Folks

QUick one. Microwave oven packed up recently with crackling sound and
smell of burnt-out circuitry. It now (rather predictably) doesn't cook
anything: the lights are on but there is nobody home g.

It's a large model, 10+ years old, and is just a microwave oven with
no grill feature. It's in good nick though. Is it going to be worth
getting this repaired, or should I ditch it and replace it with a new
one (£80) ? NB bearing in mind the type of work involved, I wasn't
planning on attempting the repair myself.

opinions?
ta
Dave P

It's a large model, 10+ years old, and is just a microwave oven with
no grill feature. It's in good nick though. Is it going to be worth
getting this repaired,

Chuck it.

Christian.

A repair would never be economical on parts alone, forget the labour.

Our microwave packed up last year and our first thoughts were to rush
out and grab another. But we've found we've coped pretty well without
one. Plus I never liked standing near the bloody thing when it was on.

"StealthUK" wrote in message
ups.com...
A repair would never be economical on parts alone, forget the labour.

Our microwave packed up last year and our first thoughts were to rush
out and grab another. But we've found we've coped pretty well without
one. Plus I never liked standing near the bloody thing when it was on.

We've never had one and I can't say that I've ever yearned for one. I don't
know what they're for!

Mary

In article ,
"Mary Fisher" writes:

"StealthUK" wrote in message
ups.com...
A repair would never be economical on parts alone, forget the labour.

Our microwave packed up last year and our first thoughts were to rush
out and grab another. But we've found we've coped pretty well without
one. Plus I never liked standing near the bloody thing when it was on.

We've never had one and I can't say that I've ever yearned for one. I don't
know what they're for!

Cooking frozen green vegetables and Christmas puddings (on both of which
they do a far better job than panfuls of water on a hob) and part-cooking
jacket potatoes to get the job done quicker. I also use ours for reheating
leftover Chinese/Indian takeaways, but I suspect that's an acquired taste.

I had a new magnetron installed in ours for what seemed like an economic sum
at the time, a good few years ago. It gives the impression of starting to
die off again. I've looked at replacements, but it always strikes me that
the user interfaces must be designed by autistic chimpanzees.
--
SAm.

On 3 Feb 2005 05:20:55 -0800, (Dave Phillips) wrote:

Folks

QUick one. Microwave oven packed up recently with crackling sound and
smell of burnt-out circuitry. It now (rather predictably) doesn't cook
anything: the lights are on but there is nobody home g.

It's a large model, 10+ years old, and is just a microwave oven with
no grill feature. It's in good nick though. Is it going to be worth
getting this repaired, or should I ditch it and replace it with a new
one (£80) ? NB bearing in mind the type of work involved, I wasn't
planning on attempting the repair myself.

opinions?
ta
Dave P

Hi,

Advertise it on Ebay for 99p to collect, or offer it to a repair
place; it might be useful to someone as spares.

cheers,
Pete.

We've never had one and I can't say that I've ever yearned for one. I
don't know what they're for!

Mary

They are a useful addition to the other, more conventional, forms of cookery
devices. You can make superb scrambled eggs in one and I often cook some
bacon in mine as well.

Peter Crosland

Sam Nelson wrote:

Cooking frozen green vegetables and Christmas puddings (on both of which
they do a far better job than panfuls of water on a hob) and part-cooking

Long ago when microwave ovens were a new fangled thing my mother put the
christmas pud in one. There wee no instuctions about how long to cook it
for so she reckoned the limit of the timer (about an hour) might be
about right -- there wasn't anything left to flambe in brandy after a
few minutes.

I had a new magnetron installed in ours for what seemed like an economic sum
at the time, a good few years ago. It gives the impression of starting to
die off again. I've looked at replacements, but it always strikes me that
the user interfaces must be designed by autistic chimpanzees.

I have that problem when I consider what will happpen when my Philips
'Space Cube 40' expires. (still going strong after 20 years) Two buttons
to set the time up and down, two buttons to do the same for power level
and a start button. Why do all the new ones need a button for every item
in the larder and a weight calculator?

--
David Clark

$message_body_include ="PLES RING IF AN RNSR IS REQIRD"

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 16:56:34 -0000, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:


We've never had one and I can't say that I've ever yearned for one. I don't
know what they're for!

Spotted Dick, Apple Dumpling, any steamed sponge puddings, Christmas
pudding. All much better than any other method of making them and
much quicker.

