Changing out fridge to Magic Chef

[RVers29325]

I'm thinking about doing this myself with an extra pair of hands available.

I will have to take out the header over the dometic, but it looks like it's one piece. I only saw one video that did that and that one was already cut and easy(?) to get out. If I saw straight up from the sides and remove that piece I wonder what it going to look like. It may not matter, because I will be putting in some trim pieces anyway, but just apprehensive about doing it myself and left with something ugly.

If it is ugly, I could take it to local furniture guy and he could patch it up for me, hopefully. Any of y'all ran into this issue? How was it?

Thanks, Phil.

[David 70]

Once you get the refrigerator it will be a lot easier to decide what needs to be done. There should be a thicker piece across the bottom of that panel that the top of the fridge is screwed into. Those panels are usually not fastened into the framing very good, usually just staples.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Phil-

A couple points that bear on the cabinet rework:

1) You don't say whether the Dometic is a propane-electric unit. If it is, it should have an inlet vent in the sidewall, an outlet vent in the sidewall or the roof, and be face-attached (and sealed) the the cabinet.

2) A residential refrigerator replacing a propane/electric unit
a) often requires blocking one or both vents,
b) may require removing the "baffle" that directs air across the rear of a propane/electric unit, and
c) must be fastened/restrained in the cabinet such that it will not move or otherwise fall out of the hole.

I would not cut into the cabinet until I had a decent idea of how I'd take care of point 2c). I used aluminum angle at top and bottom to hold my coach's residential in place. It was a Frigidaire 10 cu.ft unit, the same as a Magic Chef, but with a different badge.

[RVers29325]

Thank you very much!!!

[RVers29325]

We got the fridge out! Not too hard of a job. Easier than expected considering how a lot of my projects go.

Now I need to make the hole bigger, taller. The hole measures 55-1/2", the spec says fridge is 59.4, so about 4-1/4.

There's a 1x2 across the top stapled to the 1x2 running up on both sides.

I just bought a plywood blade for my 7-1/4 circular saw. I'm thinking I'll just run the saw up the side and cutting through those staples (yes, with the plywood blade).

As for the horizontal cut, it's just that thin wood paneling. I was going to put a straight edge up there and then deeply score the plywood. The score may be deep enough that I could just bend it inward and break the paneling off leaving a clean cut.

I'll probably put masking tape over the cuts to help from splintering.

Anyone out there an avid fan of This Old House?

How did y'all do it? How would y'all do it.

Thanks, Phil.

[wolfe10]

On the plywood, I would use an oscillating Multi-tool with "half moon" blade

[ride98red]

Originally Posted by RVers29325

I just bought a plywood blade for my 7-1/4 circular saw. I'm thinking I'll just run the saw up the side and cutting through those staples (yes, with the plywood blade).

Gotta do what ya gotta do.

Originally Posted by RVers29325

As for the horizontal cut, it's just that thin wood paneling. I was going to put a straight edge up there and then deeply score the plywood. The score may be deep enough that I could just bend it inward and break the paneling off leaving a clean cut.

It never breaks clean. Jig saw circular saw or multi tool. or a couple brand new utility knife blades.

Originally Posted by RVers29325

I'll probably put masking tape over the cuts to help from splintering.

Score all cuts with a utility knife first. that will help with splintering. don't put tape on the wood you're cutting. instead, tape the bottom of your circular saw. Doing the former could actually delaminate the cheap paneling once you've made the cut and remove the tape.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Phil-

I would remove the thin plywood at the top of the opening by hand. It should have light staples and goop holding it in. That way you can be sure the "empty" compartment above the opening is truly empty; don't want to accidentally saw through anything important. I once drilled through an "empty" compartment and had to spend a day replacing the wires I hit.

Once that piece is out you'll know better how to make the cuts in the face, and which of the larger staples can remain.

I agree that an oscillating multi-saw is the preferred cutting tool. After I bought mine I wondered how I did projects without it.

As I said in an earlier post of yours:

Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1

Phil-

A couple points that bear on the cabinet rework:

1) You don't say whether the Dometic is a propane-electric unit. If it is, it should have an inlet vent in the sidewall, an outlet vent in the sidewall or the roof, and be face-attached (and sealed) the the cabinet.

2) A residential refrigerator replacing a propane/electric unit
a) often requires blocking one or both vents,
b) may require removing the "baffle" that directs air across the rear of a propane/electric unit, and
c) must be fastened/restrained in the cabinet such that it will not move or otherwise fall out of the hole.

I would not cut into the cabinet until I had a decent idea of how I'd take care of point 2c). I used aluminum angle at top and bottom to hold my coach's residential in place. It was a Frigidaire 10 cu.ft unit, the same as a Magic Chef, but with a different badge.

Finally, whatever you do make it so you can get the refrigerator out of the cabinet easily. It's a sure thing that the water lines (for the shower?) on the right will need attention sometime- and perhaps soon!

[US1]

The Hotpoint you bought didnt fit?

[RVers29325]

New tool day. All the fridge canadates were about the same height, a few inches too tall.

[RVers29325]

I heard someone say... I cut it off twice and it's still too short...
It may be true in this case, but I didn't want to over do it. I can trim more later...

I cut a small peep hole, nothing there, done the dirty deed. Still have remove that horizontal plywood. But taking a sigh of relief that I haven't made a major screw up... yet.

[RVers29325]

Throw away all your other tools, that half moon bit on an oscillating tool is da BOMB! After trying to guide the tool along and it being too wobbly, I started rocking the blade along about 1/2" at a time, oh yeah!

[David 70]

It looks like the biggest part of the job you have left is talking the wife into cleaning up your mess. Good luck.

[RVers29325]

This was probably the hardest thing yet... It was glued and stapled on 3 sides.