Repairing a cracked pot

[Isitangus]

Hi all wanted to ask if I can repair a crack in a pot before it becomes any worse or breaks completely. See pics and happy to take further pics if necessary.



I'm not so much concerned about the visual crack more so the structure. I was thinking a layer of fibreglass webbing tape then a "healthy" dose of liquid nails???

[Pat K]

Isi,

I would carefully drill a small hole either side of the crack in 3 or 4 places then staple together with copper wire.
If done neatly it can be very decorative; the Japanese do this with gold wire.
When drilling, submerge the pot in water 2 to 3mm below the surface and drill slowly and carefully.

A 'layer of fibreglass and liquid nails' would be my last option!!

Pat

[AGarcia]

I have glued a piece of tile on the inside of the pot over the cracked area, but just below the soil line. This isn't visible when a tree is in it.

AG

[MrSnoopy]

Im with pat on this one... the last thing I would do is use fibreglass tape and the copper wire method is quite effective, however if it isnt done properly it will cause more damage than good.

AG has a good method and if done properly it will work out rather well, but id recommend using a two part epoxy to be safe and sure that the bond is secure. Either method, personally id use a small amount of non-toxic aquarium silicone to make the crack water proof (important to keep that join as close as possible and we dont want water or roots splitting the pot)...

Cracked pots are quite annoying, its a lot easier if the pot is completely broken in 2 or more peices because you can use an epoxy to make a perfect join instead of trying to repair an existing one. But that doesnt mean go out and break your pot

[rodm]

I use a neutral curing silicon. Slightly open the cracks squeeze the silicon in then pull it back together and hold with some masking tape,wait 'till it dries. Clean up with turps then give the pot a really good scrub with hot soapy water.
Cheers Rod

[thoglette]

Google "bonsai pot repaired" and you'll find lots of advice.

Peter Tea uses Cyanoacrylate glue - the liquid stuff (not gell) as he finds that wicks better

The traditional method is to use a gold lacquer (see this article and this one on kintsugi)

[thoglette]

The traditional method is to use a gold lacquer

I was trying to remember somethings about gold repair I'd read a long time ago and found both echoed in articles:
a) cracks at bisque firing level can be fixed using a metal heavy glaze (which penetrates the crack and deposits the metal )
b) gold's low melting point can be utilised to use it directly as a "liquid" glue. I imagine a decent craft goldsmith would be able to work this out.

If you really want to wander off down the wrong stack - a Ceramic Arts Daily article on Perfection, Repair, and Use

[Isitangus]

Thanks for all the advice and feedback. I ended up sending it to a friend who restores antiques who was confident she could stop it progressing any further.

[Eusto]

[Isitangus]

Looks beautiful-probably slightly over the top for my cheap pot though...

[Andrew Legg]

I've heard of using heated liquid epoxy and a heated pot. Parrently it flows into the crack better.

[Sno]

Found this . Thought it might be interesting
http://humade.nl/products/new-kintsugi-1

[raewynk]

HI all,

last broken pot I had I snapped it in half completely, and found a suitable glue (I bought a glue from bunnings used in fish tanks) and electrical tape all around and left it for a week.
Still holding.
I have not put a plant in it yet. but has been stacked on the shelf with the others and moved several times and hasn't fallen apart YET.
Hind sight I would have cleaned the two broken pieces with metho and then glued.

Hope it helps.

Regards
Rae

P>s, didn't like the gold repair technique but that's my opinion only. Sorry.