The microwave in my wife's (yes, she has her own) Hi Top campervan needed replacing, son in law insisted on doing the job while I was away, fancies himself as a bit of Jack of All Trades. Hmmmmm.....he found he couldn't get it out.
I wasn't allowed to touch it as I am very good with a sledge hammer, also don't trust me to prune trees/plants etc. To cut a long story short, SWMBO arranged to take it to a well known campervan repair place to have the old microwave removed and a new one fitted, yes it will only take about half an hour and will cost $75. Bargain ! (that is just the job, we bought our own microwave).
So we took the van to the repairer at the appointed time while we went off on foot and had a coffee at a nearby Macca's. When we got back about an hour later, the job had not been done, we were told that because the van (an ex hire van) was made over east their methods were different and they couldn't work out how they had done it, but there was evidence of liquid nails being used. Yes they could do it another time but they would have to dismantle all the cupboards/fridge etc to get at it and it would cost around $600 for the labour. Perhaps I might like to try the job myself? It was suggested I might like to try using a brick wedge splitter or cold chisel to pry open the panels that had been stuck together, however it may cause some damage. I'm getting excited now, will be able to use my small sledge hammer on the cold chisel etc, boy this will be fun.
When we got the van home (stinking hot over here in WA at present, and boy those fibreglass hi tops sure are hot inside) I spent hours trying to resolve the issue without turning the van into matchwood. Removed the fridge (under the microwave) and every possible screw I could find, and there were heaps of them) and a couple of not so delicate blows with my favorite tools, the old microwave looking a little worse for my efforts. Hmmmm......not looking good. Bright idea, go and get my torch and look in all the nooks and cranny's around the microwave and cupboards etc. And there it was, the head of a screw barely visible and recessed, looked like the other holes where I had removed the screws, and also in a most difficult and hard to see spot. Removed the screw, the shelf underneath collapsed and the microwave fell out nearly landing on my bare feet.
So this is how it was mounted. A panel of wood had been glued to each side of the microwave with liquid nails, then these two pieces of wood had been overlaid with another piece of wood, long screws being used to go through the side of cupboards and through the first piece of wood and into the glued on bit, holding the microwave firmly in place on the shelf underneath which was above the fridge.
Now in retrospect, if I had know this is how they had done it, I reckon I could have removed the microwave in about 10 to 15 minutes (there were a lot of screws used) without removing the fridge or anything else.
Hmmm...next job fitting the new microwave, want a different method so there is ventilation on each side of the microwave, not just above and below like the old one, some sort of battens come to mind, will sleep on that one unless SWMBO wants to take it back to the "repairer" to have it fitted by the "professionals".
At least the professionals gave up without charging you a fortune to learn how it was done !!!!
They'd been in business for 40 years Chris, you would think they would know it all by now without having to give the job a miss, take your point though.
They specialize in camper vans, so I wasn't too impressed.
I just think they were flat out Herbie, they have a lot of work, and couldn't afford the time to stuff around with it. I also suspect that as they thought some damage may occur trying to get it out with the liquid nails bit then better I have a go so they couldn't be blamed.
As it looked like it was going to take some time as vk6tnc said they were probably trying to save me some money. I have used them in the past and they have always been very good. I emailed a mate of mine in the UK who used to work for them who made a couple of suggestions (sight unseen) to remove it. I reckon if he had been there he would have had it out in five minutes, he knew his stuff.
You are a credit to your perseverance and initiative (which is always enhanced knowing a decent sledge is handy to really fix it!). As an Irish friend once said, "There is no limit to human endeavour." - I don't think he meant that in a nice way!
I don't think your son in-law was a jack of all trades but maybe he thought he was a bright spark, Vic :)
Sounds like you are on top of it now so just do it yourself after all you won't need the sledge hammer to put a new one back in, well, maybe a small one this time.
At least now that "Hers" is sorted you will know what to do with "His" if need be.
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Good on you Vic! I suspect no two m/waves are fitted alike, just to keep us guessing!
Our microwave came off its mountings all on its own after some corrugated road, and my partner said some rude words about the quality of screws used to hold it, they had simply snapped off. Had to wait till we got to Pt Headland where there was a hardware shop who sold the tools he needed, as he had to drill out the old screws before replacing them. All good now.
Our microwave is secured with a metal bracket over the top and down the sides, which then screws into the shelf below. The feet also fit into special little holders on the shelf. When the microwave died and we had to replace it we had to get another one exactly the same size or the bracket wouldn't have fitted back over, which was a pain as it turned out we had a choice of one to buy.
Thanks for the kind words of support and info everyone, we could only get one type of replacement too after measuring our old one, noticed that some microwave doors swung out wider on the edge than others too that opened more or less flush with the sides.
One of the problems getting the old one out was that the screws on each side were in tiny cupboards on either side of the microwave, narrow and not very deep, going a long way back, so space and view inside was very limited. I had those angled screw drivers (shaped like those crank handles on old cars) however they still needed a bit of finger pressure to keep them in contact with the screw (by feel, couldn't see) and could only be used with very limited turns each time. It was obvious that the microwave was screwed in during the fitting of the cupboards etc when it would have been easy. Anyway job done now (removal).
Well, as I am only to be used as a last resort due to my demolishing skills, my job is now over. SWMBO has booked it in again with said repairers to have the new one fitted on 11th March (the van won't be used for awhile) although I offered to do it myself, so back to the rock pile with my sledgerhammer for now.
