Waste King Dishwasher

[rp2813]

Paper towel holders

Andy, that is so awesome!

 

At least we know those tubes were good for something related to cleaning since they performed so miserably at their intended function.

 

[combo52]

WasteKing DW

Thanks for the reminder Andy, I did indeed replace quite a few of those towers, and I still have one good used one left if someone ever needs it, that tower has been NLA for many years now but I cannot think of a single customer that still has one of these DWs in their home.

 

[roto204]

Ah, yes

This machine is a different beast than the Steam Machine. The steamers were great if you ran the steam generator all the time, but if you didn't, then at least on the non-rapid advance machine, you experienced a small delay in washing while the timer trudged through the part where the steam delay would otherwise take place. This cycle of "fill, wash, sit and cool, resume" severely hampered the wash performance.

Having a machine like this minus the steam generator might make up for that.

This machine had some pluses, like a cool upper rack where you could remove all the dividers and have a big, flat basket if you wanted, which was great for prep bowls, because you sure as hell were not going to get bowls in the ultra-rigid, curlicue-tined bottom rack, which commanded structured loading. In desperation, Ralph and I used to perch things on other things, just to be able to cheat and get them into the bottom rack at all. (Oftentimes, stuff stacked over the silverware basket.)

Another plus was the thin, low-profile top wash arm, which reached all parts of the top rack well.

We did have to replace the hinges on ours when we started the restoration, but I believe John pointed out back then that custom cabinet panels with their heft tended to cause bent hinges over time anyway, and ours came with one of those ridiculously heavy cabinetry inserts.

These are fun machines if you find one in good condition, and they're handsome too. The Steam Machine we had performed slightly more poorly on the regular cycle than a D&M; if we ran the full steam cycle, considerably better, especially with baked-on stuff.

 

[alsaroy]

My Mom's WasteKing

This is the exact machine we grew up with, I beleive circa 1971? For an expensive, "upscale" DW it really was quite lacking in features and was noisy.. Only one main cycle and rinse and hold. So called pots and pans cycle was really only a normal cycle with no heat dry instead. The timer was concealed behind a plastic cover so you could not advance the program. There was no cancel, drain feature. Once it was turned on, you could not stop it. But I did figure out that if you pried off the timer cover, you could advance it with your fingers. After many repairs, motor replacement, detergent dispenser, it lasted about 12 years, a respectable run. Replaced by a much better cleaning Whirlpool.

 

[alsaroy]

My Mom's WasteKing

This is the exact machine we grew up with, I beleive circa 1971? For an expensive, "upscale" DW it really was quite lacking in features and was noisy.. Only one main cycle and rinse and hold. So called pots and pans cycle was really only a normal cycle with no heat dry instead. The timer was concealed behind a plastic cover so you could not advance the program. There was no cancel, drain feature. Once it was turned on, you could not stop it. But I did figure out that if you pried off the timer cover, you could advance it with your fingers. After many repairs, motor replacement, detergent dispenser, it lasted about 12 years, a respectable run. Replaced by a much better cleaning Whirlpool.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

I agree with Combo52 and RCD.

Nothing about these DWs was very good in any respect. From flumpy build quality to poor washing performance these are mediocre machines at best. A WP, GE, or KA were much better.
WK78

 

[volsboy1]

Yea we had a rental years ago that had Wasteking dishwasher's after my Gram bought the place they were always leaking and going

through the ceiling under it.Nobody would touch them with a ten foot pole and these Apartments were not cheap to rent.She had to 

replace all of the dishwasher's with Bosch dishwasher's..

 

[appnut]

perch things on other things, just to be able to cheat and

Where do you folks think I learned how to "BobLoad".  It originated with our 1968 WK.  Stuff over the smaller plates put in the front.  Both WKs, one of the flatware baskets was immediately removed.  Could put a deep mixing bowl there or a cake pan on that right side or a skillet.  For a family of 5 the left side held enough dinner plates and smaller plates.  The whole right side of the bottom could be used for all sorts of bulky stuff.  Mom had a pasta pot with strainer insert that fit just right on the front right side.  More than one large cookie sheet was a challenge--mom bought some smaller ones so all of them would fit in the load lol.  Only other "challenge" were Texas-size ice tea glasses--they usually ended up being put in the bottom rack.  Roy, regarding the cookware cycle--it was the full cycloe without heated dry.  BUT, the 3rd & final rinse had about 6 or 7 minute span on timer dial for allowing initial water heating pause before thermostat turned off timer to assure 155 degrees was reached.  On Cookware, that final rinse ran for about 8 minutes.  No heat on utensil/cookware cycle (or very little) was very much a late 1950s and 1960s approach.  Our 1960 WK, the Pot/Pan cycle ended after the first post rinse.  The moveable/removable upper rack dividiers didn't become a feature until this particular series was brouight out in early 1970s. 

 

[volsboy1]

I would buy this thing is a sec if it was around here.I love Old Wasteking disposer's and I did fix some leaks on some of these with J&B Weld that stuff works pretty good but, you have to get the mix just right.

 

[volsboy1]

Here is another thing I have

 

[rp2813]

One thing the WK/Thermadors did well

At least from my experience with the THD 3600, I never have enjoyed more thorough drying from any other dishwasher.  I almost never had to wipe out cup bottoms upon removal from that machine. 

 

Here's a shot of a finished BobLoad in my Thermador.  As Nate mentioned above, the upper arm on these machines is very thin, and as a result the platter seen in the picture was able to clear it. The bottom rack wasn't designed for the weight of a BobLoad and would flex as a result.  It would also run off its rails with just an average load.  Also notice how the poor design caused the wheels to scrape the door gasket and chew it up. 

 

Once I had conquered the overly restrictive lower rack on that machine, I was beyond ready to move on to something more capable and accommodating and was thrilled to find an ISE Classic Supreme for a mere $25.  I quickly 86'd the Thundering Blundering Thermador and never looked back.

 

[appnut]

Well I can attest racks from 1968 were far more sturdy than what you describe!!! Never had any issues such as you described. And I can think of a few very heavy things that were put in there over the years and never flinched.