Sell/salvage washers/dryer?What would you do?

I have two top load washers and a dryer.None are mates and all of them work (but need repair) and over 20 years old.Both washers need tub seals.No bid cost out lay but a big ole pain in the rear.The dryer needs to be cleaned out,new drum felt seals,a belt,and an over temp switch/sensor.Not really much cash out lay but it would be an almost break even deal,if I don't count labor,and sell the dryer.If I repaired all three,I'd probably have a cash outlay of $100 to $125 and I could possibly sell them for between $200 and $300.

So here it is.

Would you repair and sell,or salvage parts for building tools or modifying current tools? :headscratch:

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-think004.gifI have been wanting to set up a powder coat shop for my projects.I was thinking I could use the sheet metal cases to build a small oven.I could use the dryer fan to move air through the PC oven or evacuate dust from a sand blast cabinet.I may be able to use the washer pump in a homemade parts washer.I could find uses for the motors I'm sure.Vibrating polisher,tumbler,sonic cleaner?That would be a good reuse for the drums also.

If they were made in the 1990s I would scrap , sell the parts, or repurpose them. Build quality then terrible, like they were made to break and be unrepairable. So a few part would be replaceable then the transmission would grenade. If they are older keep them running and they willlast someone as long as they want to use them. Its worth the experience to repair them once even if its for little or no money in return... At least in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by jere

If they were made in the 1990s I would scrap , sell the parts, or repurpose them. Build quality then terrible, like they were made to break and be unrepairable. So a few part would be replaceable then the transmission would grenade. If they are older keep them running and they willlast someone as long as they want to use them. Its worth the experience to repair them once even if its for little or no money in return... At least in my opinion.

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They were made in the 80's I believe,but low end units,so disposable.I just can figure out what to do with them.I hate scraping stuff that could be returned to service.I am cleaning out an old mobile home I use for storage,and they will need to go.I may stip them and save the motors,pumps,drums,and cases.I thought about stacking the cases and making a powder coat oven.

Hi
You can savage the main motors, wheel, belt, and the pumps. Don't forget the capacitors for the motor.
In those years, the motors where inductive, brushless, but with only two speeds.
Very easy to reuse, much more than the modern universal motors used with variable speed machines.

To be noticed, if you plan to repair an old machine, there are lots of arduino projects here and there that aim to control the machine and replace the old mechanical command blocks.

I have a project currently to control the speed of a modern washer motor using an arduino also.

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Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau

Hi
You can savage the main motors, wheel, belt, and the pumps. Don't forget the capacitors for the motor.
In those years, the motors where inductive, brushless, but with only two speeds.
Very easy to reuse, much more than the modern universal motors used with variable speed machines.

To be noticed, if you plan to repair an old machine, there are lots of arduino projects here and there that aim to control the machine and replace the old mechanical command blocks.

I have a project currently to control the speed of a modern washer motor using an arduino also.

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That's the stuff i was planning to save.I didn't think about arduino.I'm raspi man,if you know what I mean.:lol:

I once used a wash machine agitator (shaft sticking up through a work bench) to agitate paint cans.
I used a cloths dryer motor / vents as a down draft table for my chop saw.
I used an old furnace fan for my 4'x4' down draft table (table saw, router / sanding).

In short, salvage parts & recycle.

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Originally Posted by Barry

I once used a wash machine agitator (shaft sticking up through a work bench) to agitate paint cans.
I used a cloths dryer motor / vents as a down draft table for my chop saw.
I used an old furnace fan for my 4'x4' down draft table (table saw, router / sanding).

In short, salvage parts & recycle.

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Pics please! I haven't heard the agitator trick before. :D

Agreed on salvaging, especially with the abundance of $50 washers and dryers available on Craigslist.

Hi Jon, just learning how to move around this site and don't know how to post a thread yet. Read them, reply to them but can't seem to see how to start a thread.

I did this task this morning (now I need a nap).

View Profile: Barry - Homemade Tools Forum

I would harvest the flat panels of steel and then sell off the motor and other parts

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Originally Posted by Barry

Hi Jon, just learning how to move around this site and don't know how to post a thread yet. Read them, reply to them but can't seem to see how to start a thread.

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Hi,

Just click the "Post New Thread" button on the left side above the list of existing threads.

Ken

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/...psyem6ga7p.jpg

It's usually cheaper and easier to just get an electric stove from a remodel off Craigslist. I got mine for $25, a built in MagicChef and it's still working great 10yrs later. YMMV.

If you are thinking of doing powdercoat, I would use the panels from the sides of the washers to make a powdercoat booth. I made mine out of 3/4" conduit and aluminum panels from the hardware store. All my stuff is fairly small so the regular stove works great for me and my booth is 24x24x24. Stove is I think 30x30x30. The bigger the stove, the harder it is to get an even temp.

I use the same space for all my processes(welding,fabricating,machining, some woodworking) so it's necessary to contain the powder or it will go everywhere and get in all the other machinery. With the stuff from the dryer you could use the fan to make vacuum to pull the powder overspray out of the booth. I use my shop vac but the powder clogged the filter real quick. I found a DIY for making a cyclone out of standard ducting. Mine is 36" tall, 8" duct that tapers down to 4" and seals to a 5gal bucket and uses the shop vac for suction. Now ALL the overspray is captured in the cyclone and I never have to change my filter. I think I ended up with like $30-40 into it for the ducting. I also have little if any powder dust on the floor under the booth and none in the rest of the shop.

I forgot to mention, here I see where people make the drums from washers and dryers into portable fire pits for like sitting outside or camping. Seen a lot of them on CL bolting a old table pedestal base to it. Makes a cool fire pit.

Good call. I just went through the encyclopedia to find more ideas.

The motor is a given; tons of tools you can make from that. From the tub and housing:

Chip Guard or Drip Tray
Honey Extractor
Spray Booth
Cement Mixer
Incinerator

Also, from the heating element: Etching Tank.

You know what I'm wondering though? Chicken plucker. You could buy the plucking fingers separately from Amazon; $21 for 50: Amazon.com : 50 Chicken Plucker Fingers Poultry Feather Plucking Duck Goose Hen Whizbang : Patio, Lawn & Garden .

Just saw it on YouTube, from Thomas Peters:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC051HphyvY

The Chicken Washer has saved us time, it works very well, I do send a PDF file that contains pictures of the build along the way. Basically we made a 2X4 frame to hold the drum and attached a plate to a front wheel drive cars wheel bearing with a pulley attached to that. Looks like if I find the pics I can add them here. I might do that. The trick is you must use a 1725RPM motor and a rather large pulley to get the rpms down between 400 and 600. WE did try ducks too but the oil in the feathers makes it difficult to scald them. It worked best on chickens, turkeys, pheasents, and other upland game. I have processed at least 1000 birds in it now. 300 in one year. I really am pleased with the turnout. Thank you for watching. pzlr0v.

Nice to see you here, Pzlr0v - welcome to HomemadeTools.net :welcome:

Looking forward to the PDF details, this is a cool build.

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You can see the automotive wheel bearing was used to spin the plate and we connected a pulley to the other end for the belt. Hope this help, if anyone is trying to build one. Thank you, Tom

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