Ceramic Repair on a Big Green Egg

I knew there was a reason that I didn't simply throw away the platesetter that I busted last year.  I kicked it over and had to replace it, but I just couldn't bring myself to discard it.

Lo and behold, I added a Bubba Keg to my arsenal this spring and needed a way to cook indirect.  I finally got around to repairing the old platesetter (I had bought a new one for my Big Green Egg) for the purpose of using it with this cooker.  I'd read quite a bit on the interwebs about using JBWeld to repair busted ceramic, so I picked some up at the local do it yourself store.

I simply followed the directions, mixing together equal amounts of JBWeld from each of the tubes in the package.  I applied it generously to the edge of the broken platesetter and let it cure for ~18hrs.  It sure seems to be a solid "weld", but the real test will be how it holds up to the temps on a BBQ smoker.

I'll keep you posted on how it holds up, but as for now it's doing fine with a load of pork steaks on the Bubba Keg.

Cheers,

Braddog

Comments

[Chris]

I did something similar. I took my plate setter out during a cook wearing two oven mitts but before I could even get it to the ground, it burned through both and I dropped it, breaking one of the legs. This was in March or April of 2008.

I used JB Weld to fix it then and you know how much I've used it since. I've torched that sucker over and over and it has held up perfect. I give JB Weld three thumbs up. Ok, I don't really have three thumbs, I JB Welded an extra one on:)

[Throwdown: Bubba Keg vs. Big G]

[...] I repaired a busted platesetter that I had lying around. I then discovered that it fit perfectly inside the Bubba Keg, making the [...]

[Throwdown: Bubba Keg vs. Big G]

[...] I repaired a busted platesetter that I had lying around. I then discovered that it fit perfectly inside the Bubba Keg, making the [...]
P.S. - Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!

[ken- lakeside]

How about repairing the egg itself, my egg stand tipped over during a storm two weeks ago and the egg has a crack, that runs from the top of the egg to about midway down the side,it is about the size of a pencil lead at the top then fads away down the egg. The cack is a little bigger on the inside, do you think JBWeld will stand up to the heat?

[Braddog]

Ken;

Sorry to hear of your situation. There is evidence that JBWeld will hold the egg itself together. It won't be pretty obviously since you will have a grey colored seam along the repair.

Here's a link to a thread on th BBQ Brethren website where one of the members did repai the lower part of the Egg. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45818&page=1

My experience is that over time the JB Weld did give up on my platesetter, but that was likely do a really hot fire in direct contact with it. The outer part of the Egg is protected by the firebox so your repair would likely last longer. Additionally, I'd take the extra steps mentioned in the thread above and apply stove and gasket cement.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Braddog