Refrigerator Liner Repair

Introduction
Refrigerator doors open and close 100s of times a day. The shelf on the door holds many different types of items. There is a lot of pressure applied to the clips and liner when the door is opened or closed. Occasionally the door is shut way too hard…. and the door shelf guide has broken free from the liner. Now you have to fix the door liner. Easier said than done. You cannot go to the local hardware store and buy a replacement liner, nor can you buy a replacement door such as you can for your auto at the dealership. You can buy a new refrigerator $$$$$$ cha ching. The end result; I was left to repair the liner myself. This is not my first rodeo, I have had to repair the door liner 3 different times in 3 different places.

The Story
The other night I was faced with this hurdle. The back story is the fridge door rack fell off. Well that is the short story. The full story is, the fridge door liner slot, where the shelf guide secures to the door broke 6 months ago. The landlord used Duct Tape to hold the shelf to the door liner but now the adhesive has let go. About the same time the refrigerator bottom door shelf liner broke. The landlord, again, used Duct Tape to hold the shelf to the door. There is a time and a place for the use of Duct Tape, this was not the time nor the place. Now is the time to make a more permanent repair to the door liner. I have already had to repair the refrigerator door liner on 3 other locations.

This instructable is how to repair the door liner but with an added bonus on how to use common tools, to make a Mini Brake Bender tool to bend stainless steel to complete the repair.

Next Material & Tools

Material:
Stainless Steel sheet metal (aluminum will work)

Tools:
1) 2 Vice Grips,
2) 2 Flat Files,
3) Caulk gun / Project Adhesive,
4) Tape Measure,
5) Hammer and Metal Mallet Hammer,
6) Center Punch and
7) Chisel,
8) Duct Tape.(Optional: the color of the liner to hide the repair)

Substitute my tool list with what you have on hand. I do not own a Dremel and my drill was not working that day. It is far easier with a Dremel or a drill than to brute force. I use the Duct Tape on the part of the door you see first, such as the top door shelf of the freezer. The inner shelf is hardly noticed after you open the door. Where as when you open the door the Replacement Slot draws your attention to it immediate, that is why it is covered with Duct Tape.

Skill Level:
Easy

Now that you have your Material and Tools, let’s go complete your Refrigerator Liner Repair.

Next Prep

Clean and measure the area to be repaired.

The area to be repaired was
15/16 inches deep by
1 inch wide and
2 inches high.

Next 1st Bend

1) Mark where you want your bend,
2) Place 1 of the Flat Files on top of the Metal, along the line of your first bend,
3) Clamp 1 of the Locking Pliers on the Metal and Flat File,
4) Place the last Flat File underneath the Metal on the other side of the line,
5) Clamp the last Locking Plier on the Metal and Flat File,
6) Apply force to bend the Metal.

Next 2nd Bend

1) Mark where you want your bend,
2) Place 1 of the Flat Files on top of the Metal, along the line of your second bend,
3) Clamp 1 of the Locking Pliers on the Metal and Flat File,
4) Place the last Flat File underneath the Metal on the other side of the line,
5) Clamp the last Locking Plier on the Metal and Flat File,
6) Apply force to bend the Metal.

Next New Replacement Slot

1) Check the precision folds,
2) Measure and mark the metal for the Replacement Slot,
3) Use the Center Punch to mark the line,
4) Align the Chisel on the recently created dimples,
5) Hit the Chisel with the Metal Mallet Hammer to cut the lines on your Replacement Slot,
6) Use the File to clean up the Replacement Slot,
7) Check the Replacement Slot against the Shelf Guide Rack.

Note: This Replacement Slot was made with brute force. It is far easier to use a Dremel or drill.

Next Adhesive

1) Apply the Adhesive around the liner slot,
2) Apply Adhesive on the Metal Replacement Slot,
3) Align the Replacement Slot with the liner slot,
4) Add pressure and Hold for a min,
5) Remove excess Adhesive,
6) Wait for it to dry,
7) Insert Shelf Guide Rack into the Replacement Slot,
8) Add the Duct Tape to cover the Replacement Slot (Optional),
9) Replace the items onto the shelf,
You are done!

Next Observations & Summary

Observations
The fridge is 10+ years old. It is the 3rd Replacement Slot I have made; 2 on the fridge door and 1 on the freezer door. I have 1 more Replacement Slot to make for the freezer. Choose an Adhesive which will hold in extreme temperatures when you make a Replacement Slot for the freezer.

The benefits of this design are:
1) Easy and affordable repair,
2) Repair the shelf liner slot so you can utilize the shelf space,
3) Learn new skills in metal work.

Summary
I am satisfied with the results.

- Hear advice, and receive instruction, so that you may be wise in your latter end.