Things to do with old washing machines.

[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