Broken Plastic Microwave Handle - Cheap & Easy Fix

Kenmore Elite Advantium (applies generically). Another garbage component designed to fail and what to do about it when you can't get a replacement part...make it stronger than the original! Thanks in advance for your likes and subscribes. They matter and are much appreciated!

[@skipperpippins7538]

2309 views and only 15 likes(16 now) with 2 dislikes??? People are a** holes man. You deserve some monetizing for this video. Seriously, first three videos I found were all remove and replace videos like I couldn't freakin figure that out on my own if I wanted to pay Kenmore 90 bucks for a piece of plastic. You helped me see the simple solution I was looking for while I was just over-thinking it! And you did a great job in the process!(not ugly at all after the black paint, ignore the haters.) Thank you for your time and effort on this video. Made my night man. (and fixed my POS microwave handle!)

[@SuperNewKittie]

Thanks so much for the hope this video offers vs. having to buy another microwave. We need to start boycotting companies that do planned obsolescence like this. Over a simple plastic microwave handle that GE stopped making, I am looking at having to throw out a perfectly good microwave over a cheap piece of plastic that shouldn't be that hard for them to keep manufacturing. My microwave is 14 years old, but it still works perfectly in every way. GE is the culprit in this case!

[@blueseruser]

I have the same problem , with the exception that only the bottom screw is broke ,glad I found your video and subscribed to your channel,

[@brandonbacklund865]

Thank you! Was trying to figure this out on my own and having no luck--saved me from giving up!

[@johnniechestnut3781]

My microwave is Kenmore, just what I needed, thank you.

[@ranajitsequali6466]

Thank you buddy. I fixed my microwave with your help.

[@wirechair]

Was it very expensive?

[@jessthehotmess6587]

Thanks!

[@TT-tu3wr]

Thanks. I'll get started tomorrow.

[@42lookc]

That's a good fix, but I don't understand why you didn't put the nut on the inside of the door and the Philips head on the outside of the handle. It would look much more finished that way. At least it's not too late to turn them around.

[@DoctorFixMaster]

It's a good idea, but there isn't enough room in there to get a wrench or pliers to tighten a nut down. That's why I put the nut on the outside.

[@freemab222]

@@DoctorFixMaster For future reference, an acorn nut would have looked nicer. Using the Dremel on the handle is a good idea.

[@DoctorFixMaster]

@@freemab222 :D Been there done that...as you well know. :D

[@godspeed2145]

@@DoctorFixMaster needle 'nose pliers' didn't fit? just curious

[@DoctorFixMaster]

@@godspeed2145 Maybe, but torqueing a nut with needle nose pliers is sketchy. If you lose your grip on it, which is very common doing it that way, you can lose the nut in the door and then your door doubles as a rattle. :)

[@waitingtohear]

update: it's now been two years and the silicone has kept that handle in place with no issues. God Bless Silicone!

[@waitingtohear]

My handle just broke off today. I"m going to use silicone sealant to glue it back in place. The nice thing about sealant is it acts like glue, but has some give to it, which is handy during those hand pulling moments. So it should stay in place forever? This also lets me skip the entire bevel removal and creating screw holes etc. And if it comes off shortly because it just isn't a good idea, I can just pull the silicone off and try again with the screw idea, so no real loss in trying this shortcut method first. I use silicone for other things around the house like keeping velcro in place on the wall so it won't fall off on hot days, and also to keep trinkets from moving around on the shelf during earthquakes...lots of things you can use silicone sealant for...

[@waitingtohear]

update: after 2 months the handle is still as it was when new. No issues And the white color of sealent filled in the crack area of white plastic. Can't even see it!

[@Knate1104]

@@waitingtohear are you using like just regular 100% silicone, like you’d use to caulk a window?

[@waitingtohear]

@@Knate1104 Yes. Exactly. It's been another month (so 3 months total now) and it's still working just fine. I even pulled on it harder to test it again today. No issues. Another thing I use calk for ( get the light grey type for outdoors) is to fill in the cement walkway cracks to avoid getting weeds growing all the time. And patio etc. It has saved me on weed pulling and using more weed killer liquids which we all know are nasty to touch and use. God Bless Silicone!

[@Knate1104]

@@waitingtohear awesome thank you! Those are great tips I’m going to try right now

[@waitingtohear]

update: it's now been 6 months and still working like as Day 1. so problem solved for sure...

[@magdellineronda2003]

Good idea can you put the screws forma outside in? So you just see the head of the screw? I like to fix things too cause I like to usted my brain ideas.even if I have the money to buy me a New microwave.im so proud of the ideas God gave me amen.thanks for charin you nolage.

