What kind of grease did you have on the gears? The factory stuff turns to glue in the cold. I had to take mine apart last winter, clean off all that gunk with rubbing alcohol, and pack it with white lithium grease. That plastic on plastic needs to move easy. @the_vera, if yours just quit, try that before you buy a whole new unit. A little maintenance goes a long way when the temperature drops.

Tell me about it. I got caught by that same trick last month and it cost me hours of work. The worst part is how simple the fix is once you see it. Makes you feel silly for missing it. Always seems to happen when you're rushing.

Graphite dust is just part of the deal, like glitter from a craft project that gets everywhere. I just wipe mine down with a damp paper towel before I use it, seems to cut down on the worst of it. The black smudges on my apron are a permanent feature now.

Just to keep warming under 2 degrees" feels so naive now, doesn't it?

Ugh, fruit flies are the worst, they ruin everything. I've used a regular dinner plate weighted down with a jar of water on top of the crock. It makes a good seal but still lets gas bubble out the sides. What kind of container are you using right now?