Rehabbing metal Refrigerator racks shelves

funktionalart · Jul 30, 2014

Have an old SubZero with all aluminum/steel shelves and racks. Nothing wrong with them, but want maybe to powder coat them in white or dipped in white poly/vinyl maybe. Dunno if this is a bad idea or not.

Anyone done this sort of thing on a restoration? This isn't a pressing issue, just something I'm thinking of to make it a bit cleaner and modern inside.

Is powder coating even a good idea for this application? Am wondering if doing this change will make it too difficult/impossible to put racks back in as any coating may be too thick to allow shelves to fit back into slots?
Any do-it-yourself options like specialty spray paint/vinyl?

kb0nes · Jul 30, 2014

Polyester Epoxy powder coating would be a great choice. You get a fully sealed and hard finish that would be durable and easy to clean. Impervious to just about everything, even the dishwasher.

The coating is fairly thick, although not as thick as a PVC dip would be. I'd expect about .010-.020" coating thickness so provided the slots aren't really tight it should be fine.

There are some do-it-yourself powder coating kits, Eastwood sells one, there even used to be one in the Craftsman tool catalog (is there still a catalog?). The rub with DIY is that you will need an oven big enough to hang the racks in when you reflow the powder.

Go to Google Maps and put in powder coating in your area and call around. You will likely have a minimum batch and it would cost you $80-120 total. You may even have some other parts to toss in the box too.

funktionalart · Jul 30, 2014

Thanks, Phil!

There are several good powder coating businesses out here, so I'm sure someone will do a great job for me. I just wasn't perfectly sure that powder coating was a preferred method. I had the idea in my head that maybe they should be done more like dishwasher racks (dipped?).

Do you think it is possible in powder coating process to tape off / mask the rear mount clips of the shelves so that they don't become any thicker? Installing these shelves, it's clear that there's not a lot of room to play with clearances....they're a pretty snug fit.

combo52 · Jul 30, 2014

Sub-Zero Shelves

Allen are your shelves aluminum or plated steel?, most SZ shelves were plated steel in your refs era, and they did get pretty crummy looking, Epoxy power coating is an excellent way to go, almost all refs that still have metal shelves are EPPCed, if you can still get new shelves from SZ the replacements will likely be white EPCed. If your shelves are aluminum they usually cleanup pretty well, but you could still EPC them.

John L.

funktionalart · Jul 30, 2014

John....I will have to look again~

They're all original and not mismatched but I think some are a combination of alum. frame with steel wire. They're out in the truck so I'm not totally certain right now. They are actually in pretty stellar condition with no issues of any kind. Normally I wouldn't mess about with an original set at all...but when you open these doors...everything looks very busy and dated between the faux wood tape, brassy gold tape and alum/steel frames. I just want to make it clean, bright and tidy for some reason. Since I got this unit so cheap, it doesn't bother me to put a little $ into it....especially if I decide to sell it down the road. It'll look much newer and appealing to someone else.

I think the model year after mine is when SZ began all bright white shelving and drawers with clear acrylic face panels (1988). If any of those side by side models share the dimensions and mounting types/points with mine I may just source a factory made set and swap out.

funktionalart · Jul 30, 2014

Some bad pics of inside...

Taken from a CL ad someone has of an identical unit to what I'm bringing home. Not great pics....but you can get an idea of why I'd like to change this shelving situation a bit.

combo52 · Jul 30, 2014

SZ Interior

Allen you just need an American Motors automobile to go with your new ref, after all they are both made in Wisconsin, LOl. But really I totally agree I would paint over all that trim, or better yet get a newer more efficient SZ or even better a Kitchen-aid Built-In Refrigerator.

funktionalart · Jul 30, 2014

How 'bout a Rambler Wagon??

My family had Ramblers for years and years....Well this SubZero deal~I didn't need one. I have a lovely '97 JennAir Trimmed out from factory to look like a SZ side x side. Serves me well and I love it. Also, for daily use I cannot have a top compressor SZ or KA in the kitchen as my ceiling is exactly 1/2" too low to get one of those units into the room. The things do not fit.

I Just have always wanted a SZ and am happy to have one as a spare for overflow beverage/frozen stuff in my adjacent dining room (which has a proper height ceiling. That's a big part of why I didn't want to blow a lot of cash on one. Having one just isn't "necessary". I'd considered KitchenAid initially, but all the Superba built ins I find are either Superba 42 or 48s. Can't remember the last time I saw a 30 or 36" one. There a a SCREAMING deal on a KA here in town right now. $90. But they're just too big/wide. My rooms aren't large here.

funktionalart · Jul 30, 2014

Ooooops...my mistake on the KA for $90

Looking at it again....it DOES appear to be a 36" width. No dimensions are given...but visually it looks the same as my Jenn Air inside. Unbeatable price if it is running.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/app/4580002021.html