How to Recycle a Broken Punch Bowl

Repair and repurpose a broken punch bowl to hold non-liquid items.

Punch bowls, both modern or vintage, are luxuries few people purchase or have room to store. The expense associated with a beautiful punch bowl makes a broken bowl all the more tragic. Repairing broken crystal or glass is possible, but liquid retention poses problems over time. Recycle a broken punch bowl by re-purposing the bowl. When glued together, broken punch bowls can be used to hold artificial flowers arrangements or non-liquid foods, such as potato chips or baked goods.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Glass or crystal glue or epoxy
• Toothpicks
• Alcohol
• Paper towels
• Spanish moss
• Glass decorative marbles
• Artificial flowers or greenery

Instructions

Repairing the Bowl

1. Sand the broken edges of the punch bowl fragments very gently with fine grit sandpaper. Don't sand the edges away or alter the shape of the broken fragments. Sand to create a slight texture, which will assist with the glue bond.

2. Clean the edges with a soft cloth to remove any dust or moisture. Be very careful when handling glass shards, as they are sharp.

3. Mix any components of the epoxy or glue necessary to activate the adhesive. Some glass and crystal glues, and almost all epoxies, require you to mix two or more solutions to create one adhesive. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the brand of glue you have purchased.

4. Squirt the glass or crystal glue along the fragment edges and press the pieces together like a puzzle.

5. Hold each fragment together for a minimum of 30 seconds to encourage the bonding of the adhesive.

6. Squirt glass or crystal glue onto the end of a toothpick to apply the adhesive to very small fragments or to push and hold the fragments into place while reassembling the broken section of the punch bowl.

7. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly according to the directions specified by the glass and crystal adhesive manufacturer.

8. Use rubbing alcohol applied to a paper towel to remove any drips or excess glue before it dries on the punch bowl's surface.

Utilizing the Punch Bowl

1. Fill the punch bowl with dried Spanish moss or glass decorative marbles. Because of the depth of most punch bowls, the moss or marbles will fill some of the excess space and further conceal the repaired glass or crystal.

2. Stick the stems of artificial flowers or greenery into the Spanish moss or marbles and arrange as desired. Greenery can be draped over the bowl's edges to hide any visible repairs. Arranging flowers or greenery in a circular row from the outer edges toward the middle makes a pleasant display.

3. Place the recycled punch bowl with the most damaged, repaired side against a wall or out of the direct line of sight to reduce the likelihood of the repair being noticed.

Tips & Warnings

• After applying glass or crystal adhesive, larger fragments may be held in place while drying with a large rubber band stretched around the outside of the punch bowl. Smaller pieces cannot be secured by a rubber band because the band's tension will cause the drying glued fragments to collapse.

• According to Mosaic Tile Guide website, regular glues may not dry clear or be strong enough to bond glass or crystal. Glass and crystal glue dries clear and can be found at hardware, craft, discount and home improvement stores.

• The punch bowl may be filled with potato chips, baked goods, or any other non-liquid item once it is repaired. Use a recycled punch bowl to display a bowl full of holiday ornaments in like or coordinating colors for an attractive arrangement.

• Use rubbing alcohol immediately to remove glass, crystal or epoxy glues from your flesh.

References

• Glass Art Patterns: Glass Glue, How to Use Triolyse Glue
• Mosaic Tile Guide: Using Glass, Bottles or Mirrors as Mosaic Base