Initial Evaluation Upon the start of the restoration process the antique refrigerator receives a thorough inspection noting any visible damage, broken or missing pieces and the overall condition of the refrigerator. It is then photographed in it's "as-is" condition including exterior, interior, door liner, compressor area, back side and the underside. Disassembly The refrigerator is then completely dismantled and each step is photographed while each part removed is labeled and inventoried. All of the original insulation is discarded as it will be replaced with new modern efficient material  upon reassembly. Cabinet completely disassembled ready for sandblasting to remove years of rust, grime amd mutiple layers of paint. Every component of the refrigerator (trim, emblems, hardware, etc.) is evaluated during disassembly and determined what action will be taken to bring it back to showroom condition. The refrigeration system is carefully separated from the body and the original wiring is diagramed for later replacement. The Cabinet and Door This stage takes one of two paths depending on the original finish.  If the finish was originally porcelain then the overall condition is evaluated and if there are only a few minor scratches or chips they are repaired using porcelain repair products. If the porcelain finish is severely damaged (large chips and deep scratches) the components are professionally refinished where it will be stripped of its original porcelain finish and re-fired with a new porcelain coating. Cabinet sandblasted with all necessary metalwork completed and in its first stage of the paint process... acid etch primer. If the finish was originally painted then it is sandblasted to remove the original factory paint, years of dirt, any rust and often several additional repaint jobs that have been applied over time to coordinate with the changing kitchen decor. When the pieces return from sandblasting all of the necessary metal work is performed to erase years of use. This includes removing all dents, repairing rusted areas and prepping the metal for paint. After all of the metal work is completed the pieces receive a coat of acid etch primer to adhere to the bare steel and three coats of acrylic primer surfacer to fill any small imperfections. The primer is allowed to dry and then block sanded to ensure a flawless surface to which the final four coats of acrylic enamel color are applied. The painted pieces are then wet sanded and buffed to a high gloss finish. Emblems, Trim, and Hardware Now that the cabinet, door and other related exterior panels are restored the trim, emblems, hardware and plastic components are addressed. Chrome plated items are polished or re-plated if they have excess pitting or scratches. If the item is stainless it is buffed to its original luster. Trim, hardware and miscellaneous parts bagged, labeled and inventoried. Hardware such as door hinges and handles are inspected for wear and repaired where necessary to ensure proper door alignment and latching. Finally, damaged plastic or fiberglass components which may include the inner door liner/shell and plastic freezer doors are repaired with epoxy or fiberglass resin followed by a fresh coat of paint. Electrical System In addition to the refrigerator wiring harness, a complete inspection of the various electrical components is performed. Thermostats and related controls are checked for ease of operation, correct temperature calibration, deterioration or cracks in the housings and burnt or loose terminal connections. Relays are examined for burnt or severely worn contacts and finally door light switches and their corresponding light sockets are also checked.  Any electrical component found to be questionable is rebuilt or replaced upon reassembly.   Refrigeration System The refrigeration system is given a thorough examination and any repairs deemed necessary are performed at this time. These repairs may be simple  as replacing the rubber or spring anti-vibration mounts on the compressor to ensure quiet, rattle free operation or straightening the cooling fins on the condenser coils for maximum heat transfer and efficiency. No matter how minor or major the repairs are, they all add up to a trouble free, quality restoration. Finally, the refrigeration system is given a good cleaning and receives a fresh coat of paint. Final Reassembly The refrigerator is now ready for reassembly where all of the hard work and attention to detail in the previous steps starts to pays off. During this stage the cabinet is fitted with modern efficient insulation, the new wiring harness is installed, the door is mounted to the cabinet with its custom fabricated door gasket and then adjusted to close and seal tight for that brand new solid feel. Cabinet fitted with new efficient insulation. If the refrigerator has a lower dry storage bin it is checked for ease of operation and alignment. Any interior shelves and drawers are also installed and inspected at this time. Freshly buffed or re-chromed emblems and trim are meticulously reinstalled. The refrigeration system is placed back into the cabinet securing it with new or re-plated hardware. Finally, the refrigerator is set up and run for a period of 14 days to ensure it cycles properly and keeps correct temperature. Our Promise You can rest assured that we will treat each and every antique refrigerator as if it was one of our own family heirlooms, therefore each restoration is performed with pride of craftsmanship and unsurpassed attention to detail. Our promise is to deliver a finished product that we can be proud of and deserving of your 100% satisfaction