Inside the oven cavity, usually on the right hand side or in the roof you will usually see a small cover that looks like it is made of cardboard. It is often held in by one or more screws.
What is it ?
It is called the waveguide cover. It is usually made of a material called Mica.
What does it do ?
Its purpose is to cover the aperture through which the microwaves enter the oven cavity from where they are produced by the Magnetron behind the control panel. It stops moisture and food particles getting into the “workings” of the microwave.
waveguide cover
What do I need to know ?
if your microwave is working ok and behaving itself then there is nothing to worry about, but there may be one of 3 problems that may arise which should be rectified.
1. Its fallen off.
2. It has a hole in it.
3. It is arcing or sparking during use.
In any eventuality it should be replaced. If it has fallen off or got a hole in it then there is the risk of food or moisture getting into the waveguide which will reduce the efficiency of the oven. If it is arcing or sparking then continued use will damage other components in the microwave including the oven cavity which could be costly to rectify.
What should I do ?If there are any issues with your waveguide cover it should be replaced. When new the mica sheet is rigid and firm. Over a period of time it absorbs moisture and gets food splatters on it. It then becomes soft and flexible. The cover can be replaced either with a suitable replacement made by the manufacturer of the microwave or if the old cover is in good enough shape to be used as a template, blank sheets of mica can be purchased and cut to fit.
waveguide cover material - mica sheets
We often replace waveguide covers in our workshop. We are also asked to supply them directly. They are available mail order via our website ready made for some of the leading manufacturers or as blank sheets to make your own.
Microwave Service Company Ltd 
What would it cost to have a replacement waveguide cover for my Panasonic NN-MX26WF microwave oven sent by air to me in Hong Kong?
Grateful for your advice.
Regards,
KK Yeung
Thank you for your enquiry. I would not be able to supply the correct part, however we do supply a blank pice of waveguide cover material called Mica sheet, with instructions of how to make one to fit. If you can copy and paste this link to that item on our website you can add it to your basket, follow throuogh the order process and get a cost to have it delivered, before you commit.
http://www.kitchenwareonline.com/acatalog/Microwave-oven-lining-repair-parts.html
We look forward to receiving your order.
Hi, I was cooking my food in the microwave and I realized the a corner piece was missing from the wave guide after I ate my food! Will this cause any harm?
No. see my earlier about damaged waveguide cover. If you ate it and didnt notice then it will probably break down and and you will pass it normally. The oven will be ok. Please see my earlier reply to a similar question.
I seen the earlier ine. But I guess what I’m trying to ask is sense a piece of the waveguide cover was off in side off the microwave . Will the light put off and thing that can harm you? Because don’t the waveguide protect your from the direct light from the hole in the microwave? And thanks for the help
Meant food
Your link does not work. The search there shows only precut cards. I want a large piece of the card to cut several of my own.
Large mica sheet
While cleaning the splattered food off the waveguide cover in my microwave I noticed that a reflective material was coming off the waveguide. Is this stuff toxic or dangerous?
The waveguide appears to be in good shape after the cleaning and the arcing is gone when running the unit.
Thank you for your comment. The waveguide cover is made of a material called Mica. When the cover is new it is rigid and smooth. As the cover ages and absorbs moisture in the oven it starts to flake and becomes very soft and fragile. The flakes you see are pieces of Mica flaking off. They are not toxic and arent dangerous in that they will be soft and won’t harm if ingested even ! Even if still intact, it would be agood idea to source a replacement waveguide cover. We do have pre made waveguide covers and also blank sheets of mica material for sale on our website. Unfortunatel I cannot work out how to add links to replies to comments so i shall do a new blogpost with those links in for now.
When I say waveguide I really mean the cover.
I’m looking to replace the wave guide cover on an Emerson MW8168B. I see the part is no longer available at the part websites. I plan on fabbing my own from a blank mica sheet. The question I have is that there are no screws to back out but little white button tabs. I have pried on these and they don’t come out to no avail.
——————————————————————————–
Thank you for your enquiry. I’m not familiar with that model however it sounds like the cover may be held in with small rivets. They are designed to spread out behind the hole when pressed into place. You probably wont be able to prize them out without breaking them. The centre of the rivet would need to be pressed from behind.
If you copy and paste this link to the fixings section of our shop you may find the type of rivet you need, if so force the old ones out (which will break them) and replace them.
http://www.kitchenwareonline.com/acatalog/Clips-rivets-and-fixings-for-use-in-microwave-ovens.html
If you then follow this link to the repair kits you will find the mica sheet with which you can make a new waveguide cover,
http://www.kitchenwareonline.com/acatalog/Microwave-oven-lining-repair-parts.html
If the waveguide has fallen off, and the microwave has been used, is there a health risk to my family and myself?
