Southern California highways are in notoriously poor shape. While driving south on I15 from a recent tip to the Mojave, the highway was so rough in the right-hand lane that a can in the refrigerator badly cracked the shelf in the refrigerator door. I need to repair this. It is made of some kind of clear plastic. It is broken all the way through, but all of the pieces re still attached.
I would normally use JB Weld because it is strong and it works. The Admiral says that the color is wrong and it will be irritating to her. (Me: "Color? What does color have to do with anything?") I'm concerned that Capt. Tolley's Creeping Crack won't be strong enough.
Any ideas?
Harold
Southern California highways are in notoriously poor shape. While driving south on I15 from a recent tip to the Mojave, the highway was so rough in the right-hand lane that a can in the refrigerator badly cracked the shelf in the refrigerator door. I need to repair this. It is made of some kind of clear plastic. It is broken all the way through, but all of the pieces re still attached.
Any ideas
The newer Dometics are junk with thin shelves. Over the years, we have owned four Dometics, of various vintages, and each newer model was cheaper than the one that was being replaced. It's amazing how light the new Dometics are compared to the original model in our 1983 LD.
Two shelves have broken in a four year old refrigerator. I used clear tape to cover the bottom side of the broken shelf and then applied a thin bead of clear epoxy to the un-taped side. For a cleaner look, use clear tape on both sides, omitting the epoxy.
Amazon.com: J-B Weld 50112 ClearWeld Quick-Setting Epoxy Syringe - Clear -... (https://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-50112-Clear-0-85/dp/B009EU5ZM0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=J-B+Weld+50112&qid=1557594425&s=gateway&sr=8-3)
If that doesn't work for your wife, Dometic is happy to sell you replacements shelves.
Larry
Thanks Larry. I'll try your method first. I was considering cutting a thin piece of aluminum to fit inside that shelf after epoxy-ing the pieces back together. It will spread the load of the bouncing cans on the crappy roads, but may be rejected by the color critic. Maybe a little white paint?
Harold
I was considering cutting a thin piece of aluminum to fit inside that shelf after epoxy-ing the pieces back together. It will spread the load of the bouncing cans on the crappy roads, but may be rejected by the color critic. Maybe a little white paint?
That's an excellent idea. Polish the aluminum first, so it's nice and shiny .
As said before, if all fails, Dometic has the same cheap shelves and drawers available.
Larry
Harold,
Perhaps a nice piece of “Transparent Aluminum” would help. https://youtu.be/DduO1fNzV4w
Too expensive? Just can’t wait for the technology to catch up? Both Amazon and EBay have just what you need. Crazy how expensive a simple piece of plastic can be.
Kent
.
Crazy how expensive a simple piece of plastic can be.
When our 2003's refrigerator died several summers ago, while on the road, we had a new one installed and I didn't pull the plastic drawers and shelves out, to keep as spares, since we didn't have the room in the LD to store them for a month.
If anyone has new refrigerator installed, keeping the heavier plastic items is a good idea.
Larry
I installed that 'no-slip' rubber stuff (that keeps things from sliding) on the bottom of all the plastic shelves in the door. My original fridge (19 years old) is still going strong) [knocking on wood].
"If anyone has new refrigerator installed, keeping the heavier plastic items is a good idea."
I scavenged several of the shelves from my previous fridge only to find they would not fit the new fridge. But, I managed to find good homes for them in the older fridges of some friends. ;D ;)
When my vegetable drawer in the LD suffered an unfortunate drop to the floor, I managed to dremel the broken handle off and buff out all the rough spots. Looks fine but without the handle.
Not wanting to pay the Dometic price for a replacement, I scoured Amazon, eBay and the web for like sized drawers at a fair price.
