Looking at an old washing machine, any housewife dreams of replacing it with a new assistant as soon as possible. A home craftsman, on the contrary, is not in a hurry to throw the machine into the scrap. He reflects on where this "wealth" can be adapted.
Answering the question of what can be done from washing machine Let's take a closer look at it from all angles.
We will see that there are many useful components and assemblies in the design that can be obtained new life in the hands of a good master.
Judge for yourself: the body and motor, pulleys and drum, a window with a sealed door, relays and switches - this is a list of components from which you can make a lot of useful things and mechanisms in the household.
Let's study together the most popular homemade options from old washing machines, both conventional and automatic.
The first thing you should pay attention to after inspecting a home washing machine that has served its age is the engine. He has enough power and revolutions to make a homemade sharpener. Complex modifications are not required here.
For the shaft, you need to make an adapter nozzle on which the grinding wheel will be attached. If on seat provide an additional "neck" for the cutting wheel, then together with the sharpener we get cutting machine. They can cut not only plastic pipes, but also metal (rebar, sheet or corner).
As you can see in the photo, the washing machine motor is attached to the frame with four brackets. The switch for it is removed from the same washer. As a base, an ordinary piece of thick board was used. The option turned out to be quite acceptable, especially considering its mobility and ease of manufacture (no welding required).
Here is another similar use of the engine to install a grinder and cutting wheels. Having put on a common adapter, they are clamped with a nut with a left-hand thread.
Simple crafts from an old washing machine
Not every person knows how to masterfully work with welding or a lathe. Nevertheless, even in this case, you will be able to find a worthy use for the old washer. Look at the window that closes the drum. This is a masterpiece of engineering art and a godsend for design.
Without further ado, many use it for its intended purpose, but in an updated context. Cut out the washer door along with a part of the body and you will get a great "sea" porthole. It will look original in any interior.
If you love your yard guard, then be sure to decorate his booth with such a modern “facade”.
Except original look, this option is of practical importance: the dog, if necessary, can be easily isolated from the guests, without fear for their legs and clothes.
Just don't forget to do the side in the booth ventilation holes(the window at the washing machine is sealed!).
Washer coffee table
Your old washing machine is an automatic machine, or rather its drum will help decorate interior decoration apartments. From it you can build an original Coffee table ik. perforated stainless steel, complemented by colored backlight, looks great.
To make such unusual item high-tech furniture is easy. You will need several steel rods that need to be attached to the washer drum. They are fixed on round table top glass or MDF.
Brazier
The body of the washing drum, made of durable and high-quality "stainless steel", can withstand very high temperatures. Therefore, it can be used as a barbecue.
A few pipes, half an hour of welding work and a convenient barbecue grill will appear on your estate. Having made the supporting part of the structure collapsible, you can take it with you on country picnics.
Drums from frontal machines, as well as from top-loading washers. In this case, you will have to cut off one of the sides of the case with a grinder, and provide it with a stable support from below.
Mobile smokehouse
Why buy an expensive smoker for fish and meat when an old washer is idle on the farm? There are many options for its use in this capacity.
We will focus only on the mobile device. It can be made from a drum dismantled from a top-loading washing machine.
To prevent smoke from escaping through the side perforated holes, they must be plugged with a thin steel sheet, wrapped and secured around the body. From above, as it should be in a real smokehouse, we make a hole for the chimney. Inside the drum we fix a smoke grate (you can take it from an old gas stove).
Concrete mixer
This is a rather complicated device, which, in addition to mixing concrete, must ensure its unloading. Therefore, if you are going to make a concrete mixer out of an old washing machine, first weigh your locksmith skills and knowledge.
The easiest way to turn a drum washer into a concrete mixing device is to replace the standard activator with overhead-shaped blades. They can be made from 4-5 mm thick steel strip. To do this, it must be cut to size, then bend two blades and rotate relative to each other by 90 degrees.
After that, they need to be welded to the shaft, passed through the hole for the remote activator.
The drain hole, which is in every barrel washer, must be plugged. Next, we proceed depending on how much concrete will need to be kneaded. If we are talking about 1 bucket, then you can leave the old single-phase motor.
If you need to prepare a large amount of concrete, then in place of the old motor you will have to install a more powerful one (0.75-1.2 kW) with low speeds (1300-1500 per minute).
In addition, the "native" belt drive must be replaced by a gearbox that reduces the speed (from 1300 to 25-30) and increases the torque on the agitator blades.
Note that best quality the batch is obtained when not the shaft with the activator rotates, but the body of the concrete mixer itself with the blades fixed in it. However, to create such a design, a deeper and more complex refinement of the washer is required.
Preservation sterilizer
For giving and subsidiary farming, another homemade product from an old barrel washing machine will be useful. This is a sterilizer that can hold a dozen heat treatment jars.
The only point to consider: such a device is suitable for sterilizing fruits and vegetables. Meat processing requires more heat(above + 100С).
The conversion sequence looks like this:
- A plug is placed on the opening of the activator;
- A thick wire mesh for cans is mounted on the bottom;
- Under the grid you need to substitute a support;
- A hole is drilled in the case for the installation of an electric boiler with a power of 2 kW.
