Is there a better way....

[turquoisedude]

I'm still tinkering with the '59 Frigidaires down in Ogden and one of the to-do's is replace the lint filter in the Imperial dryer.  

 

The original filter 'screen' was made out of fabric, with a fairly fine mesh.  I had thought about using a piece of sheer curtain material but chickened out in case it melted.  My current thinking is use some aluminum window screen material.  It's a bit harder to work with (in the photo I'm trying to glue the screen to the support assembly).   The glue held, but before I go too far, would this screen be to coarse?   It looks a lot like the screen on my older Whirlpool and Inglis dryers so I thought it may be ok... 

 

[foraloysius]

Hopefully that works. If not perhaps cheese cloth would be an option. It's pure cotton and probably more heat resistant than curtain material. The downside is that it might wear down faster.

 

[jetcone]

The Early GE's used window screen

only problem was after years it starts to rust. What about fiberglass screening?

 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Louis, I did consider cheesecloth and I may still use it as a secondary liner above the metal one. 

 

Jon, I also considered the fibreglas screen but was afraid it might not hold up...  Well, if the metal rusts out, guess what plan 'B' will be... 

 

I'll hopefully get to finally use the dryer soon!

 

[kb0nes]

Paul,

I'm not sure about US/Canada shipping but for a need like this try pointing your browser at McMaster-Carr!

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-mesh-filters/=yv4ek8

As you can see they have lots of options for metal mesh. You can get stainless, brass or Nickle Chrome etc. Search on insect screening also, they even offer stainless window screen!

One thing I like about McMaster is that they often list suggested max temp of various materials. They have a few plastic screen options too. The fiberglass window screening would hold up, although if its PVC coated the coating may not. Max temp should be about 200F I'd think.

If you choose a metal mesh that isn't welded, you could form it into a shape by pressing it into a form. High temp epoxy or silicone could attach it to your filter frame.

McMaster is a great resource for the mad scientist or just crazy folks that are looking to resurrect appliances of yesteryear. They have a nice App too for couch browsing!

 

[turquoisedude]

Thanks, Phil!  I never even thought of trying McMaster-Carr - shipping is not a problem as I keep a US PO Box just over the border from Ogden.   

 

[tomturbomatic]

Actually the first lint screens in the 1957 GE dryers were Dacron, but were changed to metal screen soon after.

 

[northwesty]

How long is dryer vent tube to the outdoors?

I say forget about the thing altogether and vent straight outdoors. Try it and see, it won't be too bad.

Check out the system on the 51 Kenmore, that's the one I use.

Brian

 

[turquoisedude]

Unfortunately, the ducting system in Ogden is kinda non-standard (no surprise there!)  I need to add a booster to the system at some point... 

 

That's an interesting fact about the '51 Kenmore dryer!  I never noticed any kind of a filter or lint trap on it and just figured it was MIA.  Good to know for when I finally DO get around to working on it - thanks!!!

 

[jetcone]

SS screens

hola that would be like what was on our 1962 GE Clothes Conditioner

 

[turquoisedude]

Well, I wound up sticking with the aluminum window screen or more correctly perhaps, JB Welding with window screen... LOL   

 

I still need to complete the gluing and trim off the rough edges, but an initial test on Saturday of the DI59 dryer on its first-ever automatic cycle went off without a hitch!  Enough lint seemed to be caught but I'll be keeping an eye on it as I get back into the indoor drying season.  

 

[jetcone]

Yay!

again, YAY!