[@DoctorFixMaster]

Putting the screws in from the outside in is a great idea and I wanted to do that at first, but due to the nature of where the screws are, there is no way to tighten the nuts once you get the screws in place. On the outside, tightening them is easy. It's been over 3 years since I posted this, and I've been yanking on that stupid door ever since without the slightest problem. :)

[@johnsumner6185]

So did I!

[@bobbihimes9935]

My door handle broke and I can not use it so where do I find a new one my microwave is a West Bend brand?

[@DoctorFixMaster]

If yours is like mine, replacement parts are not available. If yours broke in similar ways to mine, check out the video. Your fix will be better than the original. I'm still yanking on my microwave handle with abandon with zero problems since I posted this. Good luck!

[@mozzman]

DoctorFixMaster? More like Doctor Frankenstein with those bolts poking out of the handle. If I was going to go this route I would use lock nuts on the inside and black oxide button socket cap screws. Pro tip: in the hardware aisle at Home Depot, look in the drawers.

[@DoctorFixMaster]

No shortage of smartass snark in the comments by "experts". I'd try your suggestion if I wanted my door to double as a rattle. Seriously. Try it. Those bolt threads are not accessible inside the door, and after you lose half a dozen of them inside the door while trying to thread them, you'll be back to something that works. You're welcome.

[@mozzman]

@@DoctorFixMaster You don’t have to be an expert to do better than this.

[@DoctorFixMaster]

@@mozzman You let us all know when your radiant genius comes up with what better than this actually is.

[@mozzman]

@@DoctorFixMaster You probably should stay off KZbin if you get this triggered.

[@DoctorFixMaster]

@@mozzman If you really want the power to trigger me, offer something substantial. You haven't.

[@AnytthinggGoes]

So, are you saying that it is just the plastic inner lining (the one that you took off) that prevents the microwave radiation from coming out through the door? If I punch screw holes through the outer door, then is there any chance that radiation could leak through the screw holes even if there are screws going through the holes?

[@DoctorFixMaster]

My apologies for deleting your comments. I was logged into the wrong account in responding and it was displaying my real name which I don't want. :D Let me answer again here for the benefit of others. Bending the metal out of the way as the video shows to expose the screw site reveals the location where you can drill through the door. Such a small hole is too small for microwave energy to escape, and you're filling it with a metal screw anyway, so it is quite safe. Thanks!

[@AnytthinggGoes]

@@DoctorFixMaster IThe microwave you have had an actual handle which had screwholes already drilled into the metal. The microwave I have is a panasonic and just has a plastic part on the outside which extends into a flap that you could put your hand under and pull. That part is broken and I dont see any screw holes that held it in place. Maybe those screw holes are under the prongy metal plate. I looked at this video again and the top of your handle was screwed into the door in a hole that is outside the metal prongy plate. Was you bottom hole between the prongs going into the plastic?

[@DoctorFixMaster]

@@AnytthinggGoes Yes, but there wasn't quite enough room to work with the new bolt, so I had to bend one of the prongs out of the way temporarily so I screw it in.

[@freemab222]

I am no expert, but I doubt that microwave radiation would be an issue. Read up on "Faraday cages." The idea is that a metal box will block radiation from escaping the box. Holes in a metal cage must be significantly smaller than the wavelength of the radiation. Microwaves from an oven have a wavelength of about 5", so a 1/4" hole -- even without a metal bolt through it -- would not pass microwaves.

[@SimplyMathnificent]

@@freemab222 good to know. Thanks.

[@gokusayien5873]

I love it

[@kellysgarage8889]

Please come fix mine… I don’t have any of this fix-it tools to do any of this 😂

[@DoctorFixMaster]

I could if you lived in AZ, but....:D All you really need is a screwdriver, a drill, and if you don't have a dremel, you could use a file.

[@PammyHammy]

Saving money is beautiful though

[@DoctorFixMaster]

Right?! Especially when what you end up with is better than the original piece of crap part. :)

[@michaelwilson4619]

doesn't matter on mine it had screws and damn handle still broke off around screws

[@DoctorFixMaster]

Sorry to hear it. You have a unique problem. You might have to fill the thing with plastic bonding epoxy (2 part) or construct a new handle out of wood. If you know anyone with a 3D printer, that might offer a decent answer as well.

[@ricotipedo]

Very Macgyver like job, kudos for your fix, sure it works, but boy does that look like shit, it's your kitchen for crying out loud, spend the $36 for the OEM part, I'm sure the wife just loved it!!

[@DoctorFixMaster]

What if said OEM no longer manufactures said part, and you can't even get it for $1000.00? And what if said part is shit and would break again within a year even if you did find and buy it? Suddenly the wife is much happier with this solution than the one with an imaginary handle. Ah, perspective. :)