1. Plug activator;
2. Water level;
3. Tank from the washing machine;
4. Lid;
5. Drain hose;
6. Banks with conservation;
7. Wire mesh;
8. Electric boiler (heater) for 2 kW;
9. Electrical cable.
Juicer
There are two options here:
- Usage old car with centrifuge and laundry compartment;
- Alteration of a conventional washing machine-barrel.
Let's say right away that the first option is better, since it allows, with minimal modifications, to implement two processes in one device: grinding fruits and squeezing them. This will require a washing machine, in which the activator is located at the bottom, and not on the side wall. Replacing it with three homemade knives from strip steel, we get a fruit cutter.
Knife installation scheme:
1. Knife,
2. Shaft;
3. Clamping nut;
4. Washer;
5. Tank bottom;
6. Bearing unit with stuffing box;
7. Activator pulley;
8. Locking screw.
Knife group design
The drain hole of the washing tank must be plugged.
There are few additional processing for the second unit - a centrifuge. You need to install a stainless steel mesh in it (mesh size 1.5 mm, wire thickness 0.2 mm) so that it closes side surface centrifuges.
After thoroughly washing the centrifuge, washing tank, hoses and pump with baking soda, you can make the first bookmark.
The principle of operation of such a juicer is very simple. Fruits are washed and in small portions (1/2 -1 bucket) are loaded into the washing tank (knives must be included). After 15-20 minutes of cutting, the engine is turned off and the crushed mass is transferred to a centrifuge (in portions of 3-4 liters). Turning on the centrifuge, squeeze the juice.
It is much more difficult to make a juicer from a barrel washing machine or a machine. In a barrel, a homemade centrifuge can become a “stumbling block”. To make it is half the battle, the main thing is to achieve perfectly accurate alignment. Without this, at high speeds, it begins to vibrate strongly and it will be impossible to squeeze the juice.
Here is a drawing of a working sample. The master had to work hard to reduce the beating of the centrifuge (the engine is suspended from the washing machine body on 6 springs). Of these, 3 balance the engine in a horizontal plane, and 3 others push it up. The body itself stands on the old car tire which dampens vibration.
Pen removal machine
The body of an old washing machine is suitable for assembling a device with which you can remove feathers from bird carcasses. To make it, at the bottom of the tank, you need to install a steel disk 3 mm thick and with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the tank.
Holes are drilled in it and special rubber fingers are placed in them. They are the most expensive elements of the future design (1.5-2 dollars apiece). On average, they need 120-140 pieces. The diameter of the fingers depends on the type of bird being plucked. Please keep this in mind when placing an order.
All other components of the washer, including the engine, can not be changed. Holes are drilled in the side walls of the case for the installation of pen-removable (beating) fingers. To do this, from the bottom of the tank you need to step back up by 15 cm.
The distance between the holes for the fingers is chosen within 3-4 cm. The lower disk is mounted on the drive shaft.
The drain hole does not need to be plugged here. It will be needed to drain the water that drains from the carcasses. After scalding the bird in boiling water, it is placed in a tank and the engine is turned on. Rubber fingers quickly and cleanly remove the pen.
Your favorite washing machine has already lived its life, and you decide to send it to the trash? Do not rush, because you can create various homemade from the engine from the washing machine.
In contact with
Spare parts
The automatic washing machine has quite complex structure. Even in the event of a breakdown, it will contain the spare parts necessary for the manufacture of some homemade products. Let's see what can be done from the parts of an old washing machine.
The main part, of course, is the engine (motor). If it is serviceable, then it can be used to make a generator, sharpener, lawn mower and other appliances. Carefully disconnect the wires, remove the motor from the body of the washing machine and save it.
The manhole cover can be turned into an unusual window or into a beautiful bowl for feeding pets. You can also make a case for counters from durable glass.
Legs, springs and others are useful for the construction of various homemade products. small parts. The case itself can become a cabinet or a unique table.
Let's take a closer look, what can be done with the engine.
Washing machine motor prices
washing machine motor
Types of motors
Asynchronous
The oldest type of engines, consisting of stationary stator and rotating rotor. The first serves as the basis and magnetic circuit for the structure, and the second creates the driving force of the drum. The whole motor is driven by variable magnetic field constituent parts.
Asynchronous motors have low torque, therefore, the drum often wobbles during operation. Other disadvantages - dimensions and modest efficiency. At the same time, they are silent, are cheap, have a simple design.
The induction motor is often found in cheap, low power appliances.
There are two- and three-phase asynchronous motors. The former are long out of production and can only be found in very old structures.
Collector
The most common type of engine. Works great under both variable and constant voltage. under the body with hidden rotor, stator, generator providing rotation speed. Special brushes are located on the collector terminals, with the help of which the rotor contacts the motor.
Note: If you connect the rotor and stator directly, the motor shaft will rotate clockwise. For the opposite direction, you need to change the connection diagram of the electric motor of the washing machine - connect the brushes towards the rotor.
Unlike their oversized predecessor, brushed motors are quite compact and have a high rotational speed. They are universal: they work with both variables and direct current. Main disadvantage commutator motor- low wear resistance: due to the constant contact of the brushes with the commutator, both the brushes and the commutator wear out quickly. If the former can be easily replaced with new ones, then replacing the collector will cost a lot of effort.
inverter
Most modern look motors washing machine consists of a rotor and a stator. Unlike other types, the rotor of the inverter motor is directly connected to the drum. They are distinguished by high wear resistance, the absence of unnecessary parts, simple design, noiselessness, small size.
