If you’ve ever had a pottery piece break, you know that it can be quite frustrating. Not only do you have to find the right color and type of clay to fix it, but you also need to use the right adhesive. The best glue for pottery repair varies, it will depend on various factors, such as the size of the damage and your project.
As you go into your craft, you will need the basics, such as the clay, pottery wheel, and carving tools. Even if you don’t plan on making mistakes, breaking pottery is inevitable. At one point or another, you’ll accidentally break a piece and as such, you will need the best glue for pottery repair.
There are many different types of glue on the market, but not all of them are suitable for repairing pottery. In order to get the job done properly, you need an adhesive that will bond well with both porcelain and clay. Check out some of the options of the best glue for pottery repair below:
1. Best Glue for Clay Pottery Repair: Gorilla
When it comes to tough adhesives, Gorilla Glue comes to mind, and with good reason. Gorilla Glue is incredibly strong with its impact-tough formula, which has unique rubber particles. What’s more, this super glue comes with a brush and nozzle! This means that you can repair your pottery in two ways.
If you are more used to utilizing a nozzle or plan on spreading glue on paper before applying it with a thin tool onto your work, you can do that with Gorilla Glue. The tip on the nozzle promotes precision and easy dispensing. For less mess and more control over your repair, the Gorilla Glue also has a brush applicator. Drying is quite quick, less than 1 minute!
2. Runner-Up: Elmer’s ProBond
Elmer’s Glue has been around for decades and is more prominent for use for home projects or in school. However, this adhesive brand has also come with a professional-strength adhesive for ceramics and pottery projects. The Elmer’s ProBond Advanced formula is designed for use on a wide range of surfaces.
Aside from ceramics, the Elmer’s ProBond Glue can also be used for stones, concrete, and glass. Its formula promises no foam so there is less mess during your repairs. This glue is non-toxic and is a hundred percent weatherproof! So, you can definitely repair your plant pots with this glue. For effective repairs, you will need to stick pieces together for about 20 to 30 minutes. But for the pieces to fully bond, it would take around a day.
3. Best Glue for China or Pottery Repair: Pratley
China and pottery projects are definitely very delicate. And sometimes, using glue can make or break your project. If you need glue that will not be visible, then check out the Pratley epoxy glue. This high-strength adhesive dries quickly and clear. So clear, that it can even be used for repairing glass.
If you need glue that isn’t too stiff and you prefer working with a more runny consistency, then Pratley is your best bet. When working with this epoxy glue, you’ll need to take note of a longer curing or drying time.
4. Best Glue for Miniature Pottery: Gorilla Precise
Are you a fan of the tiny movement? No, not the houses. You know, when you like tinier versions of regular items. A mini cup, a mini plate, as if you’ll be serving fine dining to mice. Maybe you like creating miniature figurines? Whatever the case, if you have been making small or tiny pottery, then you know how hard it is to fix if you mess up.
It’s a good thing that Gorilla has come out with their Micro Precise line. This super glue has the same impact-tough formula as the other Gorilla products. However, with the Micro Precise, the consistency is quite thicker, a gel-like glue that will not run all over your pottery. The bottle is also designed for precise glue application, from the tip to the body. The drying time is between 10 to 45 seconds.
5. Best Glue for Low-Fired Pottery Repair: Guoelephant
Guoelephant does the job of repairing low-fire pottery. When it comes to ceramics projects, you tend to use low fire if you want more color and designs. And with more details comes the noticeable problems. So, if you have a low-fire pottery project, you should opt for Guoelephant for repairs as it dries clear, not yellow or white.
This super glue dries quite quickly. You only need to wait around 30 seconds before the pieces adhere to each other. It is also very strong and can support up to 2,600 lbs.
6. Best Glue for Pottery Art: Gorilla Clear
Whether you are trying to resuscitate your ceramics projects or just salvaging the pieces, you can use the Gorilla Clear glue for it. This glue dries crystal clear and more importantly, can be painted over. This means if you have gaps on your pottery, the Gorilla glue can be used for filling in the spaces. Once dry, you can paint over it to blend with the rest of your piece.
This Gorilla Glue is part of the Construction adhesive line, which offers the strongest bonds among other Gorilla products. It is 100% waterproof, it can even be used underwater. And since this glue is also weatherproof, it’s a good option for repairing pottery that you plan on using or displaying outdoors.
Pottery Repair Tips
Making pottery is challenging enough as it is, you’ll know that repairing pottery is just as tedious if not more. Aside from getting the best glue for pottery repair, here are some other tips to help you out:
Prep tools before starting
Before you start piecing your broken project together, make sure you have everything within arms reach. You wouldn’t want quick-drying glue already on your work and then suddenly realizing you don’t have a brush or a pin to spread the adhesive evenly.
Use a stable base or platform
The complexity of the repair will depend on your project and the actual damage. With pottery, it’s not always an item that can lay flat. You will need something to keep your project stable as you glue it. This can be another pair of hands, rice or sand you can sink the pottery into, or a clamp (as long as your work isn’t fragile).
Remember that a platform or base is essential during the drying period. So, don’t rely on your own two hands alone. You’ll definitely get tired.
Follow instructions
Not all adhesives are built the same. Make sure to read the guide or instructions on the bottle, tube, or box of the glue you get. Follow the specific instructions indicated, especially on how to handle the glue and the drying time. Make sure you have protection, like gloves, even if the glue indicates that it is non-toxic.
Curing takes time
Even if the ceramic glue you get says that it will dry in less than a minute, you have to let it cure. This means, don’t use your pottery project just yet. You have to wait a day or more before you can start using it or displaying it.
Know when to let go
Sometimes a super glue for ceramic is not the solution. There are pottery projects that you just have to accept when to let go. If you keep trying to piece it together, it might cause even more damage, or you might even end up hurting yourself. What you can do is to turn it into an imperfect (yet artsy) version of itself. Fill in spaces and gaps with glue and sprinkle glitter on it, maybe?
Make other forms of art out of it
Don’t worry though as you can always think up some other projects where you can use the fragments of your broken pottery. Think a broken plate into a mosaic tile (glue will be handy for this too).
Are you ready to kick up your pottery art a notch? If you are done making your ceramics then you can start decorating them! Check out acrylic paintbrushes that you can use.