Repair a Ceramic Umbrella Stand?

[Bronco638]

As everyone was leaving our New Year's Party, my wife's umbrella stand was knocked over and it broke into several large pieces (6 or 7). The stand is nothing special yet it belonged to her mother (who passed away almost a year ago). So, it has sentimental value and I would like to repair it for her.

As I mentioned, it's in several large pieces which are easily reassembled (there are no chips or thumbnail sized bits). The inside of the stand does not have any glaze on it. Is there some type of adhesive I can use or, given the lack glaze on the inside, can I use fiberglass to hold it together?

Any thoughts/suggestions/ideas are much appreciated.

TIA, Dave.

[rapidoxidationman]

Locktite makes a pretty good superglue, but I wouldn't put an umbrella in it after that.

[P B G]

Try zap-a-gap adhesives.

It is a super glue, but it is good at filling gaps/bridging imperfections, which is great because your ceramic surface probably will have some.

Try to preassemble/trial fit so that you will know there won't be problems getting things to align.

[ragtoplvr]

A professional restorer can usually do a pretty good job for a few hundred.

Call a local museum for recommendations.

Super glue works well on ceramic. The thing to remember is you have one shot to get it right, and you can not fix it later. If it is pretty porus then they make some thickened or toughed ones that are better.

Rod

[slackmeyer]

two part epoxy works well. If you use a superglue, you'll need to use a thick one, like zap-a-gap, but I recommend a 5 minute epoxy, and clean off the excess with a razor blade before it's totally hardened. I have a couple handmade ceramic plates that have been repaired this way, and get daily use, it's worked fine for the last 8 years.

[OldPete]

LocTite 454 once again as it will fill gaps up to .010".

It is a gel and if used in the cool of the evening offers plenty of work time.

Look up the specs. I used it to repair fiberglass faring breaks. Shit's good.

[bomber60015]

I've had good luck with a similar repair with Duco Contact Cement.

[Stan_R80/7]

Sodium silicate may work. It is a clear liquid composed of quartz dissolved in sodium hydroxide and used as a high temperature adhesive for ceramics (among many other things). See if it would meet your needs - a fixture would be needed to hold the parts together while it dries.

Here is a art hobby shop link describing the product: http://www.dickblick.com/products/artmolds-liquid-sodium-silicate/
Amazon also sells sodium silicate liquid. Wear gloves, apply only a very small amount, don't drink it, etc.

Edit: Here is a link which is more appropriate: http://www.pottery-magic.com/pottery...repair_pot.htm

Good Luck!

[Flashmo]

Slow setting 2 part epoxy, thin (adding thickeners) or non-flowing if you can get it. You want a long working time so that you can assemble it without worrying about time (8 hour cure would be fine).

Before mixing the epoxy, do a full assembly and plan out all your clamping methods for each area. Masking tape, rubberbands and other small clamping methods will hold it in place as everything sets up.

Use denatured alcohol to clean up any errant epoxy.

[Bronco638]

Thanks everyone. It looks like I have some research to do and test some (re)assembly methods. I appreciate the responses.

[HapHazard]

I've used both CA (super glues) and 2 part epoxies for ceramics repairs, and the slow setting epoxy is the easier to work with and gives the best result.

[boxermoose]

china weld

http://lepageproducts.com/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=129