However, all this in one motor is not a cheap pleasure: the development, production, and, consequently, the purchase of an inverter motor requires large financial costs.
Connection
To connect the engine to a 220-volt network, you must have a tester at hand: it will help us break the wires into pairs, and also measure the resistance in the windings.
Before connecting new models, you need to determine with a tester the wires that out of the tachogenerator and will not be needed during operation. Finding them is quite easy - just measure their resistance: it should be about 70 ohms.
Using the same device, we find pairs of other contacts. Now we connect one of brushes to one of the wires, and the second brush and the other wire are connected to the outputs of the winding. After connecting the motor from the washing machine to the mains, the appliance will begin to rotate. To change the direction of rotation, just swap the brushes.
With older models, the situation is a little different: after determining the paired outputs, you need to determine the working and exciting windings. The first has more resistance than the second.
We figured out how to connect the motor from the washing machine to the network. Now let's see what machines and devices you can create yourself with it.
Homemade
Homemade products from the motor are quite diverse: with it you can create t sharpener, lawn mower, concrete mixer, juicer, Potter's wheel and much more. Consider the manufacturing process of some of these devices.
Emery
One of the most common uses for an old engine. Assembling the machine does not require much effort. The hardest part of the job is attaching the grindstone to the motor. The fact is that the diameters of the shaft and the stone are different from each other, therefore to connect them you need a third item. Perfect fit piece metal pipe about 20 cm long. A thread is cut at its end, the length of which is 2 times greater than the thickness of the grindstone.
It is necessary to cut the thread in the opposite direction of movement of the motor shaft. At the other end we attach the shaft with a soldering iron.
For greater reliability, you can drill at the connection point hole and screw in the bolt. and a nut. We alternately screw two pairs of nuts and washers onto the flange threads, and finally we tighten the lock nut.
We fix the engine on the stand. Can serve as a stand old table, and a piece of thick board. For fixing, you can use fasteners from the same washing machine from which the engine was removed.
Wood lathe
The power of the old engine is enough for slow processing of a cylindrical workpiece . To save the motor from side loads, you can attach a support to it.
drum sander
It is made using a large wooden cylinder with a steel bar in the center. The ends of the bar are connected to the motor chuck and bearing stand.
Concrete mixer
Old washers, or "barrels", easily turn into a compact and practical concrete mixer. For this:
- We take out the activator from the car.
- Cut out from sheets steel 4-5 mm thick blanks for the manufacture of blades.
- We weld a pair of U-shaped blades, connected at right angles.
- We weld them in place activator.
Homemade concrete mixer will work after you connect the engine from the washing machine to the mains. If the machine will be used to work with small volumes of building materials, then the power of the old engine is quite enough. For larger volumes, it is recommended to connect a more powerful motor.
feed cutter
For the manufacture of a feed cutter-grain crusher, you will need a “barrel” body and an engine from an automatic machine:
- At the bottom of the body create a hole through which the finished feed will exit.
- Similar to a concrete mixer create blades with knives. You need to choose the right size for them: there should be a small distance between them and the edges of the case.
- Installing the blades: one at the bottom of the case, and the other at a distance of 0.5 meters from its top. For achievement more productivity homemade, it is recommended to use a separate shaft for each blade so that they rotate in opposite directions.
- Remains only cut holes in the lid, through which we will fall asleep raw materials.
lawn mower
Let's move on to more complex and extravagant designs. First on our list is a lawn mower. By making a homemade lawn mower, you will save a huge amount of money, because these simple machines are quite expensive. If you do it right, then a home-made lawn mower from an engine from a washing machine will not be inferior to appliances on store shelves.
First, let's figure out what materials and tools we need:
- commutator motor;
- compact but strong wheels. These can be removed from strollers, toy cars. If these are not available, cut the wheels out of the plastic profile;
- for the base you will need a thick piece of steel or plain saucepan lid;
- knives, disks;
- metal pipe;
- steel corners;
- copper wire, plug;
- switch;
- fixing materials;
- open-end, end, keys;
- welding machine, grinder;
- hammer;
- drill, screwdriver, pliers;
- soldering iron.
Let's get to work:
- At the center of the base cut holes for the motor shaft. Install it upside down.
- We attach earlier bushing on the shaft, and we attach a disk (knife) to it.
- From the corners we assemble the frame for the motor.
- We weld the handle, fix the switch to it
- We connect the engine to the power supply.
be careful: Unlike factory appliances, the wires of our homemade lawn mower are not insulated. It is strictly not recommended to use such a device during rain or for cutting wet grass.
If you still want your machine to be operated in any weather, then securely insulate the wires, and for the device assemble a small casing made of waterproof material. A metal bowl is suitable as a casing.
Generator
Tired of unexpected power outages? Do you want to create redundant power supply who will help you out at the right time? So why not create a generator from an engine from a washing machine with your own hands? The assembly process is quite complicated, but the result is worth it.
The basis for the future generator will be an asynchronous motor. Before creating the generator, let's do some preparatory steps:
- Dismantling the motor housing. With help lathe we make a cut on its core with a depth of 2 mm.
