I want to replace my dometic refrigerator brown panels with steel panels that will hold magnets. The only materials I have found so far to do this are the sheet metal rolls sold at the big box stores for metal flashing for roofing. Is this the right material or is there something better to use? Has anyone already done this to the refrigerator? What did you use? Any advice?
The magnetic sheet metal you have been seen at the big box stores is probably rolls of galvanized sheet steel roof flashing, stainless steel is too expensive for most builders and can be difficult to cut and bend. The other shiny rolls are aluminum.
Unless Dometic sells such a panel to fit your refrigerator, I would check local sheet metal shops or fabricators for a custom sheared stainless steel panel. It isn't going to be cheap.
Larry
Hi Tracy, I remember that you can get replacement door panels for dishwashers. Here is one in black: Whirlpool WP3369769 Dishwasher Door Panel - ApplianceParts4All.com (https://www.applianceparts4all.com/whirlpool-dishwasher-door-panel-wp3369769?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm9yJBhDTARIsABKIcGZ3ec-vESukjT01fqUQCZSfWvuzyZR0kk0ndlvQVWMRyj4VI7FGYpYaAsJWEALw_wcB) I suspect they are steel and a magnet will hold well. I couldn't find a size listed, but you would have to cut them to fit. I'm sure white is available. Stainless more expensive. The price was right. RonB
Get some " paint lock " from a sheet metal shop and paint it what ever color you want. It'll be steel so magnets will hold. Good stainless steel a magnet wont hold well to.
Jon
Get some " paint lock " from a sheet metal shop and paint it whatever color you want. It'll be steel so magnets will hold. Good stainless steel a magnet won't hold well to.
Painting pre-treated galvanized is a good solution.
Normal galvanized sheet metal can be painted after it has been cleaned and then treated with a mild acid etcher. A commercial acid etcher or white vinegar can be used.
How to Paint Galvanized Steel: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Galvanized-Steel)
Larry
When I replaced the black inserts in the refrigerators of my last two rigs, I purchased stainless steel cut to exact size from onlinemetals.com (https://www.onlinemetals.com). I bought 0.03" stainless, brushed finish. A 28.5" x 19.8" sheet cost me $54.68. It fit perfectly and looks great.
Now, I know you don't want stainless, because it won't hold magnets (I don't use 'em), but Online Metals carries everything from aluminum to carbon steel to copper to... you name it. I was very happy with my purchases from them.
McMaster-Carr (https://www.mcmaster.com/sheets/) is another possibility, but I don't know whether they will cut to size the way Online Metals will... and I wouldn't count on cutting a larger piece down to size with metal shears, because they rarely leave a perfectly flat edge.
I also bought magnetic stainless steel panels from onlinemetals. Note: The panels will stain; we had a refrigerator magnet rust a little, and it left a mark. Despite this, I liked the panels and would buy them again.
Mark H.
Would have preferred to order a precut piece but that wouldn’t happen until this fall.
Found a couple 26 gauge of plain sheet steel, not galvanized or stainless, at Lowes in Idaho Falls.
Cut the top to size, painted it with Rust-oleum Satin Protective Enamel.
Reversed and inserted the old wood panel, and slid the painted sheet metal in.
Cut the top to size, painted it with Rust-oleum Satin Protective Enamel.
Reversed and inserted the old wood panel, and slid the painted sheet metal in.
I like it! Thanks Dave
Bottom piece was harder to fit, still worked after some filing and bending, would have been easier if I had a company cut it rather by hand with aviation snips.
Still not sure I like the green, might go to black.
Hi Dave; Lots of low priced door replacements for dishwashers. Some reasonable, some not so. You'd have to find measurements. Some stainless panels are magnetic and some aren't. Again I don't know if you could find out before buying one. replacement dishwasher door panels - Google Search (https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS947US947&sxsrf=ALiCzsYs2jzDFXuFQUWULkL9rimy-MwVxw:1658561914123&q=replacement+dishwasher+door+panels&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj6rOrNwI75AhX-DkQIHcWJDj8QwdwHKAB6BAhCEAY&biw=1686&bih=933&dpr=1.5)
There are sandblast/powder coat services in larger cities, so you could pick your color. RonB
Hey there Socal-gal
Dunno if you got your metal yet, but not too long ago, in FL, I saw some galvanized sheet metal almost the right size in the back of HD that is made for duct work and it was pretty light. Not sure of gauge. I’ll be getting me some of that soon
Chris
I saw some galvanized sheet metal almost the right size in the back of HD.
Chris
Thanks Chris, I’ll check it out!
onlinemetals.com (https://www.onlinemetals.com). I bought 0.03" stainless, brushed finish. A 28.5" x 19.8" sheet cost me $54.68. It fit perfectly and looks great.
Online Metals carries everything from aluminum to carbon steel to copper to... you name it. I was very happy with my purchases from them.
McMaster-Carr (https://www.mcmaster.com/sheets/) is another possibility, …
Thanks Andy, great information!