No there would be no helath risk, The cover covers the aperture through which the microwaves enter the oven cavity from where they are produced behind the control panel. The principle aim of the cover is to prevent moisture and food getting back into the workings of the oven. There will be no harm done to yourself in using the oven without this cover. It would be advisable to replace it sooner rather than later. If components inside get food or moisture on them, it wont do them much good.
If you cant get the correct waveguide cover for your oven you can make one using the blank mica sheet, this available from our online shop.
There is a dent/crease in centre of the cardboard-like waveguide cover. Should it be replaced or can I still use it as there is no hole in the cover?
Hi Lucy,
The main purpose of the Mica waveguide cover is prevent moisture and food splatters getting back into the ‘workings’ of the oven. if your cover is intact it will be ok, I would expect it to degrade further as time goes on, it might be a good time to start thinking about replacing it though. We do sell blank sheets of mica from which you can make a replacement the same shape as your original.
Hi I have ordered a new waveguide cover for my microwave as it broke in two while cleaning it however we are on holiday using the microwave in our motorhome can I temporarily tape it together with scotch tape until I get home?
You can try it. You wont know until you try using the oven whether the scotch tape is invisible to microwaves. If it starts arcing or melts then may cause more damage. It would probably be better to use the oven without the waveguide cover until your replacement arrives. At least it wont cause further damage to the oven in the short term.
Thank you 🙂
My waveguide cover looks like it has some burn spots and does not come clean. Is this a sign that something is wrong? My last microwave started to smoke and the waveguide cover burned right through. Because of this I’m a bit cautious. Thank you.
I need to replace wave guide it sparks when i turned it on i clraned it and it still do the same can i put paper cover over it like the web page said
You would need to get the correct Mica cover, either from the manufacturer or we sell the blank mica sheet. You can cut this to shape and make a new cover if necessary.
Please follow the link below to that section.
good evening , today i bought a new microwave . There was a waveguide inside it. My husband and I thought it isn’t necessary and we threw it away. After i read this article i know how it is important to the microwave…..what can i do? I will be grateful for your help……
Thanks
If you cannot get the correct cover from the manufacturer, we sell the blank mica sheet. You can cut this to shape and make a new cover if necessary.
Please follow the link below to that section.
Please let met me know how to purchase these mics sheets, my son won’t use the microwave until we can replace ours because it’s cracked with a hole, after reading the article on this site.
click here to go to mica sheets in our shop
Microwave waveguide is damaged, manufacturered one no longer available so I need to make a new one, my question is that it has a fan like blade attached to inside of board. Is it safe to (if possible) punch hole to attached fan blade to new cut one.
It will probably be a difficult job to change that part over. I think from your description that the fan type blade might be used to better distribute the microwaves around the oven cavity. If you operate the oven without the cover and blade in place and see what happens. See whether the contents cook evenly. If the results aren’t too bad you would be ok to make a new cover and leave off the fan part. If the food doesn’t cook very evenly then it is obviously doing a good job and you will have to decide whether to get an engineer to make the correct part for you or to write off the oven.
Where can i buy a wave guide cover..?? And how much ??
We sell the MICA material in our online shop.
http://www.kitchenwareonline.com/acatalog/Microwave-oven-lining-repair-parts.html
Recently bought new microwave, mistakenly removed waveguide cover not realizing what it was. I can reinsert just slides into preset slots. Thing is I do not remember which direction the cover faced. Both sides seem similar, is there a right/wrong direction for it to face? Noticed one side had almost a small black mark if that helps.
What’s up, all is going sound here and ofcourse every one is sharing facts, that’s genuinely good,
keep up writing.
Hi i accidentally ripped the wave guide thinking it was a piece of cardboard on a new microwave (pretty dumb of me) is it still okay to use? The rip is about half the piece.
Hi I was wondering if you can replace the waveguide cover in a homemaker 20L microwave model EM720CPI
And if so where can I buy the mica sheet from and how much
I’m sure you would be able to. We don’t do specific covers for that oven but can supply the blank Mica sheet from which you can make one the same size.
Please follow this link or copy and paste to that section of our website:
http://www.kitchenwareonline.com/acatalog/Microwave-oven-lining-repair-parts.html
Yours is not the only site that claims that the waveguide cover is just to keep stuff out of the waveguide. But what still then puzzles me is: why mica? It is most well known for having a really high dielectric constant, presumably even at microwave frequencies. But this would cause reflection of microwaves back into the waveguide, which could complicated power transfer. I am certainly not aware of any physical properties of mica that make it particularly good for keeping food-splatter out of the waveguide. Why not use plastic?
