Friday, October 14, 2011

A 2011 Samsung Fridge becomes a 1930's fridge

My wife and I own a 1926 Arts & Crafts Bungalow and the previous owners "restored" it in 1980's "Home Depot style". I have re done the bedroom and laundry/ back hall area in a style inspired by the architects Greene & Greene, and now it's on to the kitchen and breakfast nook. We needed a new refrigerator, but we didn't like the idea of a modern appliance in a Craftsman style house. However, since my day job is making things look like things they are not, or replicating just about anything, it didn’t seem to hard to make a 2011 refrigerator look like a 1926 enameled Ice box.

We looked at many different modern efficient refrigerators and liked the Samsung. But since I hadn’t started on the restoration of the kitchen, we weren’t in any hurry to buy a new fridge. Well one day, we found one at Lowes on sale, because the handles where missing and the door had a small dent. An offer we couldn’t refuse! So, I needed to build a fridge. Here is what I started with:


I did some research and found many examples of white enameled Ice box's and refrigerators from the 20’s and 30’s.  Here are a couple of examples:

 

The plan was to add fake ice box doors to the front of the stainless fridge, with only the one over the ice maker a functional door. The others would be attached to the Samsung’s doors and when the handle was pulled, the whole Samsung door would open. I laid out the door proportions in Corel Draw and then cut ¾” MDF as patterns.  The doors where to be vacuum formed from 1/8 plastic about ½” high with a Coroplast filler.(Trade name for corrugated plastic material)  This Coroplast piece would keep the vacuum formed Icebox door panels stiff, without adding much weight to the fridge doors.

For my hardware, ebay seemed like a good source, but I couldn’t find just the right thing. So, I fabricated a handle in brass, based on a period one, but about twice as large and located the hinges from McMaster Carr. (A great source for many things) However, the hinges where $35 ea! I needed 11 of them and only 2 had to work. Well $385 for hinges was a bit to steep, even if we had saved double that on the “damaged” fridge. Luckily, I have a spin caster for “white metal” pewter casting, so I made my own.
This process entails "pressing" a rubber mold of your master parts in a vulcanizing press. This press heats the rubber to about 300 f and subjects the raw hot rubber to about 1500 psi. Once the mold heat cures (about an hour),  it’s placed in a spin caster and the molten pewter (500 f.) is ladled into the top of the machine which pours into the spinning mold. 60 seconds later, you have cast metal parts. This is a very common way to make many different types of inexpensive metal items. Here is a photo of the hardware and the rubber mold:


Each piece of hardware was attached with stainless machine screws with an “Oval” style head. This is a counter sunk screw with a slightly domed head. Since Phillips screws, invented by Henry F. Phillips, were not in use until 1937, slotted style was chosen. Each screw, threads into a “Riv-nut”, a “pop rivet” style of threaded insert that is commonly used in sheet metal applications. This riv-nut provides more robust threads in a thin sheet skin.

Here is the assembled fridge with plastic door panels and cast hardware:

 The door over the Ice maker has a vacuum formed inner panel and is bonded to the outer panel with a 3/8” wood filler to make a complete door that has a nice feel and weight to it. Since this was the only working door, I wanted it to feel more like the type of insulated metal door that would be on an original fridge.

Once I had all the hardware deburred and prepped I sent it to my friends at F&H plating for a brushed nickel finish. The fridge was sanded, masked and given a white automotive paint finish.

With the newly plated hardware the 2011 Samsung was transformed into a 1930’s(ish) fridge.


The last touch will be a “Manufacturers plate” added to the gap between the left hand doors. (A printed place holder can be seen in the photo.)

This gap between doors seems to be a common thing on many of these old fridges and I assume it’s because there is some plumbing elements there. Well since my door layout is cosmetic, with the exception of the door covering the ice maker, I incorporated this gap in the design with the intention of adding the plate. The manufacturers plate is acid etched in magnesium, using a process used for making rubber stamps. here is the finished badge.

 

Update:

Per request, here is a shot of the fridge with the water/ice door open. It also shows the sheet metal fascia at the bottom, this replaces the original plastic one and facilitates the legs to be added. Most of these old ice boxes and coolers had legs and were raised off the floor. Because we have the fridge located in a part of the kitchen that steps down, raising it was essential to allow the righthand door to fully open. In addition, because both my wife and I are above average height, raising the fridge is perfect, it turns out it is a much better height for us.
 