- In pre-prepared grooves on the core insert neodymium magnets.
- We create a template for attaching magnets from a tin strip. We mark on it the placement of two rows of magnets.
The dimensions of the strip must exactly match the dimensions of the core: the tin must lie tightly on it.
The preparation is completed, we proceed to the assembly itself. We will need:
- sandpaper;
- cold welding;
- glue;
- rectifier;
- tester;
- battery;
- charge controller.
The build sequence is:
- We glue the template on the motor. We glue magnets on the template itself.
- Please note that the distance and angle between the magnets do not change. Otherwise, voltage drops, power reduction or its complete inoperability are possible.
- Free space between magnets filled with cold welding.
- We proceed to grinding the surface of the engine.
- We use the tester to find the working winding. We leave its wires, and delete all the rest. We pass the wires through the rectifier. We connect their ends to the controller. The controller is connected to the battery.
A homemade generator from a washing machine engine is ready to use. To unwind the device, an electric drill, screwdriver, or other similar tools are suitable. Such a generator, of course, will not be able to provide electricity to your residential area, but it is quite suitable for lighting a couple of rooms or operating several devices such as TV, refrigerator, computer.
Useful video
As you can see, the range of use of spare parts for an old washing machine is quite large. So what are you waiting for? Breathe a second life into served its term washing machine.
What is usually done with an obsolete household appliances? There can be many options here. Someone simply takes the old unit to the nearest dumpster, someone - to the country house or garage, in the hope that "maybe it will come in handy." You can also contact a company specializing in the export of large-sized equipment - there are hundreds of such organizations in any major city.
However, there is another way to solve the problem, which for some reason is forgotten by many. Old, unrepairable household appliances you can give new life. Craftsmen make original and functional things out of non-working refrigerators, electric stoves and washing machines. In this article we will tell you what crafts you can make from an old washer. Do not rush to get rid of the failed assistant, let her benefit you in her new incarnation.
What parts can be used?
A washing machine is a complex appliance, consisting of a huge number of elements, most of which can be used in a useful way. Almost any spare part can be put into action, starting with a sealed housing and ending with a drum. Most often, the following spare parts are used for crafts:
- engine (motor) - if it is serviceable, it can form the basis of a new device;
- drum - high-quality metal is always useful in the household;
- hatch door - shock-resistant glass is also a useful thing in everyday life;
- body - this part can come up with some interesting application;
- various small parts: springs, counterweights, clamps, bearings, electric wires- all this will fit for various household needs, especially in capable hands.
Concrete mixer
From the old washing machine cylindrical shape, which is popularly called a "barrel", you can make a compact concrete mixer and use it for domestic needs. The device is quite complex, therefore, in order to make it, you need to have at least elementary knowledge in electrical engineering and plumbing.
First you need to remove the activator from the washing machine. Instead, we will install blades that will mix the concrete. The blades need to be cut and welded from a metal sheet (best if it becomes). The blades must have U-shape and a thickness of about 0.4-0.5 cm; a right angle should be observed between them.
Next, we weld the blades to the shaft to the place where the activator used to be. After that, we need to decide whether we will keep the old engine or make a new one. If you plan to knead small portions of the solution, then the engine does not need to be changed. If the portion volume is large enough, it is more advisable to install a more powerful engine. Also, do not forget to put a gearbox instead of a belt drive, which will reduce speed and increase torque.
Juicer
Another useful household appliance into which you can convert a washing machine is a juicer. True, it will turn out to be very large and take up a lot of space. Only older models of semi-automatic type washing machines with an activator motor are suitable for conversion into a juicer.
The principle of operation will be the same as in the previous case: we take out the activator and put in its place self-made knives that will chop fruits and vegetables. Knives must be sharp, so do not forget to sharpen them before installation.
Next, you need to work on the shaft: we thread it, put on the knives, fix them with suitable fasteners. After that, we seal the drain and put a metal mesh with small cells inside the centrifuge. First, the raw materials will be ground in a tank, and then squeezed out in a centrifuge.
Preservation sterilizer
An indispensable thing in the country is a jar sterilizer. You will be surprised, but it can also be made from a washing machine. The process of making jams and pickles will become faster, because in such a unit you can sterilize several jars at once.
So, to make a sterilizer from an unnecessary washer, you need:
- put a plug in the opening of the activator;
- install a support on the bottom;
- put a metal mesh for jars on a support;
- drill a hole in the tank for the boiler;
- connect the boiler to 2 kV.
Grinder
If the washing machine engine is in good condition, you can make it out of grinder for knives and garden tools. In addition to the engine itself, we need a grinding wheel. In addition, prepare the base for the machine - a thick wooden block is perfect for this purpose.
An adapter must be placed on the shaft, on which the grinding and cutting wheels will be installed. The machine will be attached to the base by means of two pairs of metal brackets. The switch for the appliance can be borrowed from the same washing machine.
If you plan to use the machine for cutting, you can also install a cutting wheel on it.
