Hi...

I have a new GE microwave (built-in)that was damaged by a sawzall. The saw
went through the back of the microwave, leaving a gash about 2 inches long
and a couple of centimeters wide. This goes through to the inside of the
oven (I can see daylight through the hole).

Is this dangerous to use as is? If so, what is the best repair method?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Michelle

"Michelle" wrote in message
news:kM7nd.6667$J55.5808@trnddc06...
Hi...

I have a new GE microwave (built-in)that was damaged by a sawzall. The
saw
went through the back of the microwave, leaving a gash about 2 inches long
and a couple of centimeters wide. This goes through to the inside of the
oven (I can see daylight through the hole).

Is this dangerous to use as is? If so, what is the best repair method?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Michelle



Open it up and make sure there was no internal damage, chafed wires, holes
in the oven cavity or waveguide, etc. So long as the insides are intact
it'll be fine to use. Personally I would get a piece of steel sheetmetal at
a hardware store and rivet it over the gash just in case.

"Michelle" writes:

Hi...

I have a new GE microwave (built-in)that was damaged by a sawzall. The saw
went through the back of the microwave, leaving a gash about 2 inches long
and a couple of centimeters wide. This goes through to the inside of the
oven (I can see daylight through the hole).

Is this dangerous to use as is?

Yes! There can be significant microwave leakage through a 5x2 cm hole
assuming you mean inside the over cavity. There may also be arcing at
the sharp edges of the hole.

How could someone not notice they were sawing through metal?

If so, what is the best repair method?

If it was a contractor who caused the damage, insurance.

Else, although it can be repaired, I'm not sure I'd want to be living
with something like that for the life of the oven. A metal plate needs
to be electrically bonded to the oven to cover the hole with smooth edges
on the inside to prevent arcing. Then, painted to match.

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"Sam Goldwasser" wrote in message
...
"Michelle" writes:

Hi...

I have a new GE microwave (built-in)that was damaged by a sawzall. The
saw
went through the back of the microwave, leaving a gash about 2 inches
long
and a couple of centimeters wide. This goes through to the inside of
the
oven (I can see daylight through the hole).

Is this dangerous to use as is?

Yes! There can be significant microwave leakage through a 5x2 cm hole
assuming you mean inside the over cavity. There may also be arcing at
the sharp edges of the hole.

How could someone not notice they were sawing through metal?



Whoops, I missed the part about it going into the cavity! Disregard my last
post, if the internal cavity has a hole in it, take the oven to a recycling
place and buy a new one.

"Sam Goldwasser" wrote in message
...
"Michelle" writes:

Hi...

I have a new GE microwave (built-in)that was damaged by a sawzall. The
saw
went through the back of the microwave, leaving a gash about 2 inches
long
and a couple of centimeters wide. This goes through to the inside of
the
oven (I can see daylight through the hole).

Is this dangerous to use as is?

Yes! There can be significant microwave leakage through a 5x2 cm hole
assuming you mean inside the over cavity. There may also be arcing at
the sharp edges of the hole.

How could someone not notice they were sawing through metal?

This is actually a replacement microwave. DH owns water heater company; the
tech got a little happy in the water heater closet sawing through the
sheetrock, into the kitchen and through the back of the brand new microwave
(newbie tech, now knows to shorten his blade - thank goodness no electrical
wires were in the wall).

Anway, DH replaced the customer's microwave and we have the damaged one.
DH says there is no danger, but before I let him install it I said I would
research and find out, as I'd rather not cook my eyeballs or internal
organs.

I may have exaggerated the size a bit, looking at it now it is about 1 inch
long, and about the width of a penny, maybe a nickle, but the edges do curl
up _into_ the oven cavity, and arcing is a very good point.

Thanks for the posts!

Michelle

I may have exaggerated the size a bit, looking at it now it is about 1 inch
long, and about the width of a penny, maybe a nickle, but the edges do curl
up _into_ the oven cavity, and arcing is a very good point.

If you are unsure, just go ahead and replace it.

Prolonged exposure to microwave energy of the amplitude generated by a
microwave oven could cause leukemia. - Reinhart

"LASERandDVDfan" wrote in message
...
I may have exaggerated the size a bit, looking at it now it is about 1
inch
long, and about the width of a penny, maybe a nickle, but the edges do
curl
up _into_ the oven cavity, and arcing is a very good point.

If you are unsure, just go ahead and replace it.

Prolonged exposure to microwave energy of the amplitude generated by a
microwave oven could cause leukemia. - Reinhart

Would probably be worth salvaging the control board, power transformer,
magnetron, etc from the unit though as they're all quite new and could be
used to repair other units. If you take the microwave to an appliance repair
shop they'll probably happily take it off your hands for parts.

Would probably be worth salvaging the control board, power transformer,
magnetron, etc from the unit though as they're all quite new and could be
used to repair other units. If you take the microwave to an appliance repair
shop they'll probably happily take it off your hands for parts.

Absolutely, and a much better alternative to just throwing it out. - Reinhart