My 'new' oven doesn't fit...

17 years ago

...and I don't care!

My late 70's/early 80's era (guessing) 24" wall oven has been giving me problems for a while now. It was always extremely uneven, but then it started beeping incessantly after any prolonged use, then it started shutting down at random mid-use.

I've definitely not wanted to buy a brand new one since my kitchen is in desperate need of remodeling and I'll be switching to a range. So several months ago I looked on Craig's List and found a guy selling a 24" oven for $50. I drove to his house, handed over the 50, loaded it in my truck, took it home, looked at it closer, decided it was too gross to come into my gross kitchen and dropped it on the curb.

Fast forward to earlier this week, I was trying an Ina recipe, baked fish with creme fraiche mustard sauce, and the oven shut off half-way through the 10 minute bake. So I went on Craig's list again, sure enough there was a "like new" 24" oven, $75. Called the guy, said it's really like new, "My wife don't cook," just swapped white appliances out for stainless.

So I drove out there, it sure was like new, not a current model but not more than a generation or so old. Score. Brought it home, removed my oven, went to slide this one in, doesn't fit. So I brought out the sawzall and bastardized my cabinetry, got it to where it goes in all but about 2". A bit more hacking and it should go in another inch but that's definitely it. I'll have to get creative with some filler strips. No matter what I do though, it'll look like hell because my kitchen is dark with black appliances, so this overstuffed white oven will stick out like a sore thumb.

But like I said, I don't care. In fact I'm thrilled. Finally I will be able to fit a half sheet pan in the oven. My 10x15 Pyrex now fits. I'll be able to play with convection and see if I like it. At the very least I'll use convection to bake Christmas cookies which I haven't been able to do for the last 8 years without heartbreaking results every single time due to the extremely uneven heat. (Not even turning would help.) Heck, I might even roast a turkey, just because I can! Or proof some dough!

If you've read this far, thanks for listening to me babble. No one in my "real life" would appreciate this. In fact they'll probably leave my house thinking I've lost it for being so excited about that eyesore!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

foodonastump
Original Author
17 years ago
LOL I totally forgot to explain why it doesn't fit - Turns out it's a 27", not a 24" like the guy told me. I thought it looked big, but he assured me it was 24" and I hadn't thought to bring the measurements of my existing oven with me. Duh!
shellm
17 years ago
So sorry to hear of your troubles,but I am sitting here laughing at your overstuffed eyesore.You'll have to show us pictures,so we can fully appreciate it.

Shelley
Related Discussions
Help! new problem: slide-in range doesn't fit!
Q
Comments (13)
From that spec sheet, it looks like the 31 5/16'' refers to the trim piece on the top of the range that should sit on the granite. Is the range itself wider than 30'' below the trim piece so it won't slide in it all? And from the picture, the front edge of the range should protrude ~2'' when the range has slid back all the way. As I mentioned earlier, I had my granite fabricator shave the granite so my range could slide back about an extra inch or so. If you slide your range in further, will you have room to open the doors on adjacent cabinets? There should be 1+'' clearance allowed for that.
...See More
Help - Microwave/convection oven doesn't fit!
Q
Comments (4)
I assume that the MW is on a shelf that is the bottom of that cabinet, right? How about putting a fan blowing down and out from the back of the cabinet? I think if you look for a cooling fan in an electronics catalogue, you will find one you can install there. If you draw the air out from behind and below the MW, fresh, cooler air will be drawn in from the smaller spaces around the MW. This could work. They make laptop tables/trays with these fans. Here is a link that might be useful: look at these
...See More
Help, my range doesn't fit properly
Q
Comments (26)
What kind of cabinets do you have behind the range? Are they regular shelves? It seems like the cutting into them in order to put in the electrical and gas connections would be fairly minor. It shouldn't take much space in the cabinets - a few inches high and a couple of inches deep along part of the 30" of the range. If the range can fit flat against a wall, that probably means just the space for a junction box and for a gas outlet and shut off valve. So you won't be loosing much storage space. In most places, code requires having an accessible shut off valve for the gas. We found the cabinet behind our rangetop to be a convenient location for it. The GC may have intended to put in a spacer instead, but it may be better to not lose floor space to a spacer all along the cabinets and have a little lost space in one cabinet. I don't understand why you would have to cut into the cabinets beside the range - it should be possible just altering the cabinet behind the range. I also don't understand why the range isn't going in all the way now - does part of the range project in back? Normally when a range goes against a wall, the gas and electrical connection are recessed into the wall but the range itself doesn't stick into the wall space at all. So your range without the connections having been put in should be able to slide all the way in. Are you sure that the cabinets are installed square? I wonder if they are a little off so that the space between the cabinets gets narrower as you get to the back.
...See More
New Gas Oven Doesn't Heat Right
Q
Comments (2)
My suggestion would be to call for service. Given that this is a gas range, your questions are not "internet-able" because there could be something dangerous going on. If it's brand new, it must be under warranty.
...See More
claire_de_luna
17 years ago
Well, I'm happy for you! Thrilled in fact, since not having an oven would be a deal breaker for me. I probably use my oven more than the cooktop, so I think it's very important. I'm so happy you'll get to bake, that you have convection, and it's going to suffice beautifully until your kitchen is remodeled. Congratulations! Now be sure to tell us what you're going to make first!

