made these days.

 

[3930dave]

Very clever...

I hate to see things go to waste when I know how much effort it would take to make.

My family has mixed feelings about my skill. I have managed to keep mom's appliances from the 60 and 70's in tip top shape.

Her 1967 Kenmore Dryer "Died" last week and everyone but mom said thank God...

Less than $5 for a new belt and she's back in service...

Good deal on the washer stand!

A lot of the new appliances are junk. If the electronics don't fail, the mechanical bits will..... my SIL is about to scrap a not that old GE clothes washer - main bearings are done, apparently a common problem on that model range.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

An uncle of mine modd'ed a clothes washer to use as an auto parts washer.

It was a while ago (he lives in another province) that I saw it, so I don't remember exactly how he set it up. I remember something about using anti-freeze as a layering liquid/filter agent. He based it on an old DIY article that somebody like Popular Mechanics put out years back.

It worked well, but that was no surprise, as he's a guy that can build just about anything, out of pretty much nothing.

Haven't looked today...... but guessing there are clothes washer To Parts Washer plans out there on the interweb somewhere....

Rgds, D.

 

[JDgreen227]

A lot of the new appliances are junk. If the electronics don't fail, the mechanical bits will..... my SIL is about to scrap a not that old GE clothes washer - main bearings are done, apparently a common problem on that model range.

Rgds, D.

Have two former relatives that needed to have front loading washing machines repaired at a big expense, and for both cases, the service guy told them the problem was they had been using the older type detergents and not the HE type that was recommended...something about the older detergents having a corrosive element that eats away at the tub bearings. I have a 2002 model front loading Maytag Neptune that has been dead reliable but I have always used the recommended HE detergents.

 

[lostcreekranch]

An uncle of mine modd'ed a clothes washer to use as an auto parts washer. It was a while ago (he lives in another province) that I saw it, so I don't remember exactly how he set it up. I remember something about using anti-freeze as a layering liquid/filter agent. He based it on an old DIY article that somebody like Popular Mechanics put out years back. It worked well, but that was no surprise, as he's a guy that can build just about anything, out of pretty much nothing. Haven't looked today...... but guessing there are clothes washer To Parts Washer plans out there on the interweb somewhere.... Rgds, D.

You would want to be vert careful (don't do it) using any flammable solvent parts cleaner in a normal clothes washer.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[RobertN]

It was already posted, to make fire pits from the drum. Pretty popular in the RV beach going world.

$10 DIY One Hour Upcycled Firepit | House & Fig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFr1yrxd_ks