Broke my ceramic Le Creuset crockpot - can I glue it back together?
October 17, 2020 12:22 AM Subscribe
Exactly that. Trying to find a glue that works for ceramics at a high temperature but can't seem to. It's the lid, broken into about 5 distinct pieces. It's new so I'm hoping to repair rather than buy a new one!
I thought it but didn’t type it: ugh! Sorry about your busted new lid.
posted by lemon_icing at 1:33 AM on October 17, 2020
posted by lemon_icing at 1:33 AM on October 17, 2020
Response by poster: Thank you! Hm, very good points... might just have to use foil to try and create the same kind of seal....
posted by starstarstar at 1:44 AM on October 17, 2020
posted by starstarstar at 1:44 AM on October 17, 2020
Maybe you can wrap the broken lid in foil in order to keep it together in something that resembles its original shape? Just a thought.
Or maybe you can find a second hand lid that fits? A cast iron one might work.
Ugh, it's so frustrating when something useful breaks. Doubly so when it's new!
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:54 AM on October 17, 2020
Or maybe you can find a second hand lid that fits? A cast iron one might work.
Ugh, it's so frustrating when something useful breaks. Doubly so when it's new!
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:54 AM on October 17, 2020
If it's only five pieces and they're fairly large, you might be able to Frankenstein it back together by drilling little holes maybe ¼" from the broken edges using a diamond-studded grinding bit in a Dremel, and making stitches out of stainless steel tie wire.
posted by flabdablet at 2:18 AM on October 17, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 2:18 AM on October 17, 2020 [5 favorites]
Enamel? It's essentially glass, so food-safe and heat-resistant, and binds extremely well with most untreated earthenware (which those breaks are).
Caveat: you need to have it baked in a pottery kiln, and I have no idea if the result will actually be strong enough to keep the parts together as you start using the lid again. I expect it will be, but that's just from thinking over how in general the enamel would bond with the surfaces.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:45 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Caveat: you need to have it baked in a pottery kiln, and I have no idea if the result will actually be strong enough to keep the parts together as you start using the lid again. I expect it will be, but that's just from thinking over how in general the enamel would bond with the surfaces.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:45 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Have you tried calling the company? Even if they don't sell replacement lids (which they probably do), they might just replace it anyway. It might even be under warranty still.
posted by sexyrobot at 3:34 AM on October 17, 2020 [31 favorites]
posted by sexyrobot at 3:34 AM on October 17, 2020 [31 favorites]
There are silicone replacements lids available for about $20.
posted by MexicanYenta at 3:38 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by MexicanYenta at 3:38 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Seconding sexyrobot. Their site says that stoneware has a limited lifetime warranty.
posted by pangolin party at 3:44 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by pangolin party at 3:44 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
They sell lids without the pots on E-Bay. Sometimes people break the lid first, sometimes the pot.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:37 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:37 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Yes, if it's circular, you should be able to get a random steel/glass etc. ovenproof lid from somewhere else for cheaper than a new Le Creuset enamaled lid.
posted by carter at 5:46 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by carter at 5:46 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
The handle on my Le Creuset ceramic casserole dish lid broke. I contacted the company, which asked me to send a photo. I did. One week later I received in the mail a brand new casserole dish, with lid. I gave the old dish to a friend who loves it (without a lid.) Fantastic customer service.
posted by carterk at 5:49 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by carterk at 5:49 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Le Creuset is really good about warranties. My parents had a dutch oven that they got on their wedding day 35 years ago that recently cracked, and Le Creuset sent them a brand new one for free. They did not require proof of purchase or anything.
posted by k8lin at 6:08 AM on October 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by k8lin at 6:08 AM on October 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
I also suggest getting in touch with Le Creuset just in case. I’ve also received a handle for free when mine broke. It won’t hurt to try them first.
posted by like_neon at 7:28 AM on October 17, 2020
posted by like_neon at 7:28 AM on October 17, 2020
Lifetime warranty, so make them fix it. If you still want to spend money on it, you could get a gold handle for it if you wanted.
posted by oceanjesse at 8:40 AM on October 17, 2020
posted by oceanjesse at 8:40 AM on October 17, 2020
Nthing contact the company - this is part of the reason Le Creuset commands such cachet.
You can't really fix this properly without more effort than it's worth.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:26 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
You can't really fix this properly without more effort than it's worth.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:26 AM on October 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
You probably have your answer but say you were willing to use it for non-high-heat usage.... Kintsugi. It's a bit of an implementation of Wabi-sabi where that repaired or slightly flawed thing is what makes it special.
posted by zengargoyle at 12:14 PM on October 17, 2020
posted by zengargoyle at 12:14 PM on October 17, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lemon_icing at 1:29 AM on October 17, 2020 [19 favorites]