Interesting. Wave guide covers used to be made of plastic. We used to find that often they would become distorted. There is a tendency for the cover to get spots of food on which then get hot and cause the cover to melt. I suspect that the covers are now mica to reduce the likelihood of heat transfer. Mica has a greater tolerance to heat than most cheap plastics. Also if the cover does burn I don’t think it will catch fire if Mica. Certainly we have seen plastic covers that have resulted in cavity fires. Also there are a lot of grill or combi ovens around now. A mica sheet will be good for these too where as a plastic cover can only be used in a regular microwave appliance.
i need a replacement cover waveguide for a rival microwave.
We dont do covers for that brand but can supply blank sheets that you can easily make a new one to fit.
I only manage to get a 0.5mm mica sheet. I think my old cover is 0.3 mm. Can I use the 0.5mm sheet?
Yes. The thicker the better really. If it is thicker it should be stronger and last longer. The material is invisible to microwaves so should be unaffected by its thickness.
Does the Mica sheet have to be cut EXACTLY like the guide being replaced or will it suffice to just have it cover the opening once it is cut to the basic rectangular size of the old guide?(the existing old guide has many angles, cutouts etc on it)
Thank you!
It doesn’t have to be exact. It should be invisible to microwaves so in theory it wouldn’t matter what shape it was. It is designed to cover the aperture and prevent the ingress of food spatters so as long as it does that it should be ok. if you can try and smooth the edges so it doesn’t get caught by the dishcloth.
Thank you for your prompt and thorough reply!
I need order mica for my oven to replace its old wave guide cover. However, the old cover did not have a screw but two tabs/flaps on each side that have to be inserted into four slots on the wall of the oven.
In order to put the new cover I have to insert two tabs on one side first which is no problem. But then to insert the two tabs of the other side, the cover must be bent somewhat. As the new cover is brittle how could I bend it without breaking it?
You will need to bend it slightly in order to tuck the tabs in. There is of course a fine line between bending and breaking it ! In my experience if there are tabs at both ends, try and bend it in the middle and then tuck a bit of each end in first rather than fitting one end and struggling with the whole length of the tab when you try the other end.
If they break and go into the interior of the microwave, is that ok for the microwave function?
Hello, can you supply fixings for a toshiba ER-674 microwave wave guard cover ?
Thanks
George
Yes. if you follow the link below:
http://www.kitchenwareonline.com/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=13937183
Hi, we bought a New Microwave oven. Before i learned about waveguide, i tried to see what behind of it and unfortunately it broken ( Not totally separated but just when a plane paper look like after folding) … will it cause any problem after all
the cover should be in place to prevent the ingress of moisture and food debris. If you cant get the correct one, we do sell the blank material that you can make your own.
mica sheet
Hi, I saw the same question in the forum, but no answer, and the same thing happen to me.
I mistakenly removed waveguide cover not realizing what it was. I can reinsert just slides into preset slots. Thing is I do not remember which direction the cover faced. Both sides seem similar, is there a right/wrong direction for it to face?
There isn’t a right or wrong way to fit it. As long as the tabs line up ok to secure it.
How do I change the mica cover on a Samsung ME73A, can’t seem to fit it back into place, if I bend it I’l break it…
If it is made of cardboard looking MICA sheet it will be very rigid. There is a fine art in bending it just enough to tuck into the tabs and not breaking it. If possible bend it in the middle so that there is a greater distance to the edge so the bend can be less.
I had a7 yrs old Emerson 900 watt oven until the mica wave guide burned a hole in it. I decided to buy another 2nd hand 1100 Frigidaire model that was almost brand new. I noticed this new one did not have a mica waveguide, but one that loodex like plastic or perhaps painted metal. No sooner did I plug it in when my tiny very sensitive Chihuahua was trembling & shaking like a leaf. I put a glass of water in the oven & started it and poor guy went running to hide in the farthest closet from the device, again shaking like a leaf an whimpering as he does in thunderstorms. I tested him on a friend’s older 900 W counter top model which also did not have a mica waveguide but one similar to my new one…same story. what can I do to prevent his pain & fear?
Kathleen King kathradar@gmail.com
How and where can I order a mic sheet so I can cut out my own wave guard for our microwave oven?
click here for mica sheets
I have a whirlpool Mh7140xfb0 microwave. Our waveguide is broken. We cannot find any replacement parts. We are willing to attempt making one out of mica sheets but we have only found them in 5″x5″ sheets and our wave guide is 5 3/4 x 5 1/8. Do you have a part or a larger mica sheet?
click here for large mica sheets in our shop
Can I use card board or thick paper in place of my mica wave guide pending when I buy a new one , I live in Africa, thanks.
