How to Repair Broken Pottery With a Kiln

Repair broken pottery using paper clay and a kiln.

If the pottery is unfired, repairing it is simple. If the pottery is a finished piece that is fired and glazed, it is more complicated. If it is a piece that was used for cooking or eating, it changes to a decorative piece after repair. Materials used for repairs contain toxic ingredients. The least complicated method of repairing pottery uses paper clay and a kiln. Patience is required because it takes several days for good pottery repair jobs.

Things You'll Need

• Clay to match piece of pottery
• Ceramic tools
• Sponge
• Kiln
• Newspaper
• Blender
• Bowl
• Metal pasta strainer
• Masking tape
• Acrylic paint
• Clear spray paint

Instructions

Make the Paper Clay

1. Purchase clay that matches your piece of pottery. Clay comes in several types. The main types are white, terracotta and stoneware. Each one has a different color and texture. You need to get the same type of clay for the repair.

2. Get a blender from a thrift store, flea market or yard sale. Don't use your good one, because it can't be used for food or drinks after this project.

3. Tear several pages of newspaper into 1-inch squares. Put the paper into the bowl and cover the paper with hot water. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Place two handfuls of wet newspaper into the blender with 3 cups of water and blend the mixture until it is smooth. Place the strainer into the sink and pour the paper mixture into the strainer. Let it drain for 1 hour.

4. Put the ground paper into the bowl and add a 4-inch by 4-inch lump of clay. Use your hands to squeeze the clay and paper mixture together. Knead the paper clay mixture until it is smooth.

Repairing the Pottery Piece (Unfired or Finished)

1. Use the paper clay mixture like glue and attach the broken pieces together. Tape the parts together after gluing with paper clay and let the piece dry overnight. Put a lid on the bowl and save the paper clay mixture.

2. Remove the tape and let it dry for three days. Check to see if any cracks show up on the broken ceramic piece. Clay shrinks as it dries, so cracks and small openings are possible. Fill the cracks and small openings with the paper clay mixture. Let it dry for another three days. Inspect the broken pottery one more time. If it is free of cracks, it's ready to fire. If it still has cracks, fill the cracks and let it dry three more days.

3. Fire the ceramic piece according to the manufacturer's instructions for your kiln. Fire the clay to the appropriate cone suggested on the package of clay. The cone tells you when you have reached the correct heat in the kiln. Most pottery fires between cone 05 and 06. If it was an unfired piece, your repair is complete. If it was a fired, glazed piece go to the next step.

4. Paint school glue over the repaired areas. The glue gives an extra layer of strength to the repairs. Let it dry for three hours.

5. Fix the colors. If the piece was glazed, you will need to match the glaze colors with acrylic paint. Mix the colors and test them on a piece of white paper before putting the paint on the repaired pottery. If the color is right, paint it on the repaired pottery and let it dry for three hours. Paint a second coat of paint if necessary and let it dry for three hours.

6. Paint a coat of school glue over the areas that you painted. Coating the area with glue first causes the spray paint to make a higher gloss, imitating gloss glaze. Let the glue dry for three hours or until completely clear. Spray the whole piece of repaired pottery with clear spray paint. Let it dry and add another coat of clear spray paint. Let it dry and the repair is done.

References

• Paper Clay Art: A Primer
• Pottery Magic: Pottery Tips and Techniques, Attaching Clay Parts