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Thread Number: 29755
18" Kenmore portable |
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Post# 452384 , Reply# 1 7/27/2010 at 18:51 (5,019 days old) by Launderess  (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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I've Got One!
Though the pictured item is either an earlier model or more deluxe.
Purchased in late 1990's ours is the Kenmore (rebaged Frigidaire) 18" portable and it does a decent enough job. Long as dishes are reasonably scraped, enough hot water and a good detergent things come out fine. Improper or over loading, along with perhaps not cleaning off dishes of things such as oatmeal, rice and so forth can result in yibbles being left on items in the top rack (cups, mugs, etc). Simple tower design, capacity is "OK" for perhaps two person houehold, unless of course you intend to run the thing more than once a day. We run ours every other day or so, depending upon when it is full. On the bright side unit is old enough to use lots of water, and since the controls are mechnical you can "create" cycles on your own. I say go for it. | ||
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Post# 452391 , Reply# 2 7/27/2010 at 19:35 (5,019 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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18" DISHWASHERS
If you are going to get a portable get a 24' machine, I have never seen or used an 18' machine thats worth a damn. Currently KM WP GE and Frigidare are all the same and made in China and about all I can say good about them is I guess its better than no dishwasher. But just about the worst 24" machines will do a better job and hold so much more.
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Post# 452405 , Reply# 5 7/27/2010 at 20:13 (5,019 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Actually Was Surprised Myself
Having done all the research, everything one read about Frigidare dishwashers did not make for a good choice. Being as that may, a 24" model was not going to work, and only Frigidare made 18" models at that time (Danby now offers one as well, but we're not on that right now), so went with the rebaged "Kenmore" from Sears.com as it was on sale.
My unit is made in the United States,not China and the only way one can tell it was made by Frigidare is by the model code. Can't remember the numbers off hand, and as the unit is running cannot look them up, but *think* it starts with "110". Can find out the truth after unloading the unit tomorrow morning. Again, this unit cleans quite well and aside from the a door spring going last year, hasn't given one lick of trouble. It does the job, kind of loudly, but it does the job IMHO my unit is streets ahead in build quality compared to the offering by Sears today. | ||
| Post# 452413 , Reply# 6 7/27/2010 at 20:33 (5,019 days old) by davek () | ||
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110. model numbers=Whirlpool. | ||
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Post# 452415 , Reply# 7 7/27/2010 at 20:40 (5,019 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Just Took A Peek | ||
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Post# 452421 , Reply# 8 7/27/2010 at 21:03 (5,019 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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18" DISHWASHERS
The only company that ever made 18" dishwashers in the US was D&M witch rolled into frigidare. D&M started making 18" machines in the 1970s for Sears and many others. The 18" machines never faired very well they took an already poor quality machine and used the same detergent dispenser and heating element in it. This caused detergent to be so over used because of the over sized dispenser and the heater just destroyed the lower rack if someone dared to use heated dry. Then they went to the plastic tub machine which was deeper front to back but the wash arms couldn't reach the dishes in the front or back. The later ones of these had really cheap main motors and they are expensive to fix, if something gets lodged in the pump it rips the plastic shaft extension off the motor and you have to replace the whole assembly. The current Chinese models have SS tanks and a filter system like most European machines. They went back to the shallow tank so water distribution should be better but they are impossible to work on with out pulling the machine out and parts are expensive and hard to get.
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| Post# 452500 , Reply# 9 7/28/2010 at 08:53 (5,018 days old) by gmmcnair (Portland, OR) | ||
Like Launderess....
....I have one too. Give it good detergent, properly scrape your dishes, and plenty of hot water and it does very well.