(BTW, mine's 27 inches, which is a good size IMO. You can do almost everything you need to do with that size.)
User
17 years ago
FOAS...I understand completely but your right others will look at you and wonder....LOL

Trust me 3 inches is a lot! LOL

Congrats and enjoy!
diinohio
17 years ago
Good read, glad you like your new oven! Good price too. Isn't it funny what makes us happy!

Di
Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Great deal...sorry about the loss of the "look"...lol..but function over beauty sometimes! LOL
caliloo
17 years ago
"Trust me 3 inches is a lot! LOL " ROFTLMBO!!!! oh Jessy.... I think you are being paged!

Glad you did get the new oven in though... even if it is an overstuffed eyesore!

Alexa
leel
17 years ago
I'm not Jessy, but all I can say is "Size DOES count!"
annie1992
17 years ago
Size aside (grin), good for you FOAS. I've never had convection but I can't imagine not having an oven.

I agree, function over appearance, every single time.

Annie
Bizzo
17 years ago
Good for you!! 75$ to check out convection on a regular basis before you remodel? There are plenty who would take you up on that!!

So when's the remodel planned?
dgkritch
17 years ago
LOL!! Happy for you!! I understand completely!

I LOVE the old rusted out wash tub I 'scored' off the side of the road one day. It now marks the top of my septic tank and is filled with daffodils, thyme and rosemary.

And the big bag of mesquite branches that my FIL just hauled all the way from Yuma, AZ to Oregon for me.........perfect!! Other people would think they're just trash, but maybe not after eating meat smoked with them!!

Enjoy that new oven and get your money's worth out of it before the remodel!!

Deanna
riverrat1
17 years ago
ahem, they say size dosen't matter but in this case I think it matters:-). I'm very excited for you! Now you can bake in a larger working oven and see if that is what you really want in the future. Great score!

Deanna, I would love to have different piles of grilling wood out in my yard. Hickory, Cherry, Mesquite just to name a few.
foodonastump
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks everyone!

Well I've only baked one thing - gyro meat stuffed in a loaf pan sitting in a water bath. Way to test for oven for evenness, huh? LOL! Oh yeah, and I reheated some pizza.

The bad news is I'm getting an off smell - kind of like a burny-melty smell. I can't imagine it's anything other than the fact that it's packed in there tight to the walls without the required airspace. I really don't think there's anything wrong with the oven as the guy even called me back to see how it worked out. So...this means more cabinet modification than I already did. Fortunately the stack is at the end of a run and there's room to spare, so I'll just run some plywood floor-to-soffit about two inches to the right, cut out the existing cabinet in the oven space, put in new shelves, make a dummy face frame.

Gawd this thing is sounding uglier by the minute, huh? I guess at least it'll be fully in the hole instead of sticking out as it does now. It really shouldn't be that big of a project, but if you saw the state of my house you'd understand why I'm not particularly happy about spending the time and effort on a temporary fix like.

If I could edit my first post I'd change it to, "My new oven doesn't fit...what a PITA."
annie1992
17 years ago
FOAS, I'm not really laughing. Really I'm not.

It does sound like that whole adventure is become a big PITA, but the new oven works, I suppose that has to count for something?

Annie
claire_de_luna
17 years ago
You know, if your new oven was never truly used, it would normally have a...burned...smell until it's well broken in. (At least all the new ovens I've ever had did.) It goes away fairly quickly, so you might not have to worry about. Cook in it a little more, and see if it doesn't go away, before you make any big changes first.

My 'new' oven doesn't fit...

Comments (15)

foodonastump
Original Author

shellm

Related Discussions

claire_de_luna

User

diinohio

Terri_PacNW

caliloo

leel

annie1992

Bizzo

dgkritch

riverrat1

foodonastump
Original Author

annie1992

claire_de_luna

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

My 'new' oven doesn't fit...

Comments (15)

foodonastumpOriginal Author

Related Discussions

foodonastumpOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

foodonastump
Original Author

foodonastump
Original Author