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

"Sam Nelson" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Mary Fisher" writes:

"StealthUK" wrote in message
ups.com...
A repair would never be economical on parts alone, forget the labour.

Our microwave packed up last year and our first thoughts were to rush
out and grab another. But we've found we've coped pretty well without
one. Plus I never liked standing near the bloody thing when it was on.

We've never had one and I can't say that I've ever yearned for one. I
don't
know what they're for!

Cooking frozen green vegetables

Don't use them.

and Christmas puddings (on both of which
they do a far better job than panfuls of water on a hob)

Even if I believed that - once a year??? Come on!

and part-cooking
jacket potatoes to get the job done quicker.

They're done with other things in the oven.

I also use ours for reheating
leftover Chinese/Indian takeaways, but I suspect that's an acquired taste.

I cook Indian and Chinese occasionally. There are never any leftovers. Nor
of any other kind of cooking.

So you use it for frozen vegetables, Christmas puddings, part-cooking
potatoes and reheating leftovers.

Hmm.

Mary

Mary
--
SAm.

"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
...
We've never had one and I can't say that I've ever yearned for one. I
don't know what they're for!

Mary

They are a useful addition to the other, more conventional, forms of
cookery devices. You can make superb scrambled eggs in one and I often
cook some bacon in mine as well.

I'll add scrambled eggs and bacon to the list then.

I don't think a microwave could do it better than I can though.

Mary

Peter Crosland

"Peter Parry" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 16:56:34 -0000, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:


We've never had one and I can't say that I've ever yearned for one. I
don't
know what they're for!

Spotted Dick, Apple Dumpling, any steamed sponge puddings, Christmas
pudding. All much better than any other method of making them

Have you done a comparitive test?

and
much quicker.

That depends on wht else you're cooking at the same time. I wouldn't be
without my tiered electric steamer.

Mary

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

"Dave Phillips" wrote in message
...
Folks

QUick one. Microwave oven packed up recently with crackling sound and
smell of burnt-out circuitry. It now (rather predictably) doesn't cook
anything: the lights are on but there is nobody home g.

It's a large model, 10+ years old, and is just a microwave oven with
no grill feature. It's in good nick though. Is it going to be worth
getting this repaired, or should I ditch it and replace it with a new
one (£80) ? NB bearing in mind the type of work involved, I wasn't
planning on attempting the repair myself.

opinions?
ta
Dave P

IMHO it might be worth getting a quote.
Older m/waves are far more robust than modern examples. Also easier to
use/program/control.
My one is about 20 years old. Sharp, I think, from memory. Combined m/wave
& oven.
We had a gas main fail locally at Christmas time many years ago. Cooked a
20lb turkey & all the bits using the m/wave. Don't remember any problems. I
think we did trim the legs to allow it to rotate
The only time it has given a problem was when I tried to warm 10 litres of
140w gear oil on a frosty morning.
Don't know why it did that, I even used a plastic container!
The very nice people came and fixed it under warranty. It did pong a bit
though!
I don't know much of modern m/waves but suspect the older ones have bigger
cooking spaces (which may or may not be a bonus).
If you do scrap it, you might thinking about removing the magnetron and
retrieving the 2, or 4, magnets. Very strong circular jobbies and great fun
for children (grandchildren) to muck about with. Only a few screws to
remove and tearing (literally) the magnetron apart.
Good luck

Nick.

"Nick" wrote in message
...


If you do scrap it, you might thinking about removing the magnetron and
retrieving the 2, or 4, magnets. Very strong circular jobbies and great
fun
for children (grandchildren) to muck about with. Only a few screws to
remove and tearing (literally) the magnetron apart.

Now that IS a good reason for having one!

I have a collection of such things, from televisions (other people's) and
more recently from hard drives. Wonderful things.

Our children and more latterly have had great fun- and learned about
magnetism - by trying to fit one together.

Mary

Good luck

Nick.

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 20:12:59 -0000, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

"Peter Parry" wrote
Spotted Dick, Apple Dumpling, any steamed sponge puddings, Christmas
pudding. All much better than any other method of making them

Have you done a comparitive test?

Oh yes - many. The microwave version is, quite simply, better.
Having been brought up on such delicacies steaming them was the usual
way of cooking them and when I graduated to making them by this
means, whilst not wishing to be forward in such things, the results
were never criticised.

