Replacing microwave cardboard shield

Posted by DerbyDad03 on October 20, 2009, 11:09 am

> > > Both sides are shiny. =A0I hesitated to use duct tape because of the
> > > possibility of fumes when the tape heated up but I'll give it a shot
> > > and only use 4 very small pieces in the 4 corners. =A0Thanx.

...

> > > > Inside my microwave is a small 3x5" opening which is covered by a 3
> > > > x 5" piece of thin shinny cardboard. At one time, the four corners
> > > > of the cardboard fit snugly into four small slots, so that it
> > > > barely covered the full opening. Now those four corners have become
> > > > broken and worn, allowing the cardboard to slip 1/4" below the top
> > > > opening. Will this affect the performance or safety of the
> > > > microwave? If so, can I replace the cardboard with a piece of
> > > > non-shinny cardboard? Thanks.
> > > > digger
> > > Is the shiny side around the light bulb that illuminates the interior
> > > of the oven? =A0If so, replacing it with plain cardboard will be ok, =

but

> > > the light level will be much less. =A0If it is anywhere else, the shi=

> > > side may be electrically conductive and part of the microwave system
> > > and should not be replaced with plain cardboard. =A0Why not use duct
> > > tape to hold the original in place?

> > Use the metalic aluminum duct tape stuck to cardboard. OR order take ou=

> > dinner from a restaurant that uses aluminum containers covered by a lid=

made

> > from aluminum foil covered cardboard, clean the cardboard lid and trim =

> > fit the space as needed.

> Normally I would agree that aluminum duct tape kicks fabric duct
> tape's a$$, but wouldn't aluminum in a microwave be a Bad Idea?
> nate- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -

re: "wouldn't aluminum in a microwave be a Bad Idea"

Interesting tidbit about my old Sharp Carousel unit...

The manual says I can thaw frozen juice by putting the cardboard
container - with the metal ring on the bottom - in the microwave after
removing the top. I've done it hundreds of times over the years with
no ill effects.

However, if I try to soften peanut butter and there is the smallest
trace of the sealing foil stuck to the rim, the sparks start flying.

Posted by aemeijers on October 19, 2009, 9:32 pm

diggerodell wrote:

> Both sides are shiny. I hesitated to use duct tape because of the
> possibility of fumes when the tape heated up but I'll give it a shot and
> only use 4 very small pieces in the 4 corners. Thanx.
>
>
>

>> Inside my microwave is a small 3x5" opening which is covered by a 3 x 5"
>> piece of thin shinny cardboard. At one time, the four corners of the
>> cardboard fit snugly into four small slots, so that it barely covered the
>> full opening. Now those four corners have become broken and worn,
>> allowing
>> the cardboard to slip 1/4" below the top opening. Will this affect the
>> performance or safety of the microwave? If so, can I replace the
>> cardboard
>> with a piece of non-shinny cardboard?
>> Thanks.
>> digger

>
> Is the shiny side around the light bulb that illuminates the interior
> of the oven? If so, replacing it with plain cardboard will be ok, but
> the light level will be much less. If it is anywhere else, the shiny
> side may be electrically conductive and part of the microwave system
> and should not be replaced with plain cardboard. Why not use duct
> tape to hold the original in place?

Uh, don't use the fabric stuff. Go get a roll of real duct tape, the
sticky aluminum kind. It is actually rated for temps as high as the
microwave box will actually get.

--
aem sends...

Posted by on October 19, 2009, 9:59 pm

aemeijers wrote:

> diggerodell wrote:

> > Is the shiny side around the light bulb that illuminates the interior
> > of the oven? If so, replacing it with plain cardboard will be ok, but
> > the light level will be much less. If it is anywhere else, the shiny
> > side may be electrically conductive and part of the microwave system
> > and should not be replaced with plain cardboard. Why not use duct
> > tape to hold the original in place?

> Uh, don't use the fabric stuff. Go get a roll of real duct tape, the
> sticky aluminum kind. It is actually rated for temps as high as the
> microwave box will actually get.

Aluminum foil tape withstands attic heat better than ordinary cloth-
plastic duct tape does, but alumium foil tape is not guaranteed for
high temperatures since its adhesive is often rated for only 160
Fahrenheit, sometimes for 250-300.

Posted by aemeijers on October 19, 2009, 10:21 pm

do_not_spam_me@my-deja.com wrote:

>
> aemeijers wrote:

>> diggerodell wrote:

>>> Is the shiny side around the light bulb that illuminates the interior
>>> of the oven? If so, replacing it with plain cardboard will be ok, but
>>> the light level will be much less. If it is anywhere else, the shiny
>>> side may be electrically conductive and part of the microwave system
>>> and should not be replaced with plain cardboard. Why not use duct
>>> tape to hold the original in place?

>> Uh, don't use the fabric stuff. Go get a roll of real duct tape, the
>> sticky aluminum kind. It is actually rated for temps as high as the
>> microwave box will actually get.

>
> Aluminum foil tape withstands attic heat better than ordinary cloth-
> plastic duct tape does, but alumium foil tape is not guaranteed for
> high temperatures since its adhesive is often rated for only 160
> Fahrenheit, sometimes for 250-300.

Not disputing your statements, but aside from what you mentioned around
the light bulb, how hot does your microwave get inside? I've had several
over the years, and none of them got too hot to touch inside.

Never seen a consumer microwave with a visible mica window over a
waveguide outlet. All the ones I have ever field-stripped had a plastic
top to the cooking compartment, with a spinner above. But in re-reading
OP's post, I wonder if you may be right, and they have some older
pre-spinner model. In which case I recommend they just live with it
while they save up for a replacement. New microwaves are getting
absurdly cheap compared to what they were in the old days.

--
aem sends...

Posted by DerbyDad03 on October 20, 2009, 10:52 am

> do_not_spam...@my-deja.com wrote:

> > aemeijers wrote:

> >> diggerodell wrote:
> >>> Is the shiny side around the light bulb that illuminates the interior
> >>> of the oven? =A0If so, replacing it with plain cardboard will be ok, =

but

> >>> the light level will be much less. =A0If it is anywhere else, the shi=

> >>> side may be electrically conductive and part of the microwave system
> >>> and should not be replaced with plain cardboard. =A0Why not use duct
> >>> tape to hold the original in place?
> >> Uh, don't use the fabric stuff. Go get a roll of real duct tape, the
> >> sticky aluminum kind. It is actually rated for temps as high as the
> >> microwave box will actually get.

> > Aluminum foil tape withstands attic heat better than ordinary cloth-
> > plastic duct tape does, but alumium foil tape is not guaranteed for
> > high temperatures since its adhesive is often rated for only 160
> > Fahrenheit, sometimes for 250-300.

> Not disputing your statements, but aside from what you mentioned around
> the light bulb, how hot does your microwave get inside? I've had several
> over the years, and none of them got too hot to touch inside.
> Never seen a consumer microwave with a visible mica window over a
> waveguide outlet. All the ones I have ever field-stripped had a plastic
> top to the cooking compartment, with a spinner above. But in re-reading
> OP's post, I wonder if you may be right, and they have some older
> pre-spinner model. In which case I recommend they just live with it
> while they save up for a replacement. New microwaves are getting
> absurdly cheap compared to what they were in the old days.
> --
> aem sends...- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -

re: "Never seen a consumer microwave with a visible mica window over a
waveguide outlet."

My Sharp Carousel has one.

I've replaced it numerous times over the years, originally by spending
too much on a original replacement part, more recently by buying a
sheet of mica material from a local appliance repair shop. Now I cut
my own.

They get food splattered on them, which burns a hole in them and then
the spraks start flying.

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