How would you fix this

Tony in SD

Well-known Member
I have a few ideas but how would you fix this? It has sentimental value, so getting a new is not an acceptable answer. I think it’s stainless steel. At first I thought it was spot welded but now I think it’s rivets.
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Drill and re-rivet even if you have to make your own rivets. I would not use pop rivet due to then being aluminum
 
Tony, get yourself a piece of stainless rod the same diameter or a bit larger than what's in there. Drill out to accept the new rod. Cut pieces a bit longer than the thickness of both parts. Flatten one end. Stick through a set of holes, then brace the flattened side against a hard surface (anvil, vise, railroad tie piece, another hammer, etc) and flatten the other side. Now do the other hole. When you're done, it'll be fixed and ready for food use.

I would not use aluminum or steel. Any stainless should suffice, but would likely be easiest to find 304 or 316. You might also try to find a used stainless fork at a 2nd hand shop and use the fork tines, as most of them are usually made of 18/10 stainless.

Once your "homemade rivets" are in place and secured, you can go a step further and take a punch to spread the ends of the new rivets. This will help to spread the rivets into the surrounding steel. It's always best to work with material slightly longer than desired, then remove the excess when you're happy with the results.

Best of luck.
 

I would plug weld it with stainless steel wire. If you don't have the welder get some stainless steel pop rivets.
 
I have one like yours I repaired with pop rivet, First one let loose so I fixed that and years later the other rivet let loose.
 
Pop rivets are available in stainless steel, steel, and aluminum, however I agree I wouldn't use them as there is small places where food could stick and the back side of the rivet can stick out and catch on things if the perfect length isn't used or available. Making "real" rivets from 1/8" SS welding rod is the way to go I think.
 
Instead of looking for s/s rod to make rivets, get small brass or s/s screws - - #4, #5, or #6, whichever is appropriate.

Insert screws into holes, peen the end over, and if desired, file the head thinner.
 
Go to Ace Hardware, get a couple of stainless steel flat head bolts, (3/32 or 1/8 with as nuts), drill appropriate sized holes, install bolts & nuts, grind off excess above nut, rivet by a couple of wacks with ball-peen hammer, wash & use for many years to come!
 

you can probably buy a new one for the cost of the rivets and the time... unless you just like to tinker like me

j
 
I don't have much to add except that if your repair goes south you can start over from the other end.

Kind of makes sense to have the curved part up against the edge of the pan anyway, especially if your pans are round like most frying pans are.

Gerrit
 
myself i would rivet it with the copper rivets and keep it looking old and keep the sentimental going.
 
Was most likely soldered from factory and that's how I would repair it. Silver solder would also be my choice.
 
Thank you to all your ideas on fixing the stainless steel spatula. Got it fixed. SWMBO is happy that all of you helped out.

Now I have another "honey do". She said since all your friends knew how to fix a spatula, does anyone have a 10" ECKO spatula for sale, as pictured below? I said it is an old tractor site. She said If they know how to fix a spatula they might have one for sale. So I wisely decided I can’t argue with that, so I’m asking?

Fixed
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What’s to buy new or used.
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thats not fair ,you did not say how you fixed it. solder, glue, weld, rivets? now she can make some of those french pancakes as i call them "creapes". spelling? the ones that are pan sized and thin and need a good flipper.lol.
 
OK Tony, now you're asking a lot! *lol*

I went looking online for used Ecko spatulas like that. Didn't know they were no longer in business. Apparently there are very few people who think enough to list them for sale online, or they are a hot item. I see them selling for around $20 plus shipping, but very few.

Is your wife wanting one to keep in a set? Or is she wanting another good spatula that won't melt like much of the new junk? If she's looking for something to use, I may have an idea.

A couple years ago my wife started using induction cookware, which meant new pots & pans. She got new tools to use in those pans, as hers have a non-stick surface. Got one from some store. Said it was nylon and good for 475 degrees or some such. She was using medium heat. Darn thing melted to her pan nearly the instant she touched the pan. So, I was tasked with finding her something she could use.

I went to Amazon, as even the nearest Walmart is over 1 1/2 hours away. Lots to choose from, so I tried to find out [i:c37657c2c7]exactly[/i:c37657c2c7] what she needed. Ended up getting a couple of things. One was non-stick, no-scratch silicone over a steel core. It works, but is way too thick to flip an omelette or for many other things. The other was a nice wooden turner, which she still hasn't used yet. ....It looks too nice. ARG! Went back online and found a couple more items. She still wasn't happy. Then one day while shopping in our nearby (45-minutes away) grocery store, I picked up a 3-pc set for about $3 IIRC. They are all plastic, so no places for food to get stuck and go rancid. However, they're a little short at 8". The widths are 3.5", 2.75" and 2". Talked the wife into getting them, just for the fun of it. Nice, bright colors....right? Well, she finally used one and liked it. She used it another time and has never picked up another spatula! We bought another set to keep on hand (as you see in the pic).

If your wife is having trouble finding something that won't scratch and won't melt, if you like, we can see if our store still has any and can mail you a set. They had a few sets last month but apparently are no longer made. I cannot find any reference to these ANYWHERE on the net!!

These are thinner than the plastic Ecko you posted -- maybe half the thickness, yet still stiff. Ask your wife if this is anything she might like to try. If so, we'll get the details figured out.

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Drill it and use #4 or #6 (looks like) allen cheese head chrome or stainless machine screws with acorn nuts on the back. If she's sentimental and you're wasted time is actually love brought back to life, then might as well rod her out a little.
 

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