I think I need a new wave guide cover. My microwave (GE JES1288SH01) has start sparking inside. Do you know if it is the mica that I need if I have to buy the sheet? Also, I am in the US, Not sure about the prices on your site (your dollar sign is different from ours).
You can test the oven by heating a mug of water in the oven without the waveguide cover in place for a short time. If all behaves ok as you would expect then you will be ok changing just the waveguide cover
Hi, my mwave started to arc. I was about to chuck it and get a new one. In SA they are quite cheap and to repair it pricey…Might as well buy a new one. Then my conscious got the better of me…what if it is something small. I saw a video on YouTube implying that the waivegaurd/resistor could be faulty. I took it of, and no arc. My next actual concern: must the magnetron be replaced? The resistor was slightly burned. The one repairs company tried to imply that once the waveguide has burned, the magnetron might be faulty as well. Just want to confirm the correctness of this as I Don’t want to be conned. And then I also have the same concern as everybody else: health risks, whether short or long term.
The magnetron is usually very close to the waveguide cover but wont necessarily be damaged. You can test the oven by heating a mug of water in the oven without the waveguide cover in place for a short time. If all behaves ok as you would expect then you will be ok changing just the waveguide cover
can you use plastic to make one…..
Yes. as long as the oven is just a microwave. if it is a combination oven with convection or grill it will melt and make a mess.
Does the rotary guide come off the GE microwave in order to get a new waveguide in place?
Hiya,
I have a 3 year old Samsung comercial microwave
Which has burned a hole through the mica plate.
This microwave has a large 14″x10″ mica plate.
I would like to replace it,but it is of a different material than most.
What is the likelihood that replacing the mica will be successful repair?
There’s no other visible damage anywhere inside.
The microwave was turned off fairly quickly when the fault developed.
I’ve heard that this is a common fault,but in the past I’ve replaced them on home microwaves and the problem arises again in about 6months.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated
No. Cardboard or paper will soon degrade with the heat and moisture inside the cavity. Although the cover looks like card it is in fact made of MICA, which behaves quite differently and is usually invisible to microwaves.
Please what’s the alternative for waveguide mica, if I cant access any now, till I buy one. I live in Africa. I hope to order, but till then, can I use cardboard for now as alternative, till I gate the real thing.
Cardboard is likely to soak up too much moisture (condensation). The microwaves will then be attracted to the moisture in the cardboard and will make that hot, instead of the food.
Hi, Microwave expert! My waveguide broke in half, and I repaired it with duct tape.
There have been no sparking, noises or discolouration. Is there anything I should be worried about?
(Thanks on behalf of microwave noobs for answering these inquiries for so long!)
I would suggest that it isnt ideal. However, if you have had no problems since then it must have been a suitable repair.
Hai!! I like to buy a pice of waveguide cover for my microwave avon ..
1. About 5inc x 6inc
2. What is the price
For yr info I am staying in klang selangor
Tq
if you follow this link you can order it online at our shop,
” target=”_blank”>http://www.kitchenwareonline.com/microwave-oven-lining-repair-parts-and-kits-c102x2263125
The wave plate is in good condition. But I am missing the screw. Where can I get a screw for a microwave?
The screws are generally just a short self tapping screw common to many domestic appliance cabinets. if you ask at an electrical appliance store they should be able to give you a spare one.
Hi, I have just bought a flatbed microwave (De’Longhi TM8 from Argos). Warning label inside says “Do nor remove the light brown mica cover on the middle right hand side of oven cavity as it is dangerous ……etc”. There is nothing on the right hand side! There are two diagonally placed screw holes near the middle and lots of other ventilation holes through which I can see the light bulb Is this a standard label for turntable ones, because I am thinking that the large square dark brown cover (mica?) on the base is where the waves come from in a flatbed? Very anxious about this. Any comment for reassurance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
The mica waveguide cover covers the aperture (the end of the waveguide) which is where the ‘microwaves’ get into the oven cavity. Its main purpose is to prevent moisture and food splatters getting into the workings of the oven. If it was missing it would’nt be dangerous at all but in the long term may affect the life of the oven if it gets dirty inside the waveguide.
I cant find a decent picture of your oven but suspect that the waveguide is on the inside wall of the oven, probably the same side as that area where you can see the lamp. In our experience the flatbed ovens are generally based on the chassis of a standard microwave but the manufacturer has simply replaced the turntable and roller ring with a fixed ceramic base. if this is the case then the cover is still likely to be on the side not on the base as this would call for major redesign, which rarely happens on microwaves given their current low price.