I bought it in November 2002 and it's been used daily with not a service call. The worst thing I've had happen is a wheel pop off the bottom rack which took 30 seconds to fix. They're definitely an old D&M design....makes cycle sounds just like the vintage Kenmores. And, I had a Frigidaire built in at the last place I lived....it is heads and tails about that piece of dreck! | ||
| Post# 452516 , Reply# 11 7/28/2010 at 10:46 (5,018 days old) by davek () | ||
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They are still building it. It's unbelievably cheap: $259 MSRP. I bet it retails for $200 and property owner could probably pay $175 when buying several for a remodel. Fair warning: Don't buy FBD2400KB. CLICK HERE TO GO TO davek's LINK | ||
| Post# 452525 , Reply# 12 7/28/2010 at 11:47 (5,018 days old) by nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida) | ||
Friends of mine have a Danby 18 incher and its a very good machine. Even though its Chinese made it does a very good job. To me its a Miele knockoff. It has a water softener and hidden water heater. It washes as well as my Miele and even though its not as quiet as my Miele. But it uses both wash arms at the same time and moves quite a bit of water. It does hold alot for its size.
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Post# 452536 , Reply# 14 7/28/2010 at 12:40 (5,018 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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No Upper Spray Arm
At least on mine, just the tower.
However will say (yet) again, properly loaded, using good detergent and hot water (always use the heated wash but rarely heated dry), it gets the job done. Only put glasses and cups on the upper rack, with the occasional overflow of saucer or odd bowl. Anything that requires serious cleaning goes on the bottom rack. Have placed dirty saucepans, and even my Corningware microwave oven "grill" in this unit and they have come out clean. Well aside from sometimes the odd bit of burnt on goo, but we can forgive that as even some full sized dishwashers with two or more spray arms leave the odd bit here and there. If one had the choice would have gone with a full sized portable at the time. But that wasn't an option. Am always on the lookout for a vintage top loading portable in good nick, but until then...... | ||
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Post# 452540 , Reply# 15 7/28/2010 at 13:14 (5,018 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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There Ya Go!
GE badged unit, and while some of the cycles are different, interior is exactly like mine. At least from what one can see from the snaps.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO Launderess's LINK on New York Craigslist | ||
| Post# 452579 , Reply# 16 7/28/2010 at 16:05 (5,018 days old) by supersurgilator (Indiana) | ||
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I think the biggest problem with the Frigidaires is how they alternate between the bottom and upper arm washing. FOr some reason, according to the user manuals that I have downloaded, they don't run simultaneously. Could be something to conserve water or something. | ||
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Post# 452632 , Reply# 17 7/28/2010 at 19:24 (5,018 days old) by Toggleswitch (New York City, NY) |
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The 18 inchers (45cm) are often coveted by those that think a 24 incher (60cm) is too large. THEN you realize how ridiuclously small the 18 incher is if you want to wash automaticaly the occasional pot or pan.
That, and a huge siverware rack and a cut-out for the wash arm extension and the damned things hold NOTHING! Do yourself a favor. Buy the least expensive 24 incher you can that will keep you happy. Intall it and forget it. It is not worth the hassle to pull out your machine and add another (perhaps the original) when you leave. If you are so picky that the lanlord's machine is not good enough (you could run it twice for each load) then spend your money with a smile on and be prepared to abandon the machine you install when you leave. It is just that simple. Perhaps sell the LL's machine on flea-pay to help cover your costs. If he ever asks, just say it died. End of story. The idea of storing a machine or having a duplicate in a small apartment is the beginning of very bad habits just to save a few hunded dollars. Those living in (small) rentals should not be collecting bulky items; especially if that act is causing OTHERS to have to store YOUR sh--! Have what you need, and need what you have. Not more! | ||
| Post# 452649 , Reply# 18 7/28/2010 at 20:45 (5,018 days old) by nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida) | ||
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One thing with the Frigidaire that uses the alternating arms is that the pump behind those arms is rather small...it moves just 12 gallons a minute. It works on the idea of high temp, low pressure to wash. The 18 inchers have a 1/3 hp motor and move alot more water and they are not quiet by any means. If I read the specs right there is about 50 gallons of water going thru the tower and arm. With the 18 inch machines there really isnt a filter in them.
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Post# 452744 , Reply# 19 7/29/2010 at 10:25 (5,017 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA) |
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Post# 453682 , Reply# 20 8/2/2010 at 06:49 (5,013 days old) by jakeseacrest (Massachusetts) |
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Post# 453945 , Reply# 21 8/2/2010 at 20:54 (5,013 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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