I was introduced to the microwave method some 20 years ago and
extensive testing since then has proven conclusively that the
microwave produces lighter (a comparative rather than absolute term
with suet puddings obviously) and tastier offerings without any
doubt. The cooking time is reduced to minutes rather than hours -
but the real bonus is the higher quality. As far as Christmas
puddings are concerned I still prefer to do the first steaming in the
usual way but the second is always done in the microwave.

That depends on wht else you're cooking at the same time. I wouldn't be
without my tiered electric steamer.

Which was the way I was brought up to cook them, and I still have the
"Radiation" cookery book which came with every gas stove and the
three tier steamer with valves to burn your fingers on. However,
there really is little comparison. The microwave version is superior
in all respects

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

"Peter Parry" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 20:12:59 -0000, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

"Peter Parry" wrote
Spotted Dick, Apple Dumpling, any steamed sponge puddings, Christmas
pudding. All much better than any other method of making them

Have you done a comparitive test?

Oh yes - many. The microwave version is, quite simply, better.
Having been brought up on such delicacies steaming them was the usual
way of cooking them and when I graduated to making them by this
means, whilst not wishing to be forward in such things, the results
were never criticised.

I was introduced to the microwave method some 20 years ago and
extensive testing since then has proven conclusively that the
microwave produces lighter (a comparative rather than absolute term
with suet puddings obviously)

The suet puddings I make couldn't be lighter! I fill the basins less than
half full and they still rise well above the top.

and tastier

Nor tastier. The quality of the ingredients guarantees that.

offerings without any
doubt. The cooking time is reduced to minutes rather than hours -
but the real bonus is the higher quality. As far as Christmas
puddings are concerned I still prefer to do the first steaming in the
usual way but the second is always done in the microwave.

The second is just to re-heat and doesn't take long.

That depends on wht else you're cooking at the same time. I wouldn't be
without my tiered electric steamer.

Which was the way I was brought up to cook them, and I still have the
"Radiation" cookery book which came with every gas stove and the
three tier steamer with valves to burn your fingers on. However,
there really is little comparison. The microwave version is superior
in all respects

You didn't read what I said. I have and occasionally use a conventional
steamer but I said that I wouldn't be without my tiered ELECTRIC steamer.
It's very different. I don't know why it's more efficient but it is. It also
has a much larger capacity than the round metal ones, a large number of
items of many sizes can be cooked at the same time. There's no risk of
boiling dry, it's timed and you can see what's happening, should you want
to, while it's cooking.

It doesn't take up much room either and can be stored away from where it's
used.

Mary

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

Nick wrote:
"Dave Phillips" wrote in message
...

Folks

QUick one. Microwave oven packed up recently with crackling sound
and
smell of burnt-out circuitry. It now (rather predictably) doesn't
cook
anything: the lights are on but there is nobody home g.

It's a large model, 10+ years old, and is just a microwave oven
with
no grill feature. It's in good nick though. Is it going to be worth
getting this repaired, or should I ditch it and replace it with a
new
one (=A380) ? NB bearing in mind the type of work involved, I
wasn't
planning on attempting the repair myself.

opinions?
ta
Dave P


The days of it being worthwile getting things repaired by the
authorised dealer with the big shop are all but gone.

But there is still some market left in the repair biz, namely with the
more competitive shops. Ie small premises, little stock, situated on
estates where property is cheap, and no money wasted on things like
paint jobs and advertising boards. Those kind of places are still worth
asking.


NT

StealthUK wrote:
A repair would never be economical on parts alone, forget the labour.

Our microwave packed up last year and our first thoughts were to rush
out and grab another. But we've found we've coped pretty well without
one. Plus I never liked standing near the bloody thing when it was on.

It depends on the quality.
A 30 quid basic microwave you'd be insane to repair.

A 270 quid 40l convection oven/grill/microwave stainless one, possibly not.
I've at the moment got a 27 quid PCB for the oven arriving, to repair it.
ENSURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE OPENING A MICROWAVE, THEY ARE
THE MOST LETHAL DOMESTIC APPLIANCE TO REPAIR.

quisquiliae wrote:
snip
I have that problem when I consider what will happpen when my Philips
'Space Cube 40' expires. (still going strong after 20 years) Two buttons
to set the time up and down, two buttons to do the same for power level
and a start button. Why do all the new ones need a button for every item
in the larder and a weight calculator?

Because more buttons are obviously better...
Sigh.

And the buttons are often rather less visible than they could be.
I overlayed the buttons in my last microwave with a laminated bit of paper
with actual reasonable sized text.

