So this is a relatively minor frugal success, but a success none the less.
I have a lovely enamel coated pot with a steamer/colander liner that my MIL gave me as a gift. I really like it-it is a good sized pot for making homemade soup in, or soaking beans. Bigger than all my saucepans, but not quite as big as my spaghetti pot. The lid is clear glass with a plastic knob on top. About 2 weeks ago we were using the pot to steam some broccoli and suddenly there was a “pop”. The knob had cracked and split right off.
The way the lid was constructed was with a small bolt that screwed into the threaded plastic knob-there was a hole in the glass portion of the lid and you just ran the bolt through from the underside and screwed it into the knob (with the glass lid portion sandwiched between).
Back in the old days before frugality I probably would have thrown the lid out. But my first thought now was “I bet I can get another knob that will fit on there”. So I left the lid on the counter where it would stare accusingly at me until I got a replacement knob.
Today I finally remembered to take the bolt with me into town, and the kiddos and I stopped by the hardware store. Of course the didn’t have any threaded knobs that fit. So I asked if he had any wooden knobs. We found a non threaded one that fit pretty close (just a tad too large). The cost-$.30.
When I got home I pulled out my trusty tube of E6000 craft glue (that stuff will stick anything to anything else-I’ve used it to fix christmas ornaments, ceramic figures, pottery, and who knows what else. And it is only $5 a tube and available at most craft and hardware stores) I put the bolt through the lid and used painters low adhesion tape (a staple at our house-much better to tape kids artwork up-it won’t peel your paint off!) to tape the bolt flush up against the lid. Then I coated the inside of the knob with glue and slid it on to the exposed end of the bolt. It is sitting on the counter curing right now and by this evening will be as good as new!
I’m just so proud of myself. Maybe this is a small thing, but it is indicative of the difference between a frugal and non frugal mindset. I could afford a new pot, but why spend the money when I can fix what I already have.
This is also one of those cases where being frugal easily aligns itself with being enviromentally concious. Why throw something out that took valuable resources to make, and in the bargain add to the landfills when all you have to do is take a bit of time and you can fix it and continue to use it.
That’s really cool!
I love it when I find a quick and cheap solution to a problem. Wish I were more creative in that area! 🙂
That is great about the pot lid. My zipper pull broke off my purse and the old me would have thrown it out. Now I need to just pick up a pull and we will be good to go. The purse is in great shape and it is so easy to fix.
I wouldn’t call it a ‘minor success’ at all! Have you priced pots lately? Geez, a good one can be really expensive. Even a fairly decent one can set you back $10 or $20. The pot you are describing sounds very nice, and I bet it wasn’t cheap. So replacing that knob probably saved you a LOT of money!
I’m also wondering if you had written to the manufacturer, if they would have sent a replacement lid. I don’t think a knob should break like that.
You know, I never even thought of writing the manufacturer. I don’t have the box anymore so I’m not sure who made it. . . it is probably stamped on the bottom I guess. Good idea!