Pen removal machine
A feathering machine is a device that allows you to quickly pluck poultry carcasses. If you breed chickens, ducks, turkeys or other birds, such a device will be very useful to you. True, to make it yourself, you have to spend money. Basic equipment: rubber pen fingers are quite expensive. In addition, for each type of bird, “fingers” of different diameters are needed, since the size of the feather in different breeds may differ significantly.
Operating procedure:
- we make a disk of steel (thickness - 0.3 cm, diameter - minus 1 cm from the diameter of the tank);
- we drill holes in the disk for the “fingers” (the distance between them should be approximately 3 cm);
- we drill the same holes on the sides of the tank, stepping back from the bottom 15 cm;
- install the disk with the “fingers” threaded into it on the shaft;
- we put the pen fingers into the holes drilled in the tank.
See the following video for how the pen-removing machine works.
Ideas for giving
Where do you usually take your unwanted items? Of course, to the cottage. Surely most of us have an old washing machine gathering dust in the attic or in the shed. Instead of cluttering up their place, the unit can be adapted for some household needs and made, for example, a washbasin.
Let's consider other options.
Brazier
It is not known who first thought of making a brazier out of the washing machine drum, but this idea was quickly picked up by many summer residents. The idea is really successful - the brazier turns out to be durable, convenient and compact. For the production of drums, high-quality metal is used, which is well tolerated by moisture, temperature changes and is not subject to corrosion.
The drum must be removed from the tank and installed on the legs. For these purposes, you can adapt metal rods or thin, durable pipes - some of this will surely be found on suburban area. A suitable piece of metal must be cut into equal parts, and then carefully welded to the bottom of the drum.
Brazier, which can be made from an old washing machine, you can see in the next video.
Grill
To cook meat deliciously in nature, you can use not only the grill, but also the grill. It can also be made from a washing machine (namely, from its tank), but for this you will have to purchase a motor that is suitable in size and power.
From the bottom of the tank you need to cut a small piece - its dimensions should be ¼ or slightly less than the entire size of the tank. Then, in the side part - where the drum bearing was - drill a hole into which you then install the motor. The grill will be heated by coals, and the spit will rotate using the engine.
Smokehouse
We must not forget about another incredibly tasty way of cooking meat and fish - hot smoking. A device that allows you to smoke in a summer cottage can also be made from spare parts of an unnecessary washing machine.
The drum will become the basis of our smokehouse. First, you need to plug all the holes in it. You can brew them, but it will be faster to wrap the drum thin sheet metal. You need to cut a door in the drum (if a top-loading washer is used, then the door is already in the right place).
We cut or drill a hole in the upper part of the tank through which smoke will escape. For meat, we install a metal grate inside the tank.
Furniture from spare parts
For those who don't need homemade equipment and cooking utensils, it may be advisable to use parts of a disassembled washing machine to make original furniture or storage spaces. Best for implementation design ideas housing and drum fit. Read on to find out how you can freshen up your interior with an old washing machine.
Coffee table
From the drum of an old washing machine, you can make an unusual high-tech coffee table. Due to the peculiarities of the source material, it will turn out to be very durable, but light, and will serve you for many years.
We take the drum from the automatic washing machine as the basis of the table; to make the product look more impressive, we will give it shine with a special cleaning agent. As a countertop, take a piece of suitable diameter tempered glass. We fix it on the drum using long fasteners. The table is ready!
Sometimes in the hands home master an old washing machine can get in, for example, your own has broken down or with relatives, friends, acquaintances ... You can also buy it at online auctions or through bulletin boards. Prices are usually from "zero" (just take it away) to 500-1000 rubles. Although the old washing machine is a real storehouse of different useful stuff but probably not worth paying more for it. Let's see what she has inside and how you can use it for your crafts. Moreover, these parts are usually reliable, because. designed to serve for many years and with a high intensity of work.
To disassemble the washing machine, we need screwdrivers (or a screwdriver) and a few wrenches. Disassembly begins with removal rear wall(on self-tapping screws). Self-tapping screws, of course, do not throw away, but put in a box for fasteners. By the way, in the end there will be a lot of it and the most diverse. Then we shoot top cover washing machine body. This is a useful "detail". You shouldn't make a coffee table out of it. But some auxiliary worker, in the home workshop - easily.
How to disassemble the washing machine will become clear to you along the way. Main principle- unscrew everything that is unscrewed. Therefore, I will simply move on to describing all sorts of little things, sometimes very useful in future design exercises.
wires Or rather, a bundle of wires. It is sometimes called "tails", "braid". At the ends of the wires - special terminals. You shouldn't cut them. They have standard size and fit perfectly on other plugs. The tourniquet, of course, should be dissolved into separate wires by cutting the plastic clamps. And of course - the power cord will still serve faithfully.
Buttons are switches. Usually they are standard. They only have all sorts of designer overlays and blotches. Sometimes they are assembled or soldered in some kind of board or block. Their contacts are open, since they are designed to work exclusively in the case and at home. Not God knows what detail, but it can come in handy.
Command apparatus. It can be completely electronic (and then it will most likely have to be thrown out), it can be electronic-mechanical, or it can be just mechanical. In the last two cases, it necessarily has a very low-speed low-power motor, (pos. 2 in the photo) at 0.5 - 2 revolutions per minute. In older cars, such a motor by itself, in later ones, it is all plastic and with a half body. The second half is the body of the command apparatus. The device itself is unlikely to be able to be attached anywhere, so it is easier to disassemble it into gears. A low speed motor can be used for various crafts. By the way - it works well as a generator, although low-power, of course.
