How to Glue Ceramic
Sometimes breakage occurs to treasured ceramic items. They can be plates or a cherished figurine. You can repair these breaks yourself with easily obtainable materials. Using the proper care and allowing enough time for the project, you can successfully glue the broken items back together so that the repair is hardly noticeable. According to the New Fix It Yourself Manual, published by The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., following the procedure below will restore your item to its former beauty.
Things You'll Need
- Adhesive
- Disposable brush
- Warm, soapy water
- Plastic scrubber
- Plastic dish pan
- Uncooked rice or beans
- Razor blade
- Cotton swabs
- Hot water or lacquer thinner
- Gloves
Instructions
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1
Make a positioning box that will hold the freshly glued item until the adhesive is dry. Fill the box three-fourths full of the uncooked rice or beans. You will use this in Step 6.
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2
Select an appropriate glue. Two types of adhesives are normally used for ceramics. One is PVA, or polyvinyl acetate, otherwise known as white glue. The other is a clear epoxy that comes in two parts. The glue you use should be slow-drying because quick-drying adhesives do not allow you to adjust the broken pieces before the glue sets.
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3
Clean the broken pieces. The broken surfaces must be free of dust, dirt, and old glue. If the break occurred where the item had been previously glued, make sure to remove all the old glue. You can use warm, soapy water and a plastic scrubber for this. Scrub gently and rinse thoroughly. Let the pieces dry completely.
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4
Apply the glue carefully with a brush to the broken surfaces, ensuring you use enough to cover the entire broken edge. Do not use too much glue because the joint will be weak. Moreover, make sure you do not get any excess adhesive on any other part of the ceramics because it can be difficult to remove later.
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5
Put the pieces together with light and firm pressure after the glue is applied. Do not shift them after they are in place; you could dislodge particles that will weaken the joint. Do not worry about removing glue that oozes from the joint just now.
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6
Place the item in your positioning box, pushing an unbroken part of it down into the rice or beans so that the item is perfectly balanced and the glue can dry. Let sit for at least an hour undisturbed.
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7
Scrape off excess glue with a razor blade. Use a gentle and careful pressure for this. Afterward, remove any remaining glue with the cotton swabs. Dip them in hot water if you used PVA; dip them in lacquer thinner if you used epoxy.
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8
Return the piece to the positioning box for another 24 hours after the excess glue is removed.
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Tips & Warnings
If the pieces have a persistent stain that is not removed with the hot, soapy water in Step 3, you can soak the pieces in a bleach solution until the stain disappears, often two to three days. Use one part bleach to nine parts water. Rinse pieces well and let dry overnight. Use a disposable brush to apply the adhesive to avoid messy cleanup. You can fill in small chips one-eighth inch deep or less by mixing some slow-setting epoxy with oil-based hobby enamel paint to match the color. Use only enough to color the epoxy because too much paint will thin the glue. Dab the mixture on the chip and smooth to surface level. Let this dry for 48 hours. You can touch up colored designs with the same oil-based hobby enamel paints. Use a good artist's brush. Clean up the brush with mineral spirits or paint thinner.
Always wear safety gloves for a ceramic project to avoid cutting yourself. When gluing, work in a well-ventilated area away from open flames. Do not get any of the glue or paint on your skin or in your eyes. If you do, flush immediately with water and call the doctor.