I have a wave Gard that has just come off there are 2 hooks at the back and hols in the front it’s a Toshiba MBK-67OB/W I don’t know if you have one or you could get one what I need to know would it be okay to keep it up with a bit of tape just for the weekend please can you please get back to me on an Email or phone 01554832810 to know if you can find one and how much it will be and will it be okay to just tape it up for the weekend kind Regards Linda Charles 3 Derwydd Houses Burry Port sa16ohb South Wales
My Waver Cover has fallen down please can you tell me if I put some tape on the three sides will the microwave work okay and also would it do any damage to the unit.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE IF YOU PLEASE WILL GET BACK TO ME AS OF THE SAFETY.
KIND REGARDS
LINDA CHARLES 3 DERWYDD HOUSES BURRY PORT SA16OHB SOUTH WALES
Please follow this link and order some new plastic rivets. The specifications are common to all of the Toshiba microwaves we have seen.
Toshiba stirrer cover rivets
I have sent a link to your last query. Sellotape probably isn’t a good idea as I don’t know how it will behave once in contact with microwave energy.
Hi, I removed the waveguide cover after there was an arc in my microwave. I can see that the cover needs replacing, but also the waveguide itself is blackened and a small area of the coating of the internal ‘wall’ is charred and rough. In your experience, would this continue to cause the microwave to arc, even if the cover was replaced?
Many thanks in advance
You may be able to clean off some of the blackening with a soft cloth. Once you have cleaned it best you can, try heating up some water in the microwave without that cover in place. if you carefully touch the black area after heating the water for about a minute and see if it is hot. If it is really hot then it is likely to be beyond repair. if it feels ok and doesnt arc then replacing the cover should work out to be an effective repair.
The inside Roof of my microwave is damaged and peeling from rough cleaning and now there’s metal showing on about a 2 to 3 inch spot. Is it Still SAFE to USE IT or should i discard it and Buy a New One?
No. metal showing wont make it dangerous. All microwaves are made of metal and in some cases painted to finish them. The paint is only decorative and wont affect the operation or safety of the oven. You can safely continue to use it until the metal goes rusty and creates a hole in the metal. At that time the oven will become unsafe to use.
Whirlpool microwave, mh1160xms. My unit has not wave guide cover in the cavity but has a cover inlet that is circular on the roof that is approximately 7″. Can I use mica or would cutting a cover from plexiglass work for this purpose. Part NLA
if it is flat then mica would be the best option. We can supply a piece big enough for you to cut to shape. if it is not flat then there may be a problem finding something that will fit and that is invisible to microwaves.
Thank you. Your largest see does not appear to be large enough. I would need a sheet that is larger than 200mm x 200mm. Can you supply a larger sheet?
yes. if you let us know what size you would like we can quote to send a piece.
Will missing wave guide cover cause fuse to blow?
No.
Hi, I’m in the USA. I have a 31 year old Kenmore (Sears) microwave, manufactured by Sanyo. Still works perfectly, except after all these years a hole finally burned through the stirrer cover (which I assume is the equivalent to the waveguide cover on the newer models). It covers the entire top of the inside of the microwave, and there’s a fan above it. Needless to say, the exact part is no longer available. It measures about 305mm x 305mm, I’ve been unable to find a sheet that big (at a price I can afford) so have 2 305 x 204 sheets on their way. I’m not sure if overlapping them (if an overlap will fit the slots that hold it in place) or cutting one to fit is the best choice. If I cut one, what’s the best way to join it to the other? Is there a tape or glue, or should I just lay them side by side? Thanks you for this web site, the questions and answers are very helpful.
We’ve never tried fixing 2 pieces together. The problem with any tape or adhesive is whether the adhesive is invisible to the microwaves. Quite often not. If you can overlap or fit them side by side it will be better. The mica material itself should be invisible to the microwaves so shouldn’t matter about them overlapping, just be aware that food debris or moisture may get between them and overheat as time goes on.
Thank you! I overlapped the 2 pieces, and everything is working fine. I’ll make sure to clean the two pieces more often than I did the previous cover.
Mine caught fire and i bought a new one from best buy. But when i got it i realized the material was just cardboard with a very thin coating on it that i guess is mica. The original was apparently pure mica,or so it seemed, and it was brittle. 2 questions….1-does it matter that the material is so different? and 2-i have no idea how they install the factory one without breaking it since it;s so brittle and it fits in notches around the hole which means you have to bend it to get the corners to fit. I was able to do that but the cardboard crease in a number of places while doing it. Is that ok, and how’d they get the original in there hen it is unbendable w/o cracking?
It is difficult to know whether it will work without trying it. You will see if it gets too hot. Mica is heatproof, rigid and long lasting – compared to cardboard which will soon soak up condensation and other moisture and soon fail. The moisture in it will heat up, dry out and then burn, which will cause even more damage to the oven.