The ideal interface would probably be a menu driven one.
I'd want to be able to either select a time and power simply, or do
something more complex.
For example to set up a memory for stew, nuke at 100% power for 30 mins,
then keep oven on at 110C for 2 hours.

Arbitrary decisions like "we've only got 20 buttons to use, or the front
panel becomes too busy", leading to "I know, let's leave off the numbers,
and just have 10 min/1min/10s buttons" type decisions (meaning that for 7
minutes you've go to press the button 7 times, not just "700") are just
annoying.
However, this means a larger LCD, which actually costs money.

In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

and Christmas puddings (on both of which
they do a far better job than panfuls of water on a hob)

Even if I believed that - once a year??? Come on!

Once a year? I stock up on them around Christmas and then eat them over the
next year. I *love* Christmas pud

So you use it for frozen vegetables, Christmas puddings, part-cooking
potatoes and reheating leftovers.

We also use ours for sterilizing bottles for sprog2 and reheating easily
and quickly previously homecooked and then frozen baby food. Doing that
any other way takes a lot longer and create much more washing up.

Darren

"Dave Phillips" wrote in message
...
Folks

QUick one. Microwave oven packed up recently with crackling sound and
smell of burnt-out circuitry. It now (rather predictably) doesn't cook
anything: the lights are on but there is nobody home g.

It's a large model, 10+ years old, and is just a microwave oven with
no grill feature. It's in good nick though. Is it going to be worth
getting this repaired, or should I ditch it and replace it with a new
one (£80) ? NB bearing in mind the type of work involved, I wasn't
planning on attempting the repair myself.

My 12 year old Boots own brand went back recently. Changed internal 5A fuse,
blew it immediately. Fault was failed HV diode, causing protector to short,
shorting the HV transformer. Bought a new diode and protector from CPC for
about £5, fitted works fine.

"dmc" wrote in message ...

We also use ours for sterilizing bottles for sprog2 and reheating easily
and quickly previously homecooked and then frozen baby food. Doing that
any other way takes a lot longer and create much more washing up.

I didn't use bottles for any of our litter, that takes even less time and
washing up, no equipment, perfect temperature all the time, constantly
available, no sterilising ... etc. I did it myself - thus being in keeping
with the group.

When they were weaned we didn't have a fridge, never mind a freezer. They
ate what we ate, whizzed in the Kenwood. The best aid ever.

It seems to me that modern parents make an awful lot of work for themselves.

Mary

Darren

Arbitrary decisions like "we've only got 20 buttons to use, or the front
panel becomes too busy", leading to "I know, let's leave off the numbers,
and just have 10 min/1min/10s buttons" type decisions (meaning that for 7
minutes you've go to press the button 7 times, not just "700") are just
annoying.

Agreed. When purchasing a microwave, having a keypad with numbers, rather
than +10, +100, etc, is an absolute requirement. I simply won't buy a
microwave without proper numbers.

Christian.

When they were weaned we didn't have a fridge, never mind a freezer.
They ate what we ate, whizzed in the Kenwood. The best aid ever.

That requires you to eat "traditional" food though. I not sure what the
little ones would make of my curries. I'm also not sure what the Kenwood
would make of an anchovy and halapeno pizza.

It seems to me that modern parents make an awful lot of work for
themselves.

Actually, the little jars of food are extremely low work. Just open the lid
and spoon into their gobs. Then wash jar and give to MOL, who uses them to
store needlework stuff and sorted art materials. The only other washing up
is the spoon. The ingredients lists are surprisingly clear of anything
nasty, i.e. anything other than the actual food described on the label.
Certainly no additives of any kind.

Christian.

You have to buy them. They cost more than a spoonful from your plate -

I'm quite sure about that. At 30p a jar, I suspect it is actually cheaper
than giving her some of ours!

there's no extra washing up if you all eat at the same time.

But I hate washing up the mixer!

Christian.

In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

"dmc" wrote in message ...

We also use ours for sterilizing bottles for sprog2 and reheating easily
and quickly previously homecooked and then frozen baby food. Doing that
any other way takes a lot longer and create much more washing up.

I didn't use bottles for any of our litter, that takes even less time and
washing up, no equipment, perfect temperature all the time, constantly
available, no sterilising ... etc. I did it myself - thus being in keeping
with the group.

Thats all well and good if you can do it. My wife has to work so that we
can afford a house down south. This mean sprogs at nursury so bottles are
required.

