Take Apart Farm Grow Deck?

[lynnee]

Has anyone taken apart a Farm Grow Deck for cleaning?

I tried to do this when I cleaned my Farm bowls and decks for the first time, but couldn't get all the deck clips to release at once. I would free up a side, but the clips would reattach when I started in on the next side.

I thought I read somewhere that the grow decks could be taken apart, but maybe I misremembered? If not, is there a trick to it?

[Shawn]

They can, but I have to remember what I did

[campingcorgis]

Sept 30, 2021 22:44:56 GMT -5 lynnee said:

Has anyone taken apart a Farm Grow Deck for cleaning?

I tried to do this when I cleaned my Farm bowls and decks for the first time, but couldn't get all the deck clips to release at once. I would free up a side, but the clips would reattach when I started in on the next side.

I thought I read somewhere that the grow decks could be taken apart, but maybe I misremembered? If not, is there a trick to it?

I pretty sure that mike did a post on this, but I can't seem to find it.  In that thread, he or someone talked about the iFixit Tool to help with the process.  The thing is, you have to put something between the two parts, so they don't just reattach.  Does that make sense?  

I'm still camping or I would try to do a picture for it...but I think you probably get it now!?  

[virginiab]

At our house, it took two people armed with little knives designed to serve cheese spreads, but we did succeed eventually.

[lynnee]

Oct 1, 2021 12:24:39 GMT -5 virginiab said:

At our house, it took two people armed with little knives designed to serve cheese spreads, but we did succeed eventually.

Thank you! I guess that I'll abandon that plan, and continue cleaning in the top rack of the dishwasher. 😄

[lynnee]

Oct 1, 2021 12:19:44 GMT -5 campingcorgis said:

Sept 30, 2021 22:44:56 GMT -5 lynnee said:

Has anyone taken apart a Farm Grow Deck for cleaning?

I tried to do this when I cleaned my Farm bowls and decks for the first time, but couldn't get all the deck clips to release at once. I would free up a side, but the clips would reattach when I started in on the next side.

I thought I read somewhere that the grow decks could be taken apart, but maybe I misremembered? If not, is there a trick to it?

I pretty sure that mike did a post on this, but I can't seem to find it.  In that thread, he or someone talked about the iFixit Tool to help with the process.  The thing is, you have to put something between the two parts, so they don't just reattach.  Does that make sense?  

I'm still camping or I would try to do a picture for it...but I think you probably get it now!?  

Yes, I get it. I think that I'll order one of the ifixit tools. I have a lot of their tools already, but not that one, and it looks really useful. 😀

[campingcorgis]

There are YouTube videos that are helpful, even though they are a different model.  It is that center clip that causes the most issues.

[mike]

I did a posting on taking apart a Bounty deck. I used my thumbs for the plastic tabs, but I inserted a metal ruler or a screwdriver to keep the deck from snapping back down.

[Sher]

I used butter knives to pry the tabs high enough that they wouldn't snap back on my Bountys.

[lynnee]

Oct 1, 2021 18:45:21 GMT -5 mike said:

I did a posting on taking apart a Bounty deck. I used my thumbs for the plastic tabs, but I inserted a metal ruler or a screwdriver to keep the deck from snapping back down.

That posting may be what gave me the idea. I'll look for it. I need to start a new garden in half of the Farm Plus, but decided that the lettuce and Swiss chard didn't get the deck dirty enough to require a deep cleaning this time. I just washed everything out well.

[campingcorgis]

So, I just took apart 4 of my Farm decks.  All by myself!  I usually have help from Mikey, but he is busy washing the RV.  Before I forget, here's what worked for me...

Remove deck from Farm, duh!  Pop the little rubber stopper, turn deck upside down, lift it so the fill hole is up and the other side down, unclip the two top clips and then the one next to the corner (only one corner as the other is the fill hole), carefully pry the top from the bottom enough to get the iFixit in between (or a butter knife or something flat), then lay it down and unclip that center clip (center of the deck), then start moving around to the others, one by one...until pop, they are all done & it comes apart.  (Mumble, sigh, grumble) and proceed with cleaning.  

I used the kitchen sink as I didn't have a bucket large enough that it made sense to use it.  I used warm water and a 1/4 cup of Citric Acid and a 1/4 cup of Baking Soda...adding more as needed and USING GLOVES to save my hands!  

Putting it back together is easy, comparatively speaking!  

P.S.  I'm ordering another iFixit, to help with that center clip, when the tool is in use keeping the deck parts separated.

[lynnee]

When my banana pepper stops producing, I will reread your post, campingcorgis, and then do a thorough cleaning after taking the deck apart. The pepper garden has been going for about 6 months now, and it will absolutely need sanitizing before I plant anything else in it.

[campingcorgis]

Oct 7, 2021 23:16:31 GMT -5 lynnee said:

When my banana pepper stops producing, I will reread your post, campingcorgis , and then do a thorough cleaning after taking the deck apart. The pepper garden has been going for about 6 months now, and it will absolutely need sanitizing before I plant anything else in it.

Good deal & by the 4th one, it got easier...   I need to get my duckies all lined up so I'm ready for the upcoming GAL!