 


57 comments:

  1. Knock me down with a feather. I dig it, man. Freakin awesome.

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  2. "...But since I hadn’t started on the restoration of the kitchen..."
    So does this mean the restoration has started? :]

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  3. That is AWESOME!!! Would you consider actually providing all of these "exterior items" that are needed for this look, shipped with detailed directions, and sell them to me? Our budget is tight, but came across this and AM IN MUCH LOVE!! I can't DIY myself (4 kids, work full time, am moving), but SOO DIG THIS!!!

    Thank you! Please let me know!!

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  4. Thanks Kat, I had considered making these pieces available as a kit, but it would take some fabrication skills to add them and then paint the fridge.

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    1. This is AMAZING!!! So, SO cool!!! +1 on request for fabricating a kit to sell to DIY’ers!!

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  6. What is the part number & vendor for the screws and Riv-nuts you used? Also, did you use these same fasteners on the working handles? Would you post your Corel Draw file? That way I could modify it for whatever refrigerator model I get. I am seriously considering giving this a try!! It beats the heck out of cleaning up that old General Electric in the garage and then praying it doesn't break down.

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  7. The riv-nuts came from MacMaster Carr as did the 10-32 stainless oval head screws. As for the Corel file, I just divided the available door space into appropriate sized doors.

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  8. Wow, just wow. This is AMAZING! Most fridges are so ugly. It looks like a $7,000 refrigerator!

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  9. Hi, I know this is a pretty old posting, but do you think you could add a picture of the door over the ice maker while it's open? I'm blown away by this project, the attention to detail is remarkable. 

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  10. Love your frig...your a very talented guy...where did you get the legs for the frig?..also how thick are the panels....thanks..Allan

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  11. can you tell me how thick the panels are and also where did you buy the legs

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  12. The panels are thermo formed .090" Polystyrene plastic formed over 3/4" thick patterns. So the final panel thickness is around 5/8" thick. I made the "skirt" at the bottom, but the legs were bought on ebay.

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  13. In refrence to the comment from Kat , so I believe Cris should still make the kit available and let the buyer worry about the instalation and paint;I want one .

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  14. Well, it’s a nice one, I have been looking for. Thanks for sharing such informative stuff.coolers website

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  15. Can you build me one??? I LOVE IT!!!!!

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  16. I want to see the rest of the kitchen. I really like the looks of this I seen other antiques like the ones you pictured and they really are cool looking now you need an O'Keefe & Merritt stove an apron sink Farmhouse cabinets all the way to the ceiling Etc

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    1. I am redoing the rest of the kitchen now. I bought an old O'Keefe oven/ stove and was going to refurbish it and hybrid it together with some modern elements, but decided to by an ILVE unit instead.

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    2. Everybody's waiting to see the rest of the kitchen.

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  17. Where are you located? We need this done to a fridge in Massachusetts. Can you sell the kit for our fridge??? This is AWESOME

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    1. Thanks. I had considered a kit, but I don't think the economics are there. Hinges and handles like this can be found on ebay and the panels can be made with a solid plastic like acrylic or a sealed wood. You would have to router the edges and paint it to match the fridge, or paint the whole fridge.

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  18. Hey!! Love your fridge.Did you put anything over the compeletly( origanal) doors first before you put on fake doors? Thanks, Teri

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  19. Absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! And so smart! Vintage look, modern convenience! Amazing job!

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  20. Teri,
    yes, I painted the original Samsung stainless doors with automotive lacquer.

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  21. Now THIS is exactly what I was looking for. Beautiful. Could you talk a little more about how you raised it? Is it on a platform? Are those legs structural, or are there structural legs underneath with the fancy ones for decoration? How are they attached?

    Also there appears to be an edge making the door appear taller in the second pic of your fridge. I read back through your process but didn't see anything mentioned. Is that just the way the original door looked? Or is there a layer between the faux doors and the real doors? And... you can just... screw stuff to the fridge door without hurting anything electronic???

    Any other additional details you can provide would be awesome. I need to know what I need to learn how to do to replicate this in a few years lol. The step by step summary is great but I think that readers who aren't familiar with the various processes are missing part of what you're trying to convey. Though we are very grateful to see that this is possible, looks fantastic, and now we have an idea how it can be done.

    Thank you so much for posting this. There's a million faux wood ice boxes out there, but only one faux enameled ice box. And this is the first one I've seen that has a door covering the ice and water dispenser. I thought I was going to have to get a fridge without dispensers to do this project, I'm relieved that isn't the case. Have a great day!

