About seven or so years ago, I spotted that a neighbor down the block had put a range out on the curb. I took a quick look and asked her if she was discarding it, and if so, if I could have it. She said "Yes, but the self-cleaning part doesn't work and it's DIRTY". I said I didn't mind, I could clean it, and I planned on using it in the shop anyway. In a matter of minutes I had my appliance dolly out and the range was tucked safely away in part of my shop.
Well, there it sat, collecting dust and boxes on top of it, generally being in the way etc. Several times I thought of getting rid of it, but then I remembered why I wanted it: it's a free standing older Tappan electric coil-top range. Perfect for baking paint on parts, and heat treating items before/after welding, and maybe even for heating up a tea kettle on a cold winter day in the shop. Although there is a gas line run to the shop, I really didn't want to deal with any more open flames back there than necessary, and an electric oven is really better for baking parts anyway.
Well, as part of my decluttering, I finally cleared out a spot for the range - right by the 60 amp 220 volt outlet for the welder. After some tinkering I figured out what the self-cleaning problem was - a bent door lock lever. I cleaned off the outside of the range, the drip bowls, the burners, adjusted the burners so they lie flat, tested them all (they work and I have a nice burn to prove it!), replaced the oven light bulb. Then I set about to do a self-clean. Fortunately the instructions are printed under the oven dials, but it still had me a bit puzzled. The lock light wasn't going on. But in time I realized that it was working, and sure enough after about 15 minutes when the oven got hot enough the solenoid dropped the lock pin and the lock light went on. Hopefully it won't stink up the shop too much or set the place ablaze. In fact I need to go back out there and "observe" the process just to make sure.
Anyway, here's pic of the range, nestled between a welding booth and a small lathe I picked up over the winter.
If you look closely you can see the red "lock" light is on.
Not too bad for a freebie, eh?
Well, there it sat, collecting dust and boxes on top of it, generally being in the way etc. Several times I thought of getting rid of it, but then I remembered why I wanted it: it's a free standing older Tappan electric coil-top range. Perfect for baking paint on parts, and heat treating items before/after welding, and maybe even for heating up a tea kettle on a cold winter day in the shop. Although there is a gas line run to the shop, I really didn't want to deal with any more open flames back there than necessary, and an electric oven is really better for baking parts anyway.
Well, as part of my decluttering, I finally cleared out a spot for the range - right by the 60 amp 220 volt outlet for the welder. After some tinkering I figured out what the self-cleaning problem was - a bent door lock lever. I cleaned off the outside of the range, the drip bowls, the burners, adjusted the burners so they lie flat, tested them all (they work and I have a nice burn to prove it!), replaced the oven light bulb. Then I set about to do a self-clean. Fortunately the instructions are printed under the oven dials, but it still had me a bit puzzled. The lock light wasn't going on. But in time I realized that it was working, and sure enough after about 15 minutes when the oven got hot enough the solenoid dropped the lock pin and the lock light went on. Hopefully it won't stink up the shop too much or set the place ablaze. In fact I need to go back out there and "observe" the process just to make sure.
Anyway, here's pic of the range, nestled between a welding booth and a small lathe I picked up over the winter.
If you look closely you can see the red "lock" light is on.
Not too bad for a freebie, eh?