Electrovalves.(pos. 1 in the photo) These are water valves controlled by an electromagnet. The normal state is “closed” and only when current is applied to it, the valve opens. In very old washing machines, it can be generally alone. But usually there are several of them and they can be double or triple. They can also be used for an automatic watering device in the country, for controlling the supply of water from a water tank, and even for a device homemade system protection of the apartment from flooding in the event of a water pipe break.
Thermal relay.(pos. 3) Thermostats are necessarily mounted in the tank of the washing machine. More specifically, thermostats. One is a thermistor (for smooth temperature setting), and the other is a bimetallic plate in the case (emergency), with a response temperature of about 100 degrees. They can only be used for their intended purpose. For example, to control the temperature in a homemade water heater.
Pressure meter.(pos. 4) The air pressure sensor is an aneroid box with one movable wall and contacts. A flexible tube comes out of the box with a "bell" at the bottom. When the water level in the washing machine rises, the air in the bell begins to compress and presses against the movable wall. Contacts in the sensor work (there are usually two of them switching).
Such a sensor is an almost ready-made machine for maintaining the liquid level either in a water tank or in drainage system. The hysteresis (liquid level difference between switching the sensor, in this case) of the sensor is small, 10-15 centimeters of the water column. From it, you can also make a simple signaling device for flooding the basement, overflowing any container, septic tank, etc. It is also pleasant that the sensor itself does not have any contact with the liquid, since it works through an air “gasket”, and therefore the nature of the liquid (electrical conductivity, contamination, viscosity, etc.) does not matter.
TEN.(pos.5). Regular water electric water heater. Often it is already burned out in older cars. But sometimes his contacts simply oxidize, and the heating element itself is a worker. When disassembling, ring it carefully before deciding to dispose of it. You can use the heating element as ... heating element. Those. for heating water with electric current. However, please note that the heating element does not have any protective and regulatory devices.
Sometimes the heating element is covered with a “scab” of deposited salts, which are abundant in washing powder. Therefore, you may have to scrape it a little carefully. By the way, the situation shown in the Kalgon advertisement (the heating element is covered with scab, clings to the drum, the car breaks down and leaks ..) is absolute nonsense! The authors of the video either do not know how the car works, or they play on the fact that housewives do not know this, and swindle them for money. The "Kalgon" itself may be useful, but the car cannot flow from the fouling of the heating element with a crust of salts. The heating element will simply burn out from overheating. And if the drum of the car hooks on it, it will simply bend and that's it. It is simply impossible to break through the stainless steel of the outer casing with a heating element. Therefore, something, and certainly no leaks will happen.
Water pump (pump)(pos. 6). It is an electric motor of 15-20 W power with an impeller mounted on it. The thing is indestructible, since there is simply nothing to break. The pump has no suction properties, so it will not work to raise water from a depth with it (it is also in the car below the level of the tank, in fact, “on the floor”). But she can raise the water by about 1-1.5 meters. But its performance falls catastrophically with every centimeter of rise. Some cars have 2 pumps. One for pumping water out of the machine, the other for pouring clothes from above. Sometimes there are also air bubble pumps.
A pump can be used to set up a pond fountain, waterfall, maintain a polynya in the pond, if there is fish there and it needs to be saved from starvation, to organize automatic irrigation, just to pump liquids with a small level difference, etc. You can take it apart and use the motor by itself, of course.
Motor. The main motor of a washing machine usually has a power of about 200-300 watts. On older machines there are asynchronous motors, in later ones - collector, brush. And on the most modern models- even steppers, but I didn’t come across such ones.
Asynchronous electric motors usually have 2-3 thousand rpm. In a minute. But the collector ones are much more resourceful. I have a motor even at 12.000 rpm. It is unlikely to make a homemade grindstone from such electric motors. And the power is excessive and the revolutions are excessively high. But do-it-yourselfers find their use in lawn mowers or grass shredders for livestock, in various drives (through gearboxes), etc. The thing is extremely useful and, in general, reliable. I have never come across a burnt out electric motor.
Now let's move on to the mechanical details. Everything can go into action, starting from the case, which can serve as just a box, it is enough to close the holes thin plywood. The plywood itself will not be so strong, but the washer screwed to the body forms a strong box (or even a water container if you line it from the inside with a thick plastic bag). To the most seemingly useless things in everyday life, such as concrete ballast weights that are attached to the top and bottom of the washing machine tank and because of which it is so heavy. They can serve as a counterbalance in the "crane" or lifting mechanism at a construction site, a stand for barrels, and even a "foundation" under country toilet. In general, it is only necessary to show imagination.
Fixed drum. This is a wide flat tank of 50 liters of stainless steel. The bad thing is that there are several holes in it, so you won’t be able to use it “on the forehead”. You can cut it into a strip of stainless steel and weld it, rivet something useful. You can somehow try to seal (weld) these holes with patches and silicone sealant and then you can use this tank for water.
Movable drum. A container of about the same volume (40-45 liters) made of stainless steel, with heavily perforated edges. At its end there is an axis that can be carefully cut off with a grinder or left. It is unlikely that it will be possible to seal this drum (and is it worth it?), except to glue it from the inside with some kind of thin plastic.
