From: RB 
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Microwave oven paint is peeling
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 13:05:20 -0400



Walter Cohen wrote:
> My Samsung 1000W microwave from several years ago still works well but
> some of the paint on the bottom is peeling.
> The oven has a carousel to rotate food.
> The paint directly beneath the carousel plate track (as 3 tiny wheels
> of the carousel track are constantly in contact with the bottom of the
> microwave) has started to peel and the bare aluminum is exposed in
> some areas.

Poor paint job, or poor surface preparation prior to painting.

> 
> I have stopped using the oven but was wondering if this is a big
> problem (i.e. dangerous) or not.  I unplugged it because I was
> thinking that since now some bare metal is exposed then the microwaves
> may cause electrical arcing.

Plug it back in and use it.  Those spices you use that removed the paint 
must be doing a job on your stomach. ;-)

> 
> If the paint serves as an insulator and reflector of microwaves then
> can the paint in the track be re-applied and if so what kind of paint?

I doubt that it serves as much of an insulator and it certainly isn't 
reflecting microwaves.

> 
> Do I need to discard the microwave?

No.

> 
> Thanks,
> Walter