Often the covers are fitted by tucking in the corners. It is a case of very carefully bending the cover over the whole length of the cover just enough to tuck it in. When new will be very brittle and crack easily.
I have run my microwave convection oven without reflecer plate for quite a while I have replaced the reflector, and again a blown fuse. What is my next step in repairing. No funds for a cheap- microwave. Help
If it has a blown a fuse then there is a fault. probably not connected to the mica sheet. It is time to get an expert to diagnose the problem for you.
Thankyou for your reply. I have a. GE microwave model: JE1590BC 001. I need to know the fuse size? I replace fuse, set the clock then time, and again blown fuse. ??
Sorry I cannot help like this. You need to get an expert to look at the microwave for you as there is clearly a problem with it. Sorry.
How can I get the little wave guide cover or should i just buy piece of mica and cut thankyou also can i paint the inside it look rusty under the plate?
We sell the mica sheet on on our website. Please follow this link. You can then make one the same size as yours.
Regarding the paint, if the oven has a painted finish already. It sounds like your is then yes, we also sell the paint touch up kits so that you can tidy up the base of your microwave. Please follow this link to touch up kits.
I have a Panasonic microwave and found this site through google, while trying to establish what the feed guide was. In our microwave, the feed guide moves slightly and looks like a burn mark in the middle.
Also when you open the door, mum is complaining of excess steam and moisture.
Any advice?
I think you are referring to the waveguide cover. A small rectangular item that looks like cardboard. This is often loose to the touch as it is only tucked in at the corners in most makes and models. if there is a burn mark in the middle it will get progressively worse and may start arcing. It will be a good idea to replace it before it fails completely. These are available to buy on our website.
Regarding the steam and moisture. This is quite common especially at this time of year when everything except the microwave is cold. On most microwaves, air is drawn through the oven to cool the workings and then blown out around the door. It is obvious around the door and on the worktop beneath or in front of the oven. As long as condensation that appears in the door does clear after a while it will be ok.
hello,
cut a long storey shot i brought a homemaker microwave from kmart’ i removed all the carboared and plastics and also removed the waveguide cover thinking it was meant to come off. Since then i cooked only 3 times with it and always kept it clean’ after stumbleing among this website and read about the cover’ i realised that i stuffed up. The original went to recycle 😦 could you please help me get a new one
Model: EM720CWW(F)-PM
We wouldnt be able to get the correct shape and size but can supply a blank sheet of the MICA material that you can cut to fit. If you follow this link you can select this item if big enough if not we do list a larger size. Mica waveguide cover material
Great website!
We started getting arcing in our GE oven and, judging from the blackened spots I found, it was occurring between the back side of the mica waveguide cover and part of the oven’s interior cabinet that crosses the waveguide outlet. I have a replacement mica cover on order but I’m still wondering how arcing voltage was being created there. Generally one expects there to be something serving as an antenna, so to speak, for arcing to occur, no?
Thanks!
The arcing was likely to be food debris caught behind the waveguide cover that burned to carbon. That in turn would then ‘attract’ microwaves and cause the arcing effect.
Can I use plexi glass to make a new waveguide cover?Thank you.
I don’t think so. I have had a quick look and cannot find out whether it is microwave safe. As there is currently no applications using plexiglass in a microwave I would suggest to be on the safe side, no.
Hello, is it fine if I cover the waveguide cover is a material that is heat resistant ? Will my microwave still run efficiently?
It is not a case of it being heat resistance but it must be invisible to microwaves. If microwaves are absorbed by the material then it will become hot and eventually un usable. You should be able to make a new one using some mica sheet which is available on our website
repair kits for microwave ovens
my waveguard is smoking once in a while and started ozzing black stuff.is it safe to use it?
probably not. The smoking means that something will start burning before long. We do sell replacement mica material:
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/pack-of-two-small-mica-sheets-c2x13937562
Hi I have a RCA microwave oven RMW953 I need a new mica wave cover for it. I’ve already checked the site you’ve listed and wasn’t able to find anything. Can you please help. Thank you
One of the tiny plastic rivets holding the waveguide cover on my Daewoo microwave has been lost. I have looked on Daewoo parts website and cannot find anything, and they don’t list my model number in search. Do you know where I can buy this tiny plastic rivet, or can you advise me what else might do the job in its place?
We do sell these for Toshiba ovens but they maybe suitable. the diameter is approx 5mm.
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/plastic-rivets-for-toshiba-pack-of-6-c2x13937183
MY MIcrowave Waveguide Cover is damaged. The one on the right hand side. It is exposing some of the holes it covers. I have called the Samsung warehouse and discussed this matter. I sent in picture like I was told to with E-Mail address and I haven’t got any response. Would you all please send me one of these covers so that I may repaire it correctly . I don’t want to do any damage to my microwave. PLEASE.
