What would be a good glue to repair this spatula with that wont be toxic or come undone in a dishwasher?
Edit: I decided to throw it out and order a new stainless steel one that's all one piece. Thanks for the help!
I strongly recommend NO glue and liberal use of your TRASH CAN. Then go get a cast iron frying pan and a METAL flip turner.
Do this so you do not die a horrible micro plastic PFOS death one day.
Best!
I already have cast iron pots and pans, but you make a good point. I'm going stainless steel!
At least upgrade to silicone. I'm baffled that cooking utensils even come in nylon. Options should only be metal, wood, silicone if intended to use near heat.
These types of plastic spatulas tend to be recycled plastic. Which....you'd usually be all like "Oh, that's great!"
WRONG! Unfortunately it means you're getting an unknown exposure level of forever chemicals and there's rarely any oversight on what types of plastics are put into these. So it's worse than just cooking with plastics. It's cooking with an amalgam of unknown plastics that may be putting a huge amount of chemicals into your food.
Le Crueset makes a fantastic spatula, solid piece of metal, no glues/adhesives holding it together. Comes in either a metal blade or silicone coated one.
Rada makes some pretty decent metal spatulas if you want specific recommendations.
The blade part is way thinner than plastic spatulas. Now that I'm used to the stainless steel ones, I feel clumsy and inept when I have to use someone else's nylon spatula.
Instructions unclear, trash can now wedged into my dishwasher and a pipe burst behind it
At least you didn't do something unspeakable to an innocent ceiling fan.
News flash: Even if they do that, your body is already full of microplastics as it's in your food. So not sure if this is going to help even one bit :)
This is 100% accurate.
Any glue that is a) food safe and b) able to be stuffed in a dishwasher is probably going to be more expensive than a new spatula.
I applaud the effort to repair, but sometimes, it’s just not viable. Especially because the problem is in the relatively weak design of the part.
ETA: Food grade silicone or epoxy would do the job for a while, but neither will bond very well to the spatula. It would essentially be a mechanical bond and probably weaker than before
The glue would cost the same price as a spatula at a dollar store.
.
Round up another $1.25 and head to dollar tree
This right here unfortunately, the glue will cost more if you only use the glue once. We live in a world where items are easier/cheaper to throw out then repair.
Though I guess the cheapest thing you could do is drill a hole on the backside with a drill and put a screw through it. Only a short screw that goes into the cylinder/shaft.
Also fyi, most plastics from the dollar store are not guaranteed to be toxic free. You may find most of these plastics melt on pans with use over time and might end up being consumed. Usually what I opt for is metal on a metal pan or silicon cooking utensils that don't seem to melt or loose peices of them in what I am cooking.
throw out then repair.
I think you have that backwards: try repairing and THEN throw it out.
Smash a tech screw in it, problem solved till the screw rusts.
Drill a hole through both and put a bolt/nut
That's going to cause some sanitary issues...
Nah not really, most cheap pots and pans are bolted to their handles anyways.
Who needs glue, if you're hellbent on keeping it, stick the plastic back in and figure out a good place to put a screw/nail through and file it down if it goes out the other end.
If it breaks again you'll most likely be forced to completely replace it though, which is a good thing as it will mean didn't deserve the second life you've given it.
Get a proper single piece silicone spatula for your non stick and throw this one away. Get a single piece metal spatula for your stainless steel pan.
Alternatively, throw out your non stick pans and skip step one above.
Edit: Disregard what I said about metal spatulas. Get a two piece, wood handled, metal fish spatula. It is my new favorite item in the kitchen.
Modern non-stick is great, but you have to get the right ones. The cheap non-stick is terrible, stuff like Calphalon is great. You spend a bit more, but it makes cooking and cleaning so much easier.
I was surprised Project Farm found some cheap ones test really well.
You shouldn't really use metal on stainless steel; stick with wood or silicone.
