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How to repair porcelain items around your home
Knowing how to repair porcelain can come in handy in a number of situations. Not only with dainty figurines and delicate cups – many expensive fixtures and appliance elements are also made of porcelain.
Before you read about how to fix broken or chipped porcelain, you need to know how to pick the right adhesive for your project.
Is your porcelain object going to contact food, hold hot liquids, or be placed in the oven, microwave, or dishwasher? If so, your adhesive must be safe for these and other relevant applications.
If you want to fix chipped porcelain, you will need a gap-filling adhesive, a porcelain filler, or a touch-up glaze to replace lost material. Make sure your product is paintable if you plan on painting it.
If you are joining broken pieces, opt for a strong liquid or gel adhesive that dries clear. Loctite Super Glue Gel Control quickly forms strong bonds with porous surfaces like porcelain and sets without clamping. It’s a great choice for fixing broken porcelain.
Say you want to repair a small figurine like the one above. The following instructions on how to fix broken porcelain are a great starting point, but always read your product’s instructions before proceeding.
Gather materials. You need paper towels and an adhesive that can bond porcelain.
Stay clean and safe. Wear gloves and an apron to reduce the likelihood of getting adhesive on your skin and clothes.
If you get super glue on your hands or other surfaces, watch this short video to find out how to remove it.
Prepare pieces. They must be free of dirt and other contaminants. Make sure you have all the pieces and then pre-fit them. Handle the pieces carefully to prevent further damage.
Apply glue. Sparingly apply adhesive to adjoining surfaces according to the product information. Super glue is usually applied to only one surface.
Hold pieces in place until bonds set. If the pieces move around, this will disrupt the curing process. Hold them in place by hand, or use masking tape if your adhesive dries slowly.
Clean-up. Wash your hands and carefully use a sharp blade to remove excess cured adhesive from the project. Depending on your adhesive, your object may no longer be safe for use in kitchen appliances.
Gather your tools. You need gap-filling adhesive/touch-up glaze/porcelain filler, a sanding implement, and soap and water.
Wash and dry all chipped surfaces.
Apply product. If needed, mix your glaze or porcelain filler according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Fill in chips or cracks and rebuild lost material.
Dry and sand. After the product has dried, you can sand it down, so it conforms to the contours of your object. If you are using porcelain filler, let it dry before applying glaze.
Clean-up. Wash your hands. If you were repairing a vessel, it may no longer be safe for use in kitchen appliances.