How to Repair a Crystal Punch Bowl

Crystal punch bowls are highly prized items, especially for their beauty. A cracked or chipped punch bowl is upsetting, but don't count a damaged punch bowl as ruined; a crystal punch bowl can be repaired at home. With research and a few supplies, you can make a crystal punch bowl with a minor crack or chips usable again, for any function or event.

Things You'll Need

• Crystal acrylic glue
• Soft cloth
• Black emery board
• Sand paper, 600 grit

Instructions

1. Apply specialty acrylic glue used for crystal, sparingly, if the punch bowl is only cracked. Crystal acrylic glue can be found at most local craft stores. Use a soft cloth to wipe away any extra glue. The crystal glue will seep into the crack of the punch bowl for a strong repair that is hard to see. If the punch bowl is broken, lay pieces on a flat working surface and apply the glue one piece at time and place with the matching piece.

2. Place the glued punch bowl in direct sunlight outside for 24 hours. Crystal glue is sensitive to ultraviolet light and will dry stronger in sunlight.

3. Fill in any cracks that are still visible with more crystal glue once dried and place in the sun for 24 hours once more.

4. File small chips that are located near the crack with a black emery board or 600-grit sandpaper once the glue has dried. Avoid scratching other parts of the crystal punch bowl by focusing only on the area that needs to be filed.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact a professional crystal restorer if your punch bowl is shattered. A professional restorer can fix a punch bowl so that it can hold punch or any liquid substance again.

• Consider using your crystal punchbowl for something else if it can't be fixed. Try using your punch bowl as a decorative centerpiece for a dinning room table.

References

• "Glass Doctor: Instructions on How to Remove Chips from All Types of Glassware, Finest Crystal, and Much More"; Ross E. Jasper; 1982
• Bruening Glassworks: Crystal Repair, Glass Restoration, Chipped Glass Repair