How to Fix Broken Pottery, Ceramic or Glass
A lot of people contact us asking if we can refire a broken pot and make it "perfect" again. A potter simply cannot refire a pot and make it whole again. The only thing that will fix pottery is epoxy glue. With modern adhesives, it's possible to make nearly invisible repairs to damaged ceramic and glass items. However, if the damaged piece is of monetary or sentimental value, have the repair done by a professional restorer to ensure the best possible job.
What you will need:
1. Adhesive - two-part clear epoxy glue
2. Wooden stick or a pin-tool for applying adhesive
3. Clay
3. Razor blade
4. Gloves
Choose your adhesive. Two kinds of adhesives are generally used to mend ceramics and glass: Clear, slow- setting two-part epoxy. In order to choose the correct adhesive for a ceramic repair, you must first identify the type of ceramic involved. Because an exact fit is essential in repairing ceramics and glass, you must adjust the pieces precisely before the glue sets. Five-minute epoxies and instant glues dry too fast and are not recommended for this type of repair. We use Devcon product which can be purchase in many hardware stores.
Prepare the surface. The most important step in repairing a broken glass or ceramic item is to make sure the pieces are clean. If the item has been fixed before, undo the old repair, or the new adhesive may not bond. Before handling the pieces, you
may want to put on clean gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges. Clean the pieces with a mixture of mild dishwashing liquid and warm water; gently loosen dirt with a plastic scrubbing pad. Rinse the pieces and let them dry completely. If stains persist, fill a plastic basin with warm water and add 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach. Carefully submerge the pieces in the liquid. Cover the basin with plastic wrap to contain the fumes and let it sit undisturbed for 2 to 3 days. Remove the pieces, rinse them under running water, and let them dry overnight.
Applying the adhesive. Use a wooden stick or a pin tool and apply glue to only one of the broken edges. Use only enough adhesive to cover the edge. Too little will leave gaps, resulting in a weak repair; too much will make it difficult to achieve a tight joint. Quickly join the pieces together while applying light pressure.Use clay as illustrated below to hold the pieces together. Avoid shifting the pieces; small particles may come loose, ruining the repair. Any glue that oozes from the joint can be removed later using a razor blade.
Note: If the broken item's surface can be damaged from scraping off the glue with razor blade (e.g., soft ceramic), you can paint Latex** over the surface before applying epoxy leaving only the broken area exposed. Excess epoxy will therefore dry over the latex. Make sure you wait a few hours for the Latex to dry before gluing with epoxy.
** Latex : An emulsion of rubber or plastic material with water. Used in ceramics as a resist material in applying glazes.
