Thanks to kennyg (Goatfarmer)

[danemodsandy]

I just wanted to give public thanks to Ken, who very generously and graciously sent me a "Small Load" button for my Maytag LA108. My machine no longer looks gap-toothed, and I'm grateful.

Next up- refinishing of the gold on the control panels!

Thanks again, Ken!

 

[rickr]

Kenny is a friend of mine, and I can tell you he's a great guy. We toured a very old junkyard a couple times last spring, and he took this pix of me.

Glad your vintage Maytag restoration is coming along. Be sure to share some pixs when they are finished!

 

[danemodsandy]

rickr: Porcelain Tops

Thanks for the encouragement, and of course I'll post photos when I'm done. I have a question for you:

My immediate goal is to get these machines looking good again. But once I've corrected all the cosmetic problems, I also want to change their colour, from the dread Almond to white. Since Maytag put porcelain tops on both washers and dryers back then, I'm going to need white ones to replace the Almond ones. Do you have any idea how difficult/expensive finding these might be? This is not something I can do right away (money's tight just now), but when the time comes, I really do want to get these the right colour.

Thanks for any insights!

 

[mixfinder]

The First Born (Cesarian?!?")

Sandy,
I have often wondered why white Maytags are never available when I want to buy them and then nobody wants a white Maytag when I have one to sell?
I has been a lament my entire life as a collecter. Painting, switching tops, finding someone to paint cabinets etcs, is a horrendous effort. I'd hate to see you do that and then find a white Maytag with lighted console, for $15.00 the next time you pull up at the Salvation Army.
Relax into knowing the Universe wants all the Maytags saved and protected and you're the perfect one to shelter them. You believe and they'll come!
Kelly

 

[danemodsandy]

Kelly:

I think the effort and expense of the colour switch will be worth it to me, since by then the mechanical condition of the machines will be a known quantity. I've already put quite a bit of work into getting them up to snuff mechanically. Once I have machines that I'm pretty sure will last over the long haul, then the colour change feels like an investment to me.

Am I wrong?

 

[mixfinder]

Wrong?

My Beloved Sandy,
Let me the very first say there is no wrong. In the eyes of many, wrong begins the moment we choose vintage appliances. I was being somewhat tongue in cheek, having spent days, gallons of gas, hundreds of dollars to get a vintage appliance I want, just the way I want it. It is like adopting a baby and then finding out you're pregnant. I bought a Flair, from Columbus, Ohio, off ebay. $600.00 and weeks later the stove arrived, but I had found three, 2 of them free, all close to where I lived, in the interim.
Kelly

 

[danemodsandy]

Kellito:

"I bought a Flair, from Columbus, Ohio, off ebay. $600.00 and weeks later the stove arrived, but I had found three, 2 of them free, all close to where I lived, in the interim."

OUCH.

I shall proceed with caution. 'Nuff said.

 

[rickr]

Repainting machines

Sandy, the tops do not need to be replaced, if you do not mind painted tops. These 1965 Kenmores had hard use, and the enamel was damaged on the tops. These were turquoise machines,so I wanted to restore them. I had the damaged porcelain blasted off the tops, then the entire cabinets were repainted at an auto body shop. These were done in the spring of 2003. Of course I am careful wish all my machines, and these do not have a chip or a scratch on them. While automotive paint is not as durable as porcelain, todays automotive paints are VERY durable. With reasonable care, the painted tops should hold up very well.
Maytag cabinets are very easy to change, and unlike the WP/KM you do not have to "gut" the machine. So it would be a fairly easy job to do.

 

[spinout]

Repainting...

Specify a catalytic paint (using a cyanoacrylate hardener and/or urethane)and you will have a more durable finish than porcelain, as it resists chipping better.

rickr--those are beautiful machines. I have a '64 LK, an original Turquoise machine that is awaiting a full restoration and I'm going to repaint one of my white dryers to match.

P.S.: I have the PPG formula for matching the original KM Turquoise paint if anyone wants it for a colour change.

 

[goatfarmer]

Thanks, Sandy, glad I could help!

Rick, I've been back to the yard a few times in the last couple of months. Roy,the owner is still as spry as you or me, but moving a little slower these days. We need to go exploring again...

 

[rickr]

Let's do that Kenny! Sounds like a great idea. Sometime between the muddy weather, and when the weeds come back up.

Thanks Spinout! Can't wait to see your Lady K.

 

[wannapinkset]

personally, I can take damage easier than new paint. Porcelain is rock hard, no auto paint compares.

 

[rickr]

To each his own. I would much rather have something that was perfect, than something that was scratched, chipped, faded, or the incorrect colour.