Thread Number: 55522
Maytag DE606 Panel Restore
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Post# 779098   8/24/2014 at 16:23 (3,526 days old) by mandorob ()        

Here's a quick description of what I did to restore the front panel of my DE606. The chrome was in pretty decent condition, the white perfect, and the gold on the bottom needed a respraying. First of all the white was masked off so I could polish up the chrome without fear of damaging the white. I used rubbing compound for this and with quite a bit of rubbing most of the pitting came off nicley.The chrome on this plastic is actually quite good. I applied a self-imposed time limit of 2 hours to this aspect of the dryer project. My goal here was only to have a respectable looking and perfectly working daily driver here, this is not a showcar!
Next the masking was removed from the white area and the chrome was all carefully masked as well as the white in order to spray only the gold. I would only use a clean release painters tape for the masking and even then don't let it stay on for too long and not in the sun. The paint from the factory likes to come off easily so be careful.
Next the gold area was sanded with a fine sanding sponge, you could use a scothcbite pad also, but the sponges work really nice to get in all the contours and corners. Scuff it all up real good and vacuum.
I used a paint and primer all in one (see pic) if not I would prime with a plastic paint if you sanded down to bare plastic. This gold is a pretty close match for the original. Sprayed a couple light coats then removed masking after about an hour. I like to remove masking fairly quickly as it seems less likely to pull paint off.
I'm very happy with the panel and the rest of the dryer was completely disassembled, cleaned,lubed and put back together with success. A new front drum seal was installed with high temp rtv from the hardware store. I wish I had not bought the expensive seal and just bought some felt weather stripping from the hardware store instead, I could have saved $10.It seems to be exactly the same stuff.
Upon firing it up and doing the first load I am happy. My concern was that the drum would be too small but it held a pretty good sized load from our modern dryer which is soon to be replaced by an A308 from 1980 in matching harvest gold.

Hope this helps someone,
Rob


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 8         View Full Size



Post# 779216 , Reply# 1   8/24/2014 at 23:50 (3,526 days old) by d-jones (Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Area))        

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Nice job on the repaint. It looks as good as new in the photos, and the documentation should prove helpful. You mentioned that the control panel is made of plastic. Is that correct? On the earlier versions they were made of die cast pot metal. Switching to plastic may have been yet another effort to cut costs.


Post# 779217 , Reply# 2   8/25/2014 at 00:01 (3,526 days old) by bluejay (Havre de Grace, MD)        

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Awesome job on the repaint! I have a DE700 that needs the matte portion repainted; this will come in handy when I get around to it. Thanks for sharing!

Post# 779231 , Reply# 3   8/25/2014 at 01:44 (3,526 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO)        

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Nice job on the panel. That's 1975 all the way. An 806 with gold trim and sunburst dial.

Post# 779257 , Reply# 4   8/25/2014 at 07:19 (3,525 days old) by mandorob ()        

Yes this panel is definetly plastic of some sort. It is nice and thick and very well made though. The washer that I will be using is from 1980 and its panel is different, seems thinner and more brittle. The mounting tabs are of a smaller diameter. They cheapened things up a bit. I haven't measured but I'm quite sure the sheet metal panels are thinner gauge metal on the 80 as well. I guess older is better with most things.

Post# 779265 , Reply# 5   8/25/2014 at 07:42 (3,525 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)        
Rob

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Beautiful job! Takes lot's of time, but real nice to enjoy every time you walk by. I did my set of A608 & DE608 years ago. Found the gold paint a a local hobby shop. Love it!

Post# 779269 , Reply# 6   8/25/2014 at 08:11 (3,525 days old) by ovrphil (N.Atlanta / Georgia )        

ovrphil's profile picture
Rob, based on your goals and keeping in line with the daily driver status it looks like a show new machine anyways. Congratulations, thanks for the photos and explanations. While I could do this w/o referring to a guide, I would prefer to read what others did anyways - never assuming there is only one way to get the job done. Beautiful looking Maytag.

Post# 779363 , Reply# 7   8/25/2014 at 16:17 (3,525 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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Nice job!!


Post# 779383 , Reply# 8   8/25/2014 at 17:55 (3,525 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona )        
OH WOW!!!

hippiedoll's profile picture
what a BEAUTIFUL job you did on that control panel!!! and the dryer looks to be in great condition too. after you were done with that control panel, it looks like a brand new dryer!!!

you did an "OUTTA SIGHT" job on your DE606 control panel restoration!!!
LOVE IT!!!

:o)



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