When you break a ceramic vase or plate, it does not need to go into the trash — you can often glue the pieces back together seamlessly. You require waterproof adhesive, and even though carpenter’s glue is the easiest to manage, the strongest and most secure glue for ceramic is two-part epoxy.
Getting Ready
You only have once chance to repair a ceramic adhesive joint, since if you make a mistake, then the dried adhesive prevents the joint from matching exactly together. Because of this, you need to plan that portions to glue first. It is ideal to glue big pieces with them, allow them to dry, then add the smaller ones. Be cautious not to make holes into which you’ve got to match a bit — these are rather tough to control. Lay out the pieces methodically so that you know which goes where.
Gluing Procedure
Mix the adhesive with the hardener on a bit of paper and spread it about one of the surfaces which forms a joint, using a toothpick. Do not be worried about glue that oozes out, since you can scrape that away with a knife once it sets. Join the pieces and hold them together for a few minutes until the adhesive is stiff enough to prevent the pieces from separating; then place them on the table, supporting them as essential. Do not tape the pieces — tape makes a mess, and it does not work. Continue with the repair after the adhesive has fully hardened.