How to Repair Chipped or Cracked China

China--a smooth, glassy form of baked clay--is among the most beautiful tableware materials ever created. You don't have to break the bank to fix a cracked teacup or a chipped water pitcher.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Disposable Cup
• Epoxy Glue
• Masking Tape
• Acrylic Paint For Touch-up
• Clear Glaze
• Glue Stick Or Matchstick
• Masking Tape
• Paintbrush
• Razor Blade Or X-Acto Knife
• Oven Mitts
• Oven Mitts
• Plastic Or Wood Cutting Board
• Toothpick
• Milliput
• Paint Powder
• 220-grit Sandpaper
• Oven mitts

For chips

1. Roll equal quantities of milliput, which comes in a kit with two tubes, into a ball until the two colors have fused. You can buy milliput, a type of modeling putty, at art supply stores.

2. Apply the milliput to the chip with a toothpick, then return the chip to its original position.

3. If needed, place masking tape taut across the repaired area to hold in place.

4. Allow the chip to set for 6 hours, then remove any masking tape.

5. Sand gently with fine (220-grit) sandpaper until the milliput is flush with the surface. Take care not to damage the china's glaze or decoration.

6. Touch up with acrylic paint as needed.

7. Brush on a clear glaze, available at art supply stores, if you wish to achieve a glossy finish.

For cracks

8. Put the cracked piece of china in an oven at very low heat--150and#176; to 200and#176;F (65and#176; to 95and#176;C).

9. Mix epoxy glue (which comes in a kit with two tubes) in the tray that comes with the epoxy glue or in a disposable cup.

10. Dip a glue stick, matchstick or toothpick into paint powder that matches the china color. Mix until the color looks right.

11. Take the cracked item out of the oven using oven mitts, then place on a plastic or wood cutting board. The heat of the oven will cause the crack to widen ever so slightly.

12. Fill the crack with the tinted glue mixture, using the small stick. Let dry overnight. The crack will condense as the china cools.

13. Chip away hardened glue with a razor blade or an X-Acto knife.

For more serious breakage

14. If the china is an antique or of great sentimental value, hire a professional ceramic restorer to do the repair. Ask for a reference at an antiques shop or search the yellow pages or Internet under "china" or "antique" repair and restoration.

15. Contact a china replacement company if an irreparably broken piece of china is part of a set.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for paint powder (available at home supply and art supply stores) that is recommended for china.
• If you send your china to a ceramic restorer to have it fixed, package each piece separately in bubble wrap or tissue. Many restorers have a backlog and the repair work is time-consuming, so it may take weeks or months for your repair to be completed.
• Restored china will never be as strong as the original piece. Use it as infrequently as possible.

[mika3773]

on 3/20/2009 If you would like to have professional to get all your furniture repair work done right at first time please contact All Furniture Services www.furnitureservices.com , we specialized in all furniture repair restoration touch-up refinishing cleaning polishing upholstery disassembly assembly on everything wood, fabric, leather, vinyl, mechanism and on any furniture Antique - Modern - Custom - Hospitality. We do disassembling of furniture that does not fit into tight entrances, basements etc. such as sofa couch armoire headboard bed china sleeper. We do large project for hotels. Partitions cubicles assembly disassembly. In Home repairs same day service 7 days a week. Best Service for lowest prices Guaranteed. Over 50 pages of before and after pictures! 718-268-2727, 347-528-7777

[chinarepair0com]

on 10/26/2008 It should be said that although following this description you will be able to affect a china repair to your ceramics, as you have said if the item is valuable either financially or sentimentally, its better to take it to a professional to have it done properly, as these methods are not ideal.
Milliput is probably one of the worse fillers I've come across, and sandpaper is not recommended for sanding ceramics as even the fine grades can permanently damage the existing glaze surface.

The oven method to fill cracks can also make the piece impossible to redo professionally should you wish to do so later, as the glue in the cracks will not be removable, professional restorers use a very thin epoxy which will wick into the crack without the need for heating, so you can achieve the perfect join, it will even restorer the ring to a broken item.

David
http://www.china repair.com

on 3/7/2006 Milliput chip filler is toxic and therefore not suitable for filling chips or cracks on any food service items. Use non-toxic Milliput substitute. It works just like the professional filler, but without the chemical toxins. It's also more healthy for you to handle.

on 12/23/2005 Milliput is a toxic chip filler; very unhealthy. Chip filler is the only product that a restorer needs to physically touch.