Is it possible to fix this crack in a molded refrigerator door at all?
October 11, 2018 12:38 PM Subscribe
The refrigerator that came with my flat (late 80s-early 90s vintage) has a molded interior door, and a piece of it cracked and snapped off, rendering a shelf unusable. Can it be fixed?
The bar that keeps items on the top shelf inside the door is held in place on either side by a plastic bit with a latch-like mechanism that clicks into place inside a pre-cut hole in the injection molded door. The plastic it's made from is most likely either ABS or some sort of high-impact polystyrene. However, that hole is wider now, as some of that molded interior has cracked off, so it won't hold the bar in place on one side.
I'm not looking to drop $500 on a new fridge next month, though obviously if I have to, I guess I will. The super's looked at it and was like, "I can't fix this, you need a pro!" But can this even be fixed? Is there some sort of fix I can make myself with a bit of plastic and the appropriate epoxy, or...?
The bar that keeps items on the top shelf inside the door is held in place on either side by a plastic bit with a latch-like mechanism that clicks into place inside a pre-cut hole in the injection molded door. The plastic it's made from is most likely either ABS or some sort of high-impact polystyrene. However, that hole is wider now, as some of that molded interior has cracked off, so it won't hold the bar in place on one side.
I'm not looking to drop $500 on a new fridge next month, though obviously if I have to, I guess I will. The super's looked at it and was like, "I can't fix this, you need a pro!" But can this even be fixed? Is there some sort of fix I can make myself with a bit of plastic and the appropriate epoxy, or...?
Possibly a job for sugru. Someone who has used the stuff can be a better judge, but definitely put sugru on your radar.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:48 PM on October 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:48 PM on October 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
Hey look, the sugru page even has fixing your molded fridge parts as a suggested use.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:50 PM on October 11, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:50 PM on October 11, 2018 [8 favorites]
I have a similar issue with my fridge. It's like they use plastic that gets brittle when it gets cold or something, I swear. be prepared for more of those parts to crack.
I might try to patch the hole with a similar type of plastic, a bit larger than the hole on all sides, using whatever glue is the right glue to "weld" that type. I think there is a glue specific for ABS and I know just regular liquid model glue will weld polystyrene. Once patched, I'd use the same glue to weld the bracket on.
If you want to be thorough you could disassemble the whole fridge door until you can get that entire plastic panel off and then patch it from behind.
posted by bondcliff at 12:50 PM on October 11, 2018
I might try to patch the hole with a similar type of plastic, a bit larger than the hole on all sides, using whatever glue is the right glue to "weld" that type. I think there is a glue specific for ABS and I know just regular liquid model glue will weld polystyrene. Once patched, I'd use the same glue to weld the bracket on.
If you want to be thorough you could disassemble the whole fridge door until you can get that entire plastic panel off and then patch it from behind.
posted by bondcliff at 12:50 PM on October 11, 2018
Honestly, you could probably just epoxy the bar that goes across the front to the door. It's not like snapping in and out is a feature you need.
posted by advicepig at 12:54 PM on October 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 12:54 PM on October 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
You could also use something like Epoxy putty. Mix the two parts into a little ball like you're playing with Play-doh, stick the ball in the hole, spread it a bit, and then stick the bracket into it.
posted by bondcliff at 12:56 PM on October 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 12:56 PM on October 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ditto on using sugru or epoxy, not to push it into the hole, but to roll it into a bead around the hole so that when you press the bar into place, it adheres to the door.
posted by suedehead at 1:27 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by suedehead at 1:27 PM on October 11, 2018
Another option is Gorilla Tape, which I used to fix my fridge. I think putty will be the right form factor for you (epoxy or sugru or whatever), but instead of fixing the plastic you could just tape the bar into place. I ended up really liking how crystal-clear and unnoticable the tape is; my tray drawer lid is going strong after 8 months.
posted by aimedwander at 1:54 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by aimedwander at 1:54 PM on October 11, 2018
You could just stretch some gaffers tape across the whole shelf.
posted by Ideefixe at 2:11 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by Ideefixe at 2:11 PM on October 11, 2018
Possibly a job for sugru. Someone who has used the stuff can be a better judge
I have used Sugru and many other materials to repair things, and Sugru is your best choice here. It handles changes in temperature very well. It sounds like the door plastic has gotten brittle over time so you should spread the Sugru out more on the door side so the force isn't all in one spot.
You could just stretch some gaffers tape across the whole shelf.
Sugru is how I'd decide I ought to fix it if it was my own fridge, and gaffers tape is how I'd fix it temporarily until I repair it in a week or two with Sugru and the gaffers tape would still be there 6 months later. Put a strip of tape against itself where your items touch it so they don't stick.
However, if you don't already own gaffers tape a roll costs more than Sugru.
I'm not looking to drop $500 on a new fridge next month, though obviously if I have to, I guess I will.
If it can't be fixed somehow, couldn't you just not use the shelf?
posted by yohko at 4:26 PM on October 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
I have used Sugru and many other materials to repair things, and Sugru is your best choice here. It handles changes in temperature very well. It sounds like the door plastic has gotten brittle over time so you should spread the Sugru out more on the door side so the force isn't all in one spot.
You could just stretch some gaffers tape across the whole shelf.
Sugru is how I'd decide I ought to fix it if it was my own fridge, and gaffers tape is how I'd fix it temporarily until I repair it in a week or two with Sugru and the gaffers tape would still be there 6 months later. Put a strip of tape against itself where your items touch it so they don't stick.
However, if you don't already own gaffers tape a roll costs more than Sugru.
I'm not looking to drop $500 on a new fridge next month, though obviously if I have to, I guess I will.
If it can't be fixed somehow, couldn't you just not use the shelf?
posted by yohko at 4:26 PM on October 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: If it can't be fixed somehow, couldn't you just not use the shelf?
Oh, that was said in frustration. This fridge's broken door shelf isn't the only problem that makes me want to get rid of the damnable thing (noisy, not an energy-efficient model so my ConEd bill is higher because of that, etc.), but it belongs to the apartment, the landlords have no intention of fixing it, and I'm sure they would not reimburse me if I bought a new one. It's a waste of space in my mind to have small items taking up shelf space on the main part of the fridge when they're the size that fits in the door, and so far it's been very annoying to me to have these items in the "wrong" spot.
Gorilla tape/glue doesn't adhere to this type of plastic. I tried that first thing.
Anyway. I'll try the Sugru and get some of that epoxy putty, too, as a back-up. There's a Home Depot near me, so getting those won't be an issue. Thanks, all.
posted by droplet at 10:15 AM on October 13, 2018
Oh, that was said in frustration. This fridge's broken door shelf isn't the only problem that makes me want to get rid of the damnable thing (noisy, not an energy-efficient model so my ConEd bill is higher because of that, etc.), but it belongs to the apartment, the landlords have no intention of fixing it, and I'm sure they would not reimburse me if I bought a new one. It's a waste of space in my mind to have small items taking up shelf space on the main part of the fridge when they're the size that fits in the door, and so far it's been very annoying to me to have these items in the "wrong" spot.
Gorilla tape/glue doesn't adhere to this type of plastic. I tried that first thing.
Anyway. I'll try the Sugru and get some of that epoxy putty, too, as a back-up. There's a Home Depot near me, so getting those won't be an issue. Thanks, all.
posted by droplet at 10:15 AM on October 13, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by procrastination at 12:44 PM on October 11, 2018