How to Fix the Nichrome Ribbons in a Toaster
A toaster has metal resistance ribbons inside made of nichrome or nickel/chromium alloy. The electricity travels to the ribbons which resist the flow. This process makes the ribbons become hot due to the electrons' friction in the electricity flow, and the heat browns your bread to make toast. Nichrome ribbons can break and not have the resistance that warms them. You can repair the coils in your toaster with a few household items and without the need for a welder or soldering iron. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Pour ½ cup of powdered hand soap into a bowl. Add a few drops of water at a time and mix it with a spoon to form a thick paste.
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2
Unplug the toaster power cord from the electrical receptacle.
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3
Remove the screws on the outer frame of the toaster with a screwdriver turning them counterclockwise. Set the screws aside.
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4
Examine the break in the nichrome ribbons. Bend one side of the broken coil into a U shape with needle-nose pliers. Bend the other side of the break into a U shape. Hook both ends of the break together and squeeze them tightly with needle nose pliers.
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5
Apply a generous amount of the paste to the junction of the coils with your hand.
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6
Plug the toaster power cord into an outlet and turn it on. Let the toaster heat up and melt the paste onto the wire ribbons to weld it together. The ribbons will be red and melt the paste.
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7
Unplug the toaster and let it cool completely. Gently crush any remaining paste with pliers to remove it from the coils. Turn the toaster upside down to shake out the crystallized paste.
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8
Place the frame onto the toaster, insert the screws and tighten them clockwise with a screwdriver.
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Tips & Warnings
The repaired area of the nichrome coils will not heat as much as the rest of the coils from this point forward, but it saves the cost of buying a new toaster.
This method of repair may not work on very old, brittle toaster coils.
References
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
