Microwave on brackets

Annie1960

My microwave is on brackets on the wall, like these:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/avf-microwave-brackets-silver-2-pack/72979?tc=HT7&ds_kid=92700058168038666&ds_rl=1244072&gclid=CjwKCAjwybyJBhBwEiwAvz4G7xy9JZov9xRVmaFAuxJbrsP7bTJ1hOghesNFpvP4_DK5wIpIHlkrShoCT5cQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The brackets are 35cm apart (because the feet on my old microwave are 35cm apart.

Now I need a new microwave, and would like to put it on the brackets. It's not really possible to move the brackets, as the tiling has been done around them.

I've checked with the retailer where I normally buy my microwaves, and with Panasonic (my preferred brand), and neither of them can tell me about the distance between the feet on modern microwaves. Both of them suggest I go into the shops and measure them myself! The retailer did measure a few while I was on the phone, but the distance was much wider than mine.

I've thoguht of putting a loose shelf on top of the brackets, but am not sure how safe this would be.

Has anyone else faced this issue, and if so, how did you solve it?

cajef

Is it possible to buy a wooden shelf drill holes through the bracket and screw the shelf to the bracket?

tacpot12

You are right to be concerned about having a loose shelf; if the microwave gets knocked, the shelf could easily slip off the brackets. Microwaves are quite heavy, so you don't want to risk it falling and landing on you! 

Screwing, or gluing the shelf to the brackets would be safer. I would use an epoxy resin such as Araldite if I was glueing the shelf on.  You can get pre-painted white shelves (or melamine covered shelves) if bare wood is not going to work with your kitchen decor. For additional security, you could drill some shallow holes in the shelf where the feet on your new microwave go to help keep the microwave where it should be. Tip - put a dab of something like toothpaste on the feet of the microwave and carefully place it on the shelf, then lift off. The toothpaste will mark the  points where you need the holes.  

TELLIT01

A shelf stuck or screwed to the brackets, plus strong double sided tape on the feet of the microwave should minimise any risk of it being knocked off.

Spinybif

You can get a variable width bracket - I have a brown one

https://boxed2me.co.uk/product/xavax-microwave-bracket-white-25291?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm4yrj5De8gIVBuvtCh2KRwY9EAQYByABEgK5jvD_BwE

Jeepers_Creepers

Hi Annie.

Assuming the new microwave isn't hugely heavier than the old one, then adding a shelf is the obvious solution. Something like Everbuild Stixall should be ideal for fixing the shelf down on the brackets - clean the contact surfaces thoroughly, run a couple of beads along each bracket, sit the shelf on top and plonk the 'wave on to hold it down. Leave it overnight.

The good thing about Stixall - apart from being sticky and tough - is that it sets to a rubbery consistency, so will tolerate knocks and movement - which this oven will constantly receive. It's also very heat-resistant, tho' I doubt this will be an issue anyway. Oh, and it'll fill any gaps, should the brackets not be exactly in-line with eachother.

If the 'wave has rubber feet designed to grip adequately to a worktop, then it'#ll also be fine on this shelf. Really, you'd have to be a bit of a klutz to actually knock or pull a 'wave off...

(Seal the tube of S-A afterwards, and put it somewhere cool. You will end up using it for a multitude of purposes :-) )