She is a teacher and if she didn't work then we wouldn't be able to afford
a house around here on my salary...

When they were weaned we didn't have a fridge, never mind a freezer. They
ate what we ate, whizzed in the Kenwood. The best aid ever.

Exactly what we do when we eat with them.

It seems to me that modern parents make an awful lot of work for themselves.

Its a lot easier with a microwave though

Darren

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
. net...
You have to buy them. They cost more than a spoonful from your plate -

I'm quite sure about that. At 30p a jar, I suspect it is actually cheaper
than giving her some of ours!

there's no extra washing up if you all eat at the same time.

But I hate washing up the mixer!

It was only the glass goblet!

Far easier than bottles!

Mary

Christian.

"Christian McArdle" wrote
| When they were weaned we didn't have a fridge, never mind
| a freezer. They ate what we ate, whizzed in the Kenwood.
| The best aid ever.
| That requires you to eat "traditional" food though. I not sure
| what the little ones would make of my curries.

What do little Indian babies eat?

| I'm also not sure what the Kenwood
| would make of an anchovy and halapeno pizza.

I'm not sure what /I/ would make of an achovy and halapeno pizza.

Owain

It was only the glass goblet!

Far easier than bottles!

Oh, we don't use bottles. Far more convenient the natural way when it comes
to drinking.

Christian.

"Owain" wrote in message
...
"Christian McArdle" wrote
| When they were weaned we didn't have a fridge, never mind
| a freezer. They ate what we ate, whizzed in the Kenwood.
| The best aid ever.
| That requires you to eat "traditional" food though. I not sure
| what the little ones would make of my curries.

What do little Indian babies eat?

The ones I know are weaned onto what their parents re eating.

| I'm also not sure what the Kenwood
| would make of an anchovy and halapeno pizza.

I'm not sure what /I/ would make of an achovy and halapeno pizza.

To be honest, I don't know what it is ... anchovies I know and love, pizza I
make and love, halapeno???

Mary

Owain

In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

To be honest, I don't know what it is ... anchovies I know and love, pizza I
make and love, halapeno???


jalapeño I suspect

Darren

"dmc" wrote in message ...
In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

To be honest, I don't know what it is ... anchovies I know and love, pizza
I
make and love, halapeno???


jalapeño I suspect

Just as much in the dark!

Mary

Darren

In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

jalapeño I suspect

Just as much in the dark!

Ok...

http://www.answers.com/jalapeno

better?

Darren

"dmc" wrote in message ...
In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

jalapeño I suspect

Just as much in the dark!

Ok...

http://www.answers.com/jalapeno

How kind :-)

better?

Well, I understand now. Thank you!


I didn't know pizzas were made with hot peppersbut there you go - I live a
sheltered life! There are so many varieties to make that I've never thought
about it.

Mary

Darren

er - it takes 12 minutes from start to finish on the cooker, including
only
2 minutes with the flame under it ...

But with a microwave, you stick it in and can go off and have a bath. With a
pan, it requires attention.

Christian.

| That requires you to eat "traditional" food though. I not sure
| what the little ones would make of my curries.

What do little Indian babies eat?

Not one of my curries. I'm sure they have much more skilfully prepared (and,
more importantly, milder) concoctions.

Christian.

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
. net...
er - it takes 12 minutes from start to finish on the cooker, including
only
2 minutes with the flame under it ...

But with a microwave, you stick it in and can go off and have a bath.

In 15 minutes???

With a
pan, it requires attention.

Very little and I'm cooking other things anyway :-)

It's called multi-tasking, what females are for.

Mary

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
. net...
| That requires you to eat "traditional" food though. I not sure
| what the little ones would make of my curries.

What do little Indian babies eat?

Not one of my curries. I'm sure they have much more skilfully prepared

I expect so!

(and,
more importantly, milder) concoctions.

I think you need to taste real food instead of having to spice it hot to
give you an oral sensation!

Mary

Christian.

I think you need to taste real food instead of having to spice it hot to
give you an oral sensation!

Nah. I'm not that bad really. My overly hot days were back at university.

My real objection is to getting the mixer out and cleaning it up afterwards.

Christian.

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...
....
When they were weaned we didn't have a fridge, never mind a freezer. They
ate what we ate, whizzed in the Kenwood.

Isn't letting kids have a whizz in the Kenwood a bit unhygenic?

Colin Bignell