If I really wanted to keep it I wouldn't use glue I'd put part of a balloon or a finger from a glove on the spatula and force it back in. IMO any kitchen utensil that's 2 parts like this will always fail quickly. I believe that's a force fitting with ridges intended to keep it in so slightly enlarging the piece that goes in will recreate the tight fit
I've used tin foil to make the same repair. You can be as sloppy as you like, after it fits snuggly, you can just peel/rub off any excess.
You have to sniff all the glue options you have and then and only then will you know which one is right
LPT: Write down your notes. By the time you're ready to do the install you'll have forgotten which Glue was the strongest.
Glue causes... memory problems?
Just go to Spatula City
S P A T U L A C I T Y
Buy 10 spatulas and get one FREE!!
Oh, don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you can’t afford the ticket
Back from spatula city
Water proof JB Weld. But honestly it should be tossed. You want a spatula with a full tang. Even after you JB weld this the metal is going to fatigue and it will break again because there is so little connection between the tool and handle.
Yeah, I threw it out. I'm gonna order a full stainless steel one.
JB weld only does metal to metal right?
JB weld does pretty much anything to anything.
There's different types of JB weld that will do different materials.
If I wasn't going to throw it away, I'd probably fill the handle completely with food grade silicone caulk and score the s*** out of the plastic plug before I forced it together.
But unless I had a damn good use for the rest of the tube of caulk there's no good reason to burn a $10 tube of caulk for a $2 spatula.
As a handyman I always have uses for caulk.
Can I introduce you to hand crafted spoons and spatulas:
I don't think these would be happy in a dishwasher
That middle one acting kinda sus ngl
The butt plugtula
Dope. Etsy link?
My brother makes them and sells a few, but considering that we are on the other side of the world to most people postage is a killer.
He doesn't have a 'store', although I did put one together for him during lockdown, but you could contact him through insta Wooden Jeff
That looks like a friction fit. Put it in place and try and crimp the tubing just a little bit. This is a 'controlled pressing force' type of operation. Don't hammer or push too hard too fast. Creative thinking can go a long way in training your inner MacGyver (ancient US TV show reference).
One idea is to use a dining room chair. The leg of a chair can exert a lot of pressing force on a small area. This can work if you lack hand tools, a vise or other methods. Position the tube and lower your weight onto the chair in a controlled manner to alter the geometry enough to securely hold the insert in place.
Two part epoxy would be the only type. The catalyst in most epoxies is probably toxic, there are specialty food safe types, but they cost a fortune. I don't think this is the solution though. I would go with crimping the tube.
MacGyver (ancient US TV show reference)
I would call a TV show ancient, if it's like 40 years old, but MacGyver is like, 20 years ago?
Wait...
Looks like someone needs a trip to SPATULA CITY!!! https://youtu.be/4BUDwj_mXKE
Now I want a purple station wagon.
Plastic items aren't meant to be repaired and it's not a good idea to use them with food for very long. The plastic parts will disintegrate. Just throw it out.
Buy one that's made out of wood.
Just get a Spurtle.
Don't buy trash in the first place. Better for the environment, better for your workflows.
"How can I fix this so I don't have to throw it away?"
"Go back in time, idiot!"
God that sounds like my mom
Cut out a strip of tinfoil to wrap once or twice around the lower connector, then jam it back on.
West Systems 105 epoxy and 205 fast hardener. Roughen the area with some 220 grit sand paper, blot on some epoxy with a chip brush, wrap in fiberglass. Repeat until you have 2-4 layers of fiberglass. Use epoxy with 406 high-density filler to blend the edges if desired. Vacuum bag it until the epoxy has cured. Wet sand smooth if necessary, working up to 4000 grit.
Sir, this is a dollar spatula.
In my experience the only thing I think it will endure the dishwasher is the 2 part epoxi but that's toxic. I did use in my cup handle but I don't drink out of it. If its going to touch food I don't think you have a safe glue.