We do sell blank mica material that you could make a new one :
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/pack-of-two-small-mica-sheets-c2x13937562
Hi I have a Smeg microwave – almost 6 years ole – have not had any problems only tonight the microwave guide cover fell off – can I stick it back with superglue? (there are no screws – it seems to have been just stuck on before) Many thanks for your advice
That waveguide cover was probably tucked in with some tags or by its corners. The only issue with super glue will be whether it is invisible to microwaves. most adhesives are not so it will cook and maybe burn. It would be better to see how the cover should be fixed in and get a replacement. We sell sheets of the mica material that you could make one or you might be able to source one the correct shape online.
can you recommend where to.order a wave guide cover for A sharp.Carousel model # R-530EK… it’s a 16 year old model
I’ve got this Daewoo dmr-405 arcing reflector fan like metal,cleaned large cover of food,still arcing in the spinning metal reflector ,suggestions???
Hi, my toshiba micro-wave oven modle: ER 674 ET, has problem with the door lock. it means during recent couple of days, the door does not open simply as it was !? ie. it resist to open so that, seems the fixtures do not act as well. does it need any special arrangements and how please?
No, Just drop it off at our shop anytime between 9 – 5, we do ask for a £10 deposit and we will diagnose the problem and report back to you with a price to repair.
Hey there. I just bought a new Russell hobbs microwave and I stupidly removed the waveguide cover thinking it was cardboard. I didn’t rip or break it and simply slotted it back into the slots provided there were no screws. I take it that the waveguide cover wouldn’t have been stuck down with anything and the slots were the only thing holding it in place? Will this be safe and OK?
yes indeed. The waveguide covers are just slotted in on most microwaves
What is the piece above the wave guide that rotates and is mafe of aluminum?how much is acsheet of mica?
That will be the stirrer that ‘agitates’ the microwaves in the same way that the turntable moves the food within the microwaves. the mica sheets are usually about £3.
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/pack-of-two-small-mica-sheets-c2x13937562
Occasionally during operation the microwave will spark and cause a loud bang sound. Could this be related to a loose or damaged wave guide cover or a damaged magnatron? .Does not happen all the time just once in a while.
Possibly a loose connection in the high voltage circuit. It would need to happen quite often for a technician to be able to track it down and rectify it.
Were you referring to the diode when you said it could be related to the high voltage circuit?
Could be. That’s one of the components in that circuit
hi we have a whirlpool corner microwave and the waveguide has a hole in. we are trying to replace but it is riveted on and not sure how to remove or how to attach a new one if we do get it off!
Hi Clare, I’m sure that model is held in with little 2 piece plastic rivets. You will see just a rounded white ‘thing’ in the corner. You would need to very gently prize this out. As you do so it should slide apart and lose its grip so eventually drop out as a 2 part (fixed together still) rivet. Once removed it can be reused when you replace the cover by pushing it back in the same hole in the cavity as it is pressed it will ‘jam’ itself and the cover home. I hope that makes sense as a description,
thank you, will give it a try and keep fingers crossed! Have found replacement pins for nearly £7 for 1!! if they don’t survive. it has 3 plus a screw.
We sell them on our website a bit cheaper than that,
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/plastic-rivets-for-toshiba-pack-of-6-c2x13937183
Are these usable on all makes, they don’t vary the size much? thanks
No. Every single one is different.But we dos sell blank mica material that you can make your own using your old one as a template.
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/pack-of-two-small-mica-sheets-c2x13937562
Would you have a replacement a microwave waveguide for Homemaker EM925EYP
No, this make is not available in the UK. However, we do offer the blank material that you can make your own.
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/pack-of-two-small-mica-sheets-c2x13937562
Hi do you do replacement waveguide covers for the Elgento microwave
Thanx
Sorry. i’m not familiar with the Elgento microwaves. I’ve had a look on line and they look fairly standard. The waveguide cover is replaced from inside the oven so you should see where it is and it will be either ‘tucked in’ at each corner or tucked in one or 2 corners and the remainder held by a screw or rivet.
Hi Microwave Expert,
We need some plastic rivets for a Daewoo waveguide, but the Toshiba ones (https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/plastic-rivets-for-toshiba-pack-of-6-c2x13937183) are a different shape and might not fit. Will any type of plastic rivet be safe in a microwave, or do waveguide rivets have to be a certain type of microwave-safe plastic?