I did find a Norcold produce drawer that would take the place of both Dometic drawers. I believe the Norcold drawer would be a better utilization of the available space. Still considering it. 🧐
Kent
Like Jerry, I use this Amazon.com: Con-Tact Brand Grip Premium, 04F-C6L86-06, Non-Adhesive Non-Slip... (https://www.amazon.com/Tact-Brand-Premium-Non-Adhesive-Drawer/dp/B00FGKWI0Y/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_79_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=00HS4FR3YEARKA2JBF7R&th=1) cut and fitted to the shelves to keep bottles and cans from sliding. I also cut pieces to put in the pull out 'crisper' drawers on the bottom. It comes in different colors; blue for our blue interior. Harold I'm sure your wife would like to choose her color. It would cover the white epoxy repair. LOCTITE Marine White Epoxy Adhesive at Lowes.com (https://www.lowes.com/pd/LOCTITE-Marine-White-Epoxy-Adhesive/50436714)
RonB
An added plus to mesh shelf liner used anywhere in the rig for any purpose is that it's washable and re-usable. This feature will be appreciated when something in a cupboard, in the refrigerator, or on wire shelving, leaks, drips, or oozes. ;)
"An added plus to mesh shelf liner used anywhere in the rig for any purpose is that it's washable and re-usable."
;D
One caveat to that statement Joan...
I once had a pair of placemats made of that material that I bought at Camping World. They did the basic job quite well. However, the inevitable crumbs went straight into those tiny openings, there to reside until the next house cleaning. ::) :(
The solution:
1. Taped back together per Larry's suggestion
2. JB Weld clear epoxy
3. Aluminum scrap cut to fit
4. Epoxy in place and clamp
5. Shelf back in the Lazy Daze
Total cost:
1 piece of scrap aluminum
$5.50 JB Weld Epoxy
I may get do this to the remaining shelf that isn't broken and see if I can extend its useful life.
Harold
The solution:
Total cost:
1 piece of scrap aluminum
$5.50 JB Weld Epoxy
I may get do this to the remaining shelf that isn't broken and see if I can extend its useful life.
The next thing to break will be the hangers that the trays use to attach themselves to the doors.
An even more interesting repair.
Larry
Like Jerry, I use this Amazon.com: Con-Tact Brand Grip Premium, 04F-C6L86-06, Non-Adhesive Non-Slip... (https://www.amazon.com/Tact-Brand-Premium-Non-Adhesive-Drawer/dp/B00FGKWI0Y/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_79_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=00HS4FR3YEARKA2JBF7R&th=1) cut and fitted to the shelves to keep bottles and cans from sliding. I also cut pieces to put in the pull out 'crisper' drawers on the bottom. It comes in different colors; blue for our blue interior. Harold I'm sure your wife would like to choose her color. It would cover the white epoxy repair. LOCTITE Marine White Epoxy Adhesive at Lowes.com (https://www.lowes.com/pd/LOCTITE-Marine-White-Epoxy-Adhesive/50436714)
RonB
Me too. After 19 years, I just cut new ones for the refer to replace all the stained ones.
Chris
After being forewarned of the shelf weakness, I checked the others. Sure enough, the bottom shelf has a creeping crack growing at the bottom, beneath the retaining bar attachment.
More epoxy to slow the crack, retaining bar removed, and another aluminum floor piece installed. We'll see how they survive on California highways.
Harold
Harold, our tax dollars at work, huh? ;)
DW uses duct tape. So glad is comes in different colors.
As an aside the I would like to nominate the inventor of duct tape the Gutenberg Gold Award as one of the greatest inventions of the modern age. My cousin says we would be a third world country if it wasn't for duct tape.
If it weren’t for junk drawers and garages piled up with “broken” stuff, life’s repairs would be very expensive.
Back in my maintenance tech days I never threw broken parts away. A bit of grinding here or there and bolt in just the right place and what would have cost $500 for a replacement part was only the cost of my time and a cup of coffee.
There must have been a donut in there somewhere. 😏
Kent
My minimalist children often comment on the "creative clutter" in my shop. Metal scraps, plexiglass, wood, fasteners, wire, tubing, various adhesives, paint... They suggest I throw it all away before I croak so they won't have to. On the other hand, whenever they break something, they drive over to see if Dad can fix it on the cheap.