Edit: if there is plastic inside the metal you can try melting and bonding both. If its metal on plastic then forget it
They have food safe epoxies. But yes, a 2-part epoxy wood be what I go for as well.
I didn't know that! great to know of I ever need ir
Stick it back in, put it in a clamp, and drill a screw straight into the end of that rod. Ain't going nowhere unless you break it in the process, but at least you'll have had some fun. No, I'm not being serious.
I mean, that's not the worst suggestion? Drilling a hole and adding a screw could work. Now, whether that screw will start rusting and shedding rust shavings/dust into your food after a few washes is a different matter.
Honestly though, OP, it's best to just replace. If it's got sentimental value for whatever reason, you could try crimping the end of the tube or do go the drilling route and use a non-metallic holding mechanism (e.g. plastic screws or even a small circular plastic rod with an end that flares out after exiting the other side so it stays in place).
God this gives me PTSD of the similar spatulas my grandparents insist on getting for some reason XD a big reason I don't skimp on quality kitchen supplies now. I recommend, if it's available, anyone who wants good kitchen stuff that won't break easy, try finding an Asian market of some kind with an appliance etc. section. The Korean market near me sells all type of great wooden spatulas, tongs, etc. and also stainless steel, for a great price. Way better than the overpriced trash at the big box stores.
Assuming it's a press-fit...
I would do what another user suggested and use a bit of food grade silicone. Put it around the insert part and push on the handle. Then, take a flathead screwdriver and a hammer to put a little indent where that well is on the top of the spatula part, just under the edge of the metal.
Cyanoacrylate. Unless you're literally soaking it in your food I'm not too concerned about food safety with where the joint is - but of course I've been exposed to so many carcinogens that a little super glue won't matter
Elmer's? If kids can eat it, so can you!
Hahaha nice
Search for FDA compliant epoxy. I wouldn't worry too much about the strength, whatever epoxy you get should be stronger than the factory bond. If it's FDA approved then it'll be up to the same kind of standards that the spatula was built to.
Go silicone instead of cooking with plastic
If its good enough to glue my fingers it will glue anything.
Seriously though we use this to glue orings together and then install them in hot working machinery.
Probably more expensive then a new spatula though
It wont last in the dishwasher.
I can see your fingers are separated in the photo.
That alone proves it ain't strong enough.
You have used glue to repair an o-ring?
It's common practice, you can buy oring lengths cut to size and glue together.
Not so much repair one as the rubber perishes.
Though if you cut one on initial installation you can glue it back together.
Or the other week i was repairing a leaking motor, didn't have the right size and width oring but i had the right width in one that was too big, so cut it shorter and away it goes
Was going to suggest Loctite 401, but 406 should work well too.
Stainless steel screw through the part where plastic and metal pipe meet. Or epoxy.
there's really no such thing
Certain tree based resins are actually used in cooking.
Pick one of those edible ones and reapply them every time this comes off.
There will be minute amount of gum going into your food, but it will still be food.
On the downside, those gums are easily water soluble, so depending on you long and hot you wash (and how tight the handle seals), you might see it coming off each and every wash. You won't have it coming off while cooking though (as long as you keep the junction out of water.
Ok kids, let's go!
Try a mix of superglue with corn starch.
Gorilla-brand super glue.
OP said they prefer non-toxic and dishwasher safe glue though.
Right, so, since that doesn't exist, I suggested the next best thing.
I can relate to not wanting to throw something away if you can just fix it, but I guarantee you will save yourself a lot of time and stress if you just go down to your local thrift shop with a kitchen section and pick one of the dozens of spatulas they will have for like $0.50.
The last thing you want is the mess and possible pain of your repaired spatula breaking under the stress of lifting a hot, oily food from the pan.
This. If it's plastic it should be solid plastic. This kind of failure will happen again.
Just get metal with a plastic or wooden handle. I got a $3 one 5 years ago and it works great. Cast iron can handle metal on metal.