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    1. The doors have not been lengthened, adding the legs and the bottom fascia help give it more presence. The fridge is sitting on an angle iron frame, to which I welded a good set of casters. The front legs, where purchased on ebay (old stove legs I think)
      The front "fake" doors are attached to the front of the fridge using "Riv-Nuts". These are like pop-rivets, but have a threaded hole in the center. Drilling the holes for the riv-nuts, you do have to be carefull. I did nick the water supply line in the freezer door, and since it is completely filled with foam, I had to buy a replacement, and redo the door attachments and paint it. The second time, I used a set screw collar on the drill bit to limit how far the drill penetrates the door. (you only need to go through about 1/32" of sheet steel.) Once the rivnuts where installed, I painted the doors with an automotive paint. Then the doors and hinges are attached with stainless screws (size-10-32)
      I just completed another door for a mini fridge, and this time I vacuum formed a complete front cover with the doors, and attached it with high quality double stick tape.

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  22. Ten years on, and you are still happy? Anything you would have done differently?

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  23. I only understood half of that, but that is so clever. Brilliant job. Just love it and yes I want one :)

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  24. Please make kits!!! I've been thinking about making my frig look like a wooden icebox but yours is much cooler.

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  25. I'm with everyone else requesting a kit that I can buy from you... :-)

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  26. Absolutely amazing! I am in awe!

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  27. Mr. Gilman, you are super talented, thrifty, a visionary and an absolute makeover KING! I so love what you've recreated.

    And to think, I was looking for some Country Kitchen magnets to apply to my Samsung fridge door fronts- YOU BLOW MY RIGHT BRAIN UP!

    Awesome job want to see more of your talented work soon🙏🏻

    Melinda

    PS Tell your wife she is lucky to have you💞

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  28. I love this. I have already bought the fridge, handles and hinges. I am a little stuck on how to do the doors. I only need three of them. I also love the legs on the bottom. I have some old stove legs that I bought somewhere and a neighbor who can weld. A really nice job on this

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    1. Me Too! I’m unsure of door process& hoping to gain better DIY from this genius creation! 🥰

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  29. Can you do one for me please??? I have the same fridge and want the same look.

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  30. PLEASE! Make a kit!!!

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  31. Did u make your own mold for hinges?

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    1. Yes. The original hinges were too expensive, and the pull / locks were difficult to find in enough quantity (all matching) so I made a vulcanized spin casting mold.

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  32. Absolutely amazing and inspiring!!

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  33. A pretty amazing job. While I am not in the market for this, there seem to be plenty of people who are. Maybe it would be possible to fabricate the panels so that they could be glued on? Without the legs, this would seem doable for a homeowner, maybe even using the fridge vinyl wrap material? You're probably cringing because you have done such a superb reproduction, but it might make it more affordable to offer as a kit, even if it would have to be less authentic.

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  34. that is so awesome. we’re in the process of moving just buying a house. and that fridge looks like it’s really old. you did an awesome job with that. love love love it.

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  35. I keep coming back to this post. It’s so incredible that it’s been getting attention for more than 10 years!

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  36. Our home is 140 years old, the refrigerator and stove are original. We are restoring where needed and I gave up hope for appliances, until I saw this post. Like so many posts stated above, your work is amazing, beautiful and creative. Would you consider making one? I have little faith I could build this.

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  37. 🥰 Love this ! I have an 1880’s farmhouse and would love to do this DIY . Did you happen to make kits ?

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  38. Did you ever make any kits or are there kits available? Would you happen to have drawings/plans/available for purchase m

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  39. What an awesome job with turning a "modern" fridge into "Vintage" one. Would it be possible for a quick consult with you for guidance with my soon to be project?

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  40. I am absolutely in love with this transformation and wish you were able to fabricate the look for sale. You sir, are an amazing craftsman! Thank you for sharing this beauty!

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  41. Love,love love this fridge. I would buy a kit.

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  42. Me too, you have done such an amazing job. Will you make for others to buy now that you have it down. Looks like you've got a demand or sell the the idea to THE BIG CHILL!!

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  43. I know this is an old post, unsure of materials needed for fake doors or where to purchase. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks! Ps-you did an awesome job! 👏👏👏 I have the same fridge & attempting your ReDo! 🤞

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  44. I just purchased my dream house. 1910 queen Ann. Has a chambers stove. I was looking on to figure out how to keep the character of this gem of a house. This refrigerator is perfect! If you ever need a vacation down south, come on down! Let’s build one!

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