“On the other hand, whenever they break something, they drive over to see if Dad can fix it on the cheap“.
This is when the Wizard in us really shines.
Grown children also like it when the Banker in us shines.
Not to mention the metal coffee can of various nuts, bolts, nails, brads, cotter pins et al.
Throw in a few bobby pins, coat hangers and a couple of pair of needle nose pliers. . . .
Now I have another thing to add to my “garage” pile. One Dometic Vegetable Crisper. The other one developed another catastrophic failure and is headed to the recycle bin.
In their place is the Norcold Vegetable Crisper I mentioned earlier. It’s a perfect fit and about the same cost as one Dometic Crisper. Will actually hold a bit more than the two Dometics. Nice.
Here are some pics in case anyone is thinking of downsizing.
Kent
Now I have another thing to add to my “garage” pile. One Dometic Vegetable Crisper. The other one developed another catastrophic failure and is headed to the recycle bin.
In their place is the Norcold Vegetable Crisper I mentioned earlier. It’s a perfect fit and about the same cost as one Dometic Crisper. Will actually hold a bit more than the two Dometics. Nice.
One of our crispers has a big crack that has been repaired but looks like......
I will check with the keeper of the refrigerator to see is she thinks this is a good idea, seems like a good one to me.
So far, we have cracks in two door trays and now a crisper, nothing but quality from Dometic.
Do you have a link to the Norcold crisper?
Larry
Larry,
This link should take you to Amazon and the Norcold Crisper.
NORCOLD INC White NORCOLD 618571... Amazon.com: NORCOLD INC White NORCOLD 618571 Lower BIN CRIPSER: Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008KWM3QY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)
Hope this helps. Just an aside...the Amazon link shows a blue Crisper. They sent a white one. Fine with me. Also this Crisper is solid and feels far more durable than the brittle plastic of the Dometic Crisper and trays.
Kent
Wow--I didn't even know there were supposed to be "crisper drawers"--none came with LDy Lulubelle; I just figured that was the bottom shelf (it is just the right size for the large Pyrex casserole that I use for 7-layer salad, & if I take out the bottom door shelf my largest Tupperware that takes off with enough pasta salad for an army fits on the bottom).
RE: "Metal scraps, plexiglass, wood, fasteners, wire, tubing, various adhesives, paint... They suggest I throw it all away before I croak so they won't have to." Also, "Not to mention the metal coffee can of various nuts, bolts, nails, brads, cotter pins et al.
Throw in a few bobby pins, coat hangers and a couple of pair of needle nose pliers. . . ."
My dad died in '96, but I didn't really have access to the stash until Mother died in 2011. I don't think he ever came home empty-handed from an auction (y'know, that stuff at the end of the line where they say "Everything from here for $5"/etc.) ::) --I seem to have the same genetic defect & the only solution has been to stop going to auctions cold turkey :-[ . Dad, of course, needed stuff for the tool boxes in the truck/motorhome/car, as well as at the house in town & out at the farm. Now, if I just knew what everything was (I'd probably never need to buy another nail/bolt/screw/whatchamacallit in my life If I knew what all I had) :D ...I have managed to identify quite a bit, & my favorite so far are the five 5-gallon buckets full of various sizes of carriage bolts (fortunately there are nuts attached--probably one of those end of the auction prizes). :D ::)
Personally, I'm just gonna follow Dad's lead & leave it to my kids to "...throw it all away after I croak..."--I figure they'll either haul a dumpster up & heave five generations of accumulation in, or just sell the farm/house as is & let somebody else figure it out--either way, I'm off the hook. :D
Thx for the repair discussions. I found Andy's fridge doorhandle repair a while back & that's on the to-do list to try, since the JB Weld by itself didn't work.
I love these discussions!
Lynne