Cracked Crock

July 23, 2008 12:13 PM

What can I use to seal a crack in a ceramic crock that holds drinking water?

I really like my ceramic crock water dispenser (holds a 5-gallon jug on top, very similar to this one). Recently, though, it's developed a very fine crack along its bottom, such that water leaks out (yep, checked to make sure it's leaking from a crack and nowhere else like the spout, etc.).

I'd like to spare myself the expense of paying $40 for a new crock, but I don't want to defeat the purpose of drinking really good/healthy water by sealing the crack with something that will release chemicals into the water the crock holds.

Does anyone know of a sealant that is 1)totally waterproof, 2)will adhere to ceramic material, 3) is cheaper than replacing a $40 crock, and 4)won't break down over time (or at least in my lifetime?)

Let's assume that answers along the lines of "Just drink tap water, it's no worse for you than water from a jug," "You could get a cheaper crock at so-and-so," and "Use this kind of water dispenser instead" are not viable answers for my purposes.

posted by Rykey to home & garden (6 comments total)

Oh yeah, to clarify: I know there are non-toxic sealants out there; I'm looking for one that really fits the bill as a non-breaking-down compound. I really want to avoid any residual chemicals getting into the water, non-toxic or not.
posted by Rykey at 12:17 PM on July 23, 2008

Search-fu came up with: DAP silicone aquarium sealant. Available at your hardware store, and safe to eat/drink off of after two days of curing. Lasts forever, too. (Note: Other similar products by DAP are not food-safe, you need the aquarium one.)
posted by Citrus at 12:27 PM on July 23, 2008

Put the crock in a warm oven for an hour, this will expand and dry the crack.Elmers Stix-All is self leveling silicone and will flow into the crack, permatex windshield sealant is equivalent.
posted by hortense at 12:33 PM on July 23, 2008

Put the crock in a warm oven for an hour, this will expand and dry the crack.Elmers Stix-All is self leveling silicone and will flow into the crack, permatex windshield sealant is equivalent.
posted by hortense at 3:33 PM on July 23 [+] [!]

Thanks, hortense, for some good glue advice (not the subby). Let me condense the critical info from your link:

11. Toxicological Information
INGESTION: Not toxic orally when tested as described in 16 CFR Part 1500.3 (c)(1) and (2).
INHALATION: Not toxic by inhalation when tested as described in 16 CFR Part 1500.3 (c)(1) and (2).
SKIN Not toxic dermally when tested as described in 16 CFR
ABSORPTION: Part 1500.3 (c)(1) and (2).
SKIN: Not an irritant when tested as described in 16 CFR Part 1500.41.
EYES: Not an irritant when tested as described in 16 CFR Part 1500.42.
Silica 7631-86-9
LC50: Not available
LD50: orl-rat=3160 mg/kg (RTECS)

In essence, that says that it is pretty harmless unless you eat more than a teaspoon of the wet stuff - and that you won't suffer any effects from the cured glue.

Also, let me emphasize the word "warm" above. If the crock is too hot to touch, the glue may dry before it gets sucked into the cracks.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:07 PM on July 23, 2008

JBWeld claims to be non-toxic. It is a steel epoxy, and holds anything to anything forever. It's awesome.
posted by dirtdirt at 5:00 PM on July 23, 2008

Sorry for a late response, but you should realize that JBWeld dries to a dark grey.

OTOH, it's exactly as awesome as dirtdirt claims.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:05 PM on July 28, 2008