What Is The Best Glue For Repairing Ceramics

Breaking your favorite mug, plate, or ornament can be a disaster, but all is not lost due to ceramic glue. Putting a treasured ceramic piece back together isn’t as tough as you might imagine and having good ceramic glue in your toolkit will ensure that you can save a broken ceramic product.

Ceramic glue can repair ceramic floor and countertop tiles in addition to fixing broken ceramic products. In this post, we’ll look at the various applications for ceramic glue and how to use it, and what to look for when buying it to guarantee you get the best ceramic glue for your purposes.

There is a plethora of solutions available to you for repairing broken ceramic. So, before you throw away that broken ornament or mug, think about all the ceramic glues that can help you repair and restore your products to their original state.

You need products with waterproof formulae and non-toxic components when searching for the best glue for ceramics besides how strong they are. (Learn How To Remove Nail Glue From Skin)

In our guide, you can learn more about purchasing the best glue for ceramic repairs, be it one part or two, such as a resin and hardener.

By the end, you know more about which glue to use in any situation and whether to reach for the epoxy or super glue.

What is the Strongest Glue for Ceramic?

Before you look at the best glue for ceramics, you should keep a few specifics in mind when doing your task. The adhesive’s ability to repair your ceramic piece depends on various factors, including drying time, food safety, and the type of applicator used.

Here’s a rundown of what to look for when choosing glue for your ceramic repairs.

Glue Type

There are many glue types available for ceramic repair, but the two most common ones you’ll find are epoxy and super glue.

To establish a strong bond, super glue uses cyanoacrylate, which is derived from cyanide. This type of glue is more than simply ordinary glue; it dries faster than epoxy and doesn’t require mixing. It’s thin for lightweight ceramics and forming bindings in great spaces, such as reattaching a broken piece.

Two-part epoxy glues contain a hardener and a resin. When combined, they provide a strong bond, which is ideal for broken pieces on ceramics.

Two-part epoxy glues take a bit more effort, yet they are excellent adhesives for filling shallow fractures and chips. Epoxy is more durable, making it a superior option to repair broken items. Yet, two considerations are the materials they adhere to and if you need a slow-setting epoxy or a fast-setting epoxy.

Drying Time

Epoxies, overall, take longer to dry than super glue, but they also offer a stronger bond for your broken pieces. Every adhesive, regardless of type, has a drying time, which is usually printed on the label. If you’re trying to fix something quick, then this can be a vital consideration. However, if you need to position multiple broken pieces and there is a slight gap filling, most individuals can wait a few hours for repairs to dry completely.

Another thing to look for is drying opacity since many types of glue dry clear, yet many are used in repair jobs, and the 2-part epoxy is colored. If you use your glue as a filler, select a dry color like the ceramic you’re filling.

Food Safety

Another consideration when selecting ceramic glue is if you can use them around food. Some chemicals used to make these adhesives so strong are chemicals you shouldn’t use around food or the kitchen.

Check for an FDA approval stamp. For objects that will not come into contact with food, and FDA food-safe stamp is not required.

Waterproofing

You’ll want to use waterproof glue if your ceramic item is routinely exposed to water, moisture, or liquid. Waterproof epoxies are more common, while water-resistant, super glues (cyanoacrylate) are more common. Regular washing should be fine for water-resistant glue, and fortunately, most ceramic adhesives and glues on the market today are water-resistant or waterproof. (Learn How To Get Super Glue Off Glass)

Before you buy the glue, check the label to determine if it’s water-resistant or waterproof. Your ceramic piece will fall apart at the first sign of water if you don’t use a waterproof adhesive.

Accessories

Like any crafts product, Ceramic glues come with a variety of accessories that can be handy for repairs. Typically, they help apply the glue, which is vital if you are using quick-drying super glue.

Some adhesives come with various caps, syringe tubes for accurate mixing of 2 part epoxy, or nozzles to help apply the glue or stop it drying after use (Shelf life is short when exposed to the air). Most often, