So my SO and I have a nice blender. At the bottom of the pitcher there is a thin rubber gasket where the pitcher screws into its base to keep things from leaking. And the gasket has come almost completely unglued from the bottom of the pitcher, so it leaks.
I would like to glue the gasket back onto the pitcher, but I’m unsure of what type of adhesive to use. Obviously, it needs to be waterproof and not susceptible to damage by vinegar, alcohol or heat; it should not itself be damaging to the rubber; and I’d kind of like it if it didn’t make the food taste funny or poison us.
Any specific or general advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hmm, so I have assumed incorrectly that it should be glued on.
That puts a new spin on things, because then I’m not sure how it’s leaking. It definitely leaks from the seam between pitcher and base, but strangely, only when pouring.
The blender in question is a year or so old, but has hardly been used until recently, so it seems odd that it would be a worn-out gasket. Perhaps just defective? Or could a year of non-use cause the gasket to become dried/cracked etc?
Are you blending hot things? The gaskets don’t really work for that. If you’re trying to puree soups and such, buy an inexpensive immersion blender (aka “stick blender”) and you’ll be much happier.
If you’re blending cold things, try replacing the gasket and making sure you have it screwed on tightly.
i agree i’ve never seen one glued just stuck because of age or food.
take the base off and let it soak in water and see if it comes off. if not you could very carefully and slowly run a razor between gasket and glass.
if it has been screwed on tight for months then it might be worn out. the gasket needs to get compressed for the seal and if it has been deformed it won’t work well. look for a replacement then.
Fair enough. I’m pretty sure that we had it screwed on as tight as possible, but we’ll give it another go and then–presuming failure–probably seek out a replacement gasket.
[anecdote]I had a blender that I got at a second hand store, and the base of the pitcher had a dip in the bottom along one side of the rim. It leaked unless we used two gaskets at once.[/anecdote]
Also, since you say it only leaks while you’re pouring, it’s possible that the liquid leaking is on the outside of the jar, e.g., spills or condensation collecting in the little channel around the top of the base. Mine blender does this sometimes.
If you’re good with blenders and know your way around them, then you don’t need to read this next part. Remove the rubber gasket (seal) from around the blades and wash it every time you use the blender. I would put it in the dishwasher every other day to really clean & sanitize it. When I was 16, I bought my very first blender. It was almost my last, also, because I didn’t think I needed to read the instructions first. It was almost a month after I bought it and one day, while I was washing it, the rubber seal came out unexpectedly. I saw a layer of chunky white crust that was stuck in the crevice where the seal had been, and it took me a minute or two to realize that I was looking at old, rotten, spoiled milk … I had been so proud of myself, drinking my homemade smoothies everyday, while it unknowingly swished around in some crusty, chunky, spoiled, month-old milk. But I never made the same mistake again.