Thanks,
London School of Economics Halls of Residence
Hi Celeste,
The rivets we use for the Toshibas were not originally sourced from Toshiba but we found an alternative supplier and found them to be suitable. You would need to try any you found just to check that they didn’t spark or melt. As they are so small they should be invisible to microwaves, so should be ok.
Thanks very much for the speedy (and helpful) response!
Hi I’m looking for a company that has microwave eave guard and I also wanted to know how much it is
Our 2 year old microwave recently arced. We immediately shut it off and pulled the waveguide cover. It had an odd amount of “gunk” on the back side which was slightly charred. We removed the guide, cleaned the entire inside, cleaned the guide (it did all come off), and replaced the guide. We ran a cup of water in there, and it heated well with no arcing. However, the waveguide cover was VERY hot – something I never checked before in the “normal” operation…is this normal, or should I replace it?
Hi what screw do i need to put the waveguide in my micro? One of mine has fallen off. Surely not a regular metal screw?
Mica dust is toxic when inhaled or digested. Cutting mica sheets into shape may generate dust and is not a good idea.
I have an index card with writing on it that somehow got a piece of duct tape stuck to it. I need to see what is under the duct tape how do I get the duct tape off without pulling/tearing the index card writing?
Thanks for sharing, Helped me a lot
Thanks for the explanation of these cardboard looking covers. You did mention they are usually held by a metal screw, isn’t it a no no to have metal in a microwave?? I was thinking about removing the screw but after reading this I’m not sure I should. Any advise is appreciated.
By design, metal objects in a microwave are ok. Things like the securing screw will be ok as it is fitted tightly and effectively ‘earthed’ to the oven chassis so then becomes ‘invisible’ to microwaves. If the screw became loose it may then be possible that there would be a gap and the arcing inside a microwave is when the microwaves find those gaps and jump across them – which is what you see as arcing, in the same way that if you left a metal object in the microwave at some point the microwaves would and will arc between that object and the closest part of the oven cavity or chassis to it.
My microwave only as metal tabs in the opening to hold the cover guide. I had to order the uncut cover guides and traced my old burnt one on to those to get the right fitting to fit in the metal tabs.
Hi! My son was cleaning the microwave today and didn’t realize what the mica cover was. He removed it and snapped it in two. There are silvery dust flakes where he broke it. What exactly is inside this thing? Could it be harmful to a young child if he breathed in the flakes or they got in his eyes? Thank you very much in advance.
Thank you for your comment. The waveguide cover is made of a material called Mica. I don’t think its harmful in any way otherwise microwave manufacturers wouldn’t use it in a microwave so close to food. I would discourage anyone from inhaling it or putting it in their eyes though.
If you need to replace it, it is fairly easily done yourself:
https://www.kitchenwareonline.com/waveguide-covers-c102x3220721
Ugh. So this mica that looks exactly like more cardboard, held in place with melty looking plastic plugs that actually are used in packaging, is the ‘upgrade’ from built in plastic covers? Once I understood it wasn’t packaging I thought my new microwave must be cutting corners, using some cheap old timey thing I had somehow never come across. So I started Googling and a comment here finally made clear that this is the (dubious) ‘upgrade’.
Setting aside other concerns, what the hell were they thinking not mentioning that ‘this is not packaging’ in manuals at -least-. Better yet a ‘do not remove’ label.
I bought a microwave today, and I really need it in my empty new house. There was lots of packaging, even inside the door, and the last thing I removed was this weird piece of ‘cardboard’ inside the microwave. This kitchen isn’t terribly well lit, but still.
It seemed weird, so I double checked to see if the ‘manual’ (a folded up piece of paper) mentioned this thing. It didn’t. It was held in place by the same kind of plastic plugs I’ve seen used in actual packaging, so I was now feeling pretty sure this thing was probably more packaging. After all, surely these soft plastic plugs would melt! Definitely packaging! I removed a plug, and the ‘cardboard’ was a bit stuck, so I just tore it off. After all, it’s ‘just packaging’.
To my horror, there was a pretty big hole there. I immediately knew something was wrong. Obviously, I have now figured out this thing is a ‘waveguide cover’. And now if I can’t get GE to send a replacement I have to try to make one like all these other posters. Fun.
hi my ”waveguide cover” started to burn in my microwave making it sparkle and pop loudly when ever i used it, it also started to smell very burnt, i simply removed it from the micro wave leaving a hole behind it, now my micro wave works like normal with no smell or loud noises,
my question is can I keep using my microwave like this or do i need to by a mew part?
The cover is mainly there to stop food debris and moisture into the ‘workings’ of the oven. It is not ideal to use the microwave without the waveguide cover but it is not a safety issue. Not a good idea on a combination oven though at hot air will get blown through the opening back into the workings of the oven.