You can just put it inside plastic bag and use everything under the pickles. The inside of the drum is exceptionally smooth and the bag will not be damaged.
You can use it to separate some materials (for example, sift sand, crushed stone, wash something, etc.)
Other "spare parts" include:
— Axial bearings. There are two of them and they are knocked out of a fixed drum. By the way, out of several dismantled cars, they all turned out to be in excellent condition, despite the fact that those who gave these cars to me assured me that “the bearing flew off, so the master said.” Obviously, there were “divorces” of the masters for more expensive repairs;
- Pulley of the movable drum. Usually perfectly balanced (according to the drill marks on it). Can be used for different drives or as a blank for a windmill, for example. Or as wheels for garden cart;
- Suspension springs. Pretty strong springs. They can be used for depreciation in any device;
- Manhole cover. The glass "plate" works great as a bowl and even vegetables can be served in it. The glass is extremely durable. And I use the plastic "rings" from the lid as a sieve body, holding a thick plastic mesh between them. It is convenient to wash vegetables in it;
— Rubber and plastic hoses. The inside of the machine is full of all sorts of short and not very corrugated hoses. various forms. And on each of them - there are clamps of the appropriate size. It turned out to be extremely useful gizmos if you need to dock some containers with each other or arrange an outlet or inlet for water;
Once a couple of times I came across washing machines with dryers. The drying itself is essentially a fan heater and in general independent device. The fan drives air through the air duct, in which there are air heating elements and several temperature sensors. From such a fan heater you can make an excellent dryer for mushrooms, herbs and berries.
As you can see, almost the entire washing machine is recycled. Its components and individual parts can be used in mass useful crafts for giving. For example, you can make a “giant” pulp juicer if you are doing home winemaking. It is enough just to make the engine control "manually", turning off all the electronics. And making a direct drain from the tank, bypassing the pump. You can even make a small vibrating table and make with it paving slabs for your dacha. Here the whole suspension of the washing machine and the motor will go into action. And many many others…
Looking at an old washing machine, any housewife dreams of replacing it with a new assistant as soon as possible. A home craftsman, on the contrary, is not in a hurry to throw the machine into the scrap. He reflects on where this "wealth" can be adapted.
Answering the question of what can be done from a washing machine, we will carefully consider it from all sides.
We will see that the design contains many useful components and assemblies that can get a new life in the hands of a good craftsman.
Judge for yourself: the body and motor, pulleys and drum, a window with a sealed door, relays and switches - this is a list of components from which you can make a lot of useful things and mechanisms in the household.
Let's study together the most popular homemade options from old washing machines, both conventional and automatic.
Grinder
The first thing you should pay attention to after inspecting a home washing machine that has served its age is the engine. He has enough power and revolutions to make a homemade sharpener. Complex modifications are not required here.
For the shaft, you need to make an adapter nozzle on which the grinding wheel will be attached. If we provide an additional “neck” for the cutting wheel at the seat, then together with the sharpener we will get a cutting machine. They can cut not only plastic pipes, but also metal (rebar, sheet or corner).
As you can see in the photo, the washing machine motor is attached to the frame with four brackets. The switch for it is removed from the same washer. As a base, an ordinary piece of thick board was used. The option turned out to be quite acceptable, especially considering its mobility and ease of manufacture (no welding required).
Here is another similar use of the engine to install a grinding and cutting wheel. Having put on a common adapter, they are clamped with a nut with a left-hand thread.
Simple crafts from an old washing machine
Not every person knows how to masterfully work with welding or a lathe. Nevertheless, even in this case, you will be able to find a worthy use for the old washer. Look at the window that closes the drum. This is a masterpiece of engineering art and a godsend for design.
Without further ado, many use it for its intended purpose, but in an updated context. Cut out the washer door along with a part of the body and you will get a great "sea" porthole. It will look original in any interior.
If you love your yard guard, then be sure to decorate his booth with such a modern “facade”.
In addition to the original look, this option is of practical importance: if necessary, the dog can be easily isolated from guests without fear for their legs and clothes.
Just do not forget to make side ventilation holes in the booth (the window at the washing machine is sealed!).
Washer coffee table
Your old washing machine, or rather its drum, will help decorate the interior of the apartment. From it you can build an original coffee table. Perforated stainless steel, complemented by colored lighting, looks great.
It is not difficult to make such an unusual piece of high-tech furniture. You will need several steel rods that need to be attached to the washer drum. A round tabletop made of glass or MDF board is fixed on them.
Brazier
The body of the washing drum, made of durable and high-quality "stainless steel", can withstand very high temperatures. Therefore, it can be used as a barbecue.
A few pipes, half an hour of welding work and a convenient barbecue grill will appear on your estate. Having made the supporting part of the structure collapsible, you can take it with you on country picnics.
For the manufacture of brazier, drums from front-end machines, as well as from top-loading washers, are suitable. In this case, you will have to cut off one of the sides of the case with a grinder, and provide it with a stable support from below.
Mobile smokehouse
Why buy an expensive smoker for fish and meat when an old washer is idle on the farm? There are many options for its use in this capacity.
