The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 An appeal for help here... I have a 5 year old Kenwood toaster, which works very well. Until, that is, I zapped it when toasting a hot cross bun last week. I was actually watching when it happened and a piece of the bun caused an arc between two of the filaments and it shorted out. I reset the kitchen fuseboard trip switch and investigated. Have replaced the fuse in the plug and it still won't work. Now I can hear some of you shouting at me to buy a new one, but I hate treating white goods as disposable when they ought to be fixable. I'd like to have a go at mending it if any of you have any ideas, and would hate to pay someone more than the toaster is worth to get it fixed. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Hi Is it the type where you can see the thin wire that actually heats up ? If so, can you see a break in it ? If there isn't a complete circuit for the current to flow down, it simply won't heat up H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Yes, I can see the elements, but can't see a break in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 The internal components could have melted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 I can see that I will have to find the time to take it apart and have a more detailed look. Any suggestions are helpful though - I'm not about to throw it away just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Cant help Clare but I do admire your determination Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnb Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Any ideas? Use the grill? Actually that's not such a silly suggestion. Grills make better toast than toasters partly because toasters try to do it too quickly which means ending up with hot but slightly damp toast rather than toasted toast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 That's what I am doing - wasn't a girl guide for nowt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I didn't think that you could mend most toasters. This has always seemed a plus point to the Dualit ones which have replacable elements. They are expensive though, but we have been through a fair number of toasters in the last 10 years so we got a Dualit for Christmas from a collection of relatives who clubbed together, for Christmas and birthday pressies for the year. We have a huge 6 slot one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 It sounds lovely Liz I don't often use mine, probably only once or twice a week, so I am wondering whether it is just more sensible (if I can't fix it) to just ditch it and use the grill. I hate sending stuff to landfill, so may just freecycle it for some hobbyist to mend. I will have a proper look at it tonight if I have time after Rosie's performance at school, and see what can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Best of luck with it. I have a family of toast munchers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 found this for you http://www.ehow.com/how_112477_fix-toaster.html Might be of some help before you throw it away. The general consensus on the tinterweb is the parts are no longer made for most toasters so just chuck and get a new one. Terrible really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 I went through all of those thanks bluekarin, but didn't find what I wanted re the element. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnb Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 .. general consensus on the tinterweb is the parts are no longer made for most toasters so just chuck and get a new one. ... Which will of course be made to a minimum price somewhere with minimum labour costs thus guaranteeing that it will break again and so you will buy another and another and another and ... Recently tried to replace a kettle with something which wasn't cheap chinese pap and it seems there isn't such a thing anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Which will of course be made to a minimum price somewhere with minimum labour costs thus guaranteeing that it will break again and so you will buy another and another and another and ... which of course adds to the ever increasing white goods junk mountains all over the world Bet you'll never guess when this throw away culture started? 1840 with the bottle cap which when you took it off with a bottle opener you *gasp* threw away! Beer has got a lot to answer for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I will have a proper look at it tonight if I have time after Rosie's performance at school, and see what can be done. You'd better get your skates on! Break a leg Can't help with the toaster, sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Yup, thanks Lewis, I will pass your wishes on. I hate the disposable society too - goodness, I remember my grandpa mending their shoes himself. I'd really like to be able to mend this, if only to blow a raspberry at modern consumerism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 not sure if they can help but the whitegoods forum has helped me fix my washing machine and my dishwasher worth a look? http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=index Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I'm afraid the Kenwood toaster is not of the same quality as the old Kenwood Chef mixer. I think you were lucky that it lasted 5 years, ours blew up after 3. We bit the bullet and bought a Dualit (ouch), because like their bumf states "you never throw away a Dualit". They're built to last, and if they do go wrong parts are readily available, for even the earlliest models. With Dualits ceramic heating element, there's no wires to break or melt. Plus it makes exceedingly good toast...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Doesn't your council recycle metal and plastic? Surely it won't all end up in landfill?! Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 If all else fails you'll have to mend it with my favourite tool - a Brummie Screwdriver (and then recycle the parts that are left ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 My principal always called them "Liverpool screwdrivers" he also said "If it can't be fixed with a hammer it must be an electrical fault"..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 we only buy cheap ones now, since the time i popped in my bread, flicked the switch, and smelt the smell of heated up tom cat pee........... Toaster ruined, smell beyond any words!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I'm afraid the Kenwood toaster is not of the same quality as the old Kenwood Chef mixer. I think you were lucky that it lasted 5 years, ours blew up after 3. We bit the bullet and bought a Dualit (ouch), because like their bumf states "you never throw away a Dualit". They're built to last, and if they do go wrong parts are readily available, for even the earlliest models. With Dualits ceramic heating element, there's no wires to break or melt. Plus it makes exceedingly good toast...... Ditto! Sick and tired of toasters lasting only about a year, so got a Dualit from eBay. Had it 2 years so far...no problems as yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
