Well, that was stupid...and expensive.

So, we have been replacing the kitchen appliances over the last year or so. The last appliance to be replaced is the stove. We wanted a gas cooktop with an electric oven. Everything we have looked at is $1000 and up, so being a cheap ass, I checked craigslist.

There was a nice, fairly new one, that matched the rest of the appliances for $200. Naturally I jumped at it. We looked at it tonight, paid the man and loaded it on the trailer.

As I was strapping it down, I broke the glass top.

A replacement is $500. Now I have to decide if a $1500 stove is worth $700 used.

I hate it when I do stupid E36 M3.

DOH!

OUCH!

SON OF A...

Put it back on CL with the broken top for not much and move onto a different unit.

In reply to singleslammer:

That's a thought.

In doing some studying, I'm betting I can cut a stainless steel top for it fairly easily and for a lot cheaper. It's fairly simple, and flat. Cut it, bead roll the edges, a little brush finish and polish and done. All in should be less than $100.

That sucks. It's worth repairing if it will work, otherwise. It's still a functioning stove for a steep discount.

Another option is to talk to my glass manufacturer and get them to cut me one out of spandrel glass. My only worry there would be heat resistance. A boiling water spill might make it crack again.

Cut it from pyrex/borosilicate instead of regular glass.

Take out. I recommend chinese.

In reply to Huckleberry:

That would work better for sure.

I'll get them to price it out, but I bet it's as much as a new top. In which case, I'll just order the OEM unit.

So... you paid $200 for it? What are the chances of finding another $200 stove? If what I see on the local Facebook trading group is anything to go by - extremely high.

I know it's not "the GRM thing to do", but I have other things I'd rather do with my time than bodge-fix a stove I didn't pay much for.

It's a gas burner top, right? So no NEED for glass? I'd look into the steel top option, although if you can't make it yourself it will probably cost you close to the replacement glass.

Butcher block top!!!

But seriously, clear borosilicate isn't THAT expensive. I would venture to go that route over metal, which will warp with several heat cycles if it is too thin.

Ian F wrote: So... you paid $200 for it? What are the chances of finding another $200 stove? If what I see on the local Facebook trading group is anything to go by - extremely high. I know it's not "the GRM thing to do", but I have other things I'd rather do with my time than bodge-fix a stove I didn't pay much for.

^this

i bet you might even be able to find one that doesnt work for less then $200 and just salvage it for parts

I feel your pain. I bought a "white stove" off CL, looked white in the pictures and in his garage, once I got it home it was pretty obvious it wasn't as bright white as my other appliances. I think I ended up just trashing it at the recyclers since no one would buy it off CL when it was advertised as off-white.

Personally, I'd go for the "make a stainless replacement top" method.

Then, if you like the way the thing works*, a new "correct" top could be an interesting Christmas present.

*I hate our stove. The controls are not intuitive like the old one, and I can't light the oven manually when the power's out (like the old one.) ...but we spent too much to replace it.

I'm in the "just get another" camp unless it's something weird. Used appliances sell constantly for pennies on the dollar. You found this one fairly easily (from the sounds of it), you'll find another.

Alternately, contact a local appliance repair shop. They may have alternative tops or parts stoves.

If you go the butcher block route, please post video.

I think the answer is break it down, part it out, cut a profit, buy a new stove.

I just want to know what SWMBO had to say about it

In reply to WildScotsRacing:

She actually didn't pick it out. If it gets hot, she'll cook on it. It didn't really bother her that the stove was white and everything else was SS.

The only pissed off party was me.

I did get it hooked up to gas and electric today. Everything works except the spark generator for the stove top.

At this point, it's pretty easy to swap in, so I'm going to install it and see how I like the gas top compared to the electric. Then I'll decide if I'm going to fix it or buy another.

Depending on when the igniter comes in, I may get it swapped this weekend.

I have the same configuration, and will never own another electric top stove again. It really is the best of both worlds. I'm curious about the ultrasonic stoves, but they're so damn expensive that that's not even an option right now.

Gas stoves are the E36M3. You won't regret it.

Other than the potential for explosions, gas rules. We changed over a couple of years ago and our biggest complaint is that we've almost melted the microwave/fume hood mounted up above a few times.