We will focus only on the mobile device. It can be made from a drum dismantled from a top-loading washing machine.
To prevent smoke from escaping through the side perforated holes, they must be plugged with a thin steel sheet, wrapped and secured around the body. From above, as it should be in a real smokehouse, we make a hole for the chimney. Inside the drum we fix a smoke grate (you can take it from an old gas stove).
Concrete mixer
This is a rather complicated device, which, in addition to mixing concrete, must ensure its unloading. Therefore, if you are going to make a concrete mixer out of an old washing machine, first weigh your locksmith skills and knowledge.
The easiest way to turn a drum washer into a concrete mixing device is to replace the standard activator with overhead-shaped blades. They can be made from 4-5 mm thick steel strip. To do this, it must be cut to size, then bend two blades and rotate relative to each other by 90 degrees.
After that, they need to be welded to the shaft, passed through the hole for the remote activator.
The drain hole, which is in every barrel washer, must be plugged. Next, we proceed depending on how much concrete will need to be kneaded. If we are talking about 1 bucket, then you can leave the old single-phase motor.
If you need to prepare a large amount of concrete, then in place of the old motor you will have to install a more powerful one (0.75-1.2 kW) with low speeds (1300-1500 per minute).
In addition, the "native" belt drive must be replaced by a gearbox that reduces the speed (from 1300 to 25-30) and increases the torque on the agitator blades.
Note that the best mixing quality is obtained when not the shaft with the activator rotates, but the body of the concrete mixer itself with the blades fixed in it. However, to create such a design, a deeper and more complex refinement of the washer is required.
Preservation sterilizer
For giving and subsidiary farming, another homemade product from an old barrel washing machine will be useful. This is a sterilizer that can hold a dozen heat treatment jars.
The only point to consider: such a device is suitable for sterilizing fruits and vegetables. For processing meat, a higher temperature is needed (above + 100C).
The conversion sequence looks like this:
- A plug is placed on the opening of the activator;
- A thick wire mesh for cans is mounted on the bottom;
- Under the grid you need to substitute a support;
- A hole is drilled in the case for the installation of an electric boiler with a power of 2 kW.
1. Plug activator;
2. Water level;
3. Tank from the washing machine;
4. Lid;
5. Drain hose;
6. Banks with conservation;
7. Wire mesh;
8. Electric boiler (heater) for 2 kW;
9. Electrical cable.
Juicer
There are two options here:
- Using an old machine with a centrifuge and a laundry compartment;
- Alteration of a conventional washing machine-barrel.
Let's say right away that the first option is better, since it allows, with minimal modifications, to implement two processes in one device: grinding fruits and squeezing them. This will require a washing machine, in which the activator is located at the bottom, and not on the side wall. Replacing it with three homemade strip steel knives, we get a fruit cutter.
Knife installation scheme:
1. Knife,
2. Shaft;
3. Clamping nut;
4. Washer;
5. Tank bottom;
6. Bearing unit with stuffing box;
7. Activator pulley;
8. Locking screw.
The drain hole of the washing tank must be plugged.
There are few additional processing for the second unit - a centrifuge. It is necessary to install a stainless steel mesh (mesh size 1.5 mm, wire thickness 0.2 mm) in it so that it covers the side surface of the centrifuge.
After thoroughly washing the centrifuge, washing tank, hoses and pump with baking soda, you can make the first bookmark.
The principle of operation of such a juicer is very simple. Fruits are washed and in small portions (1/2 -1 bucket) are loaded into the washing tank (knives must be included). After 15-20 minutes of cutting, the engine is turned off and the crushed mass is transferred to a centrifuge (in portions of 3-4 liters). Turning on the centrifuge, squeeze the juice.
It is much more difficult to make a juicer from a barrel washing machine or a machine. In a barrel, a homemade centrifuge can become a “stumbling block”. To make it is half the battle, the main thing is to achieve perfectly accurate alignment. Without this, at high speeds, it begins to vibrate strongly and it will be impossible to squeeze the juice.
Here is a drawing of a working sample. The master had to work hard to reduce the beating of the centrifuge (the engine is suspended from the washing machine body on 6 springs). Of these, 3 balance the engine in a horizontal plane, and 3 others push it up. The case itself stands on an old car tire, which dampens vibration.
Pen removal machine
The body of an old washing machine is suitable for assembling a device with which you can remove feathers from bird carcasses. To make it, at the bottom of the tank, you need to install a steel disk 3 mm thick and with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the tank.
Holes are drilled in it and special rubber fingers are placed in them. They are the most expensive elements of the future design (1.5-2 dollars apiece). On average, they need 120-140 pieces. The diameter of the fingers depends on the type of bird being plucked. Please keep this in mind when placing an order.
All other components of the washer, including the engine, can not be changed. Holes are drilled in the side walls of the case for the installation of pen-removable (beating) fingers. To do this, from the bottom of the tank you need to step back up by 15 cm.
The distance between the holes for the fingers is chosen within 3-4 cm. The lower disk is mounted on the drive shaft.
The drain hole does not need to be plugged here. It will be needed to drain the water that drains from the carcasses. After scalding the bird in boiling water, it is placed in a tank and the engine is turned on. Rubber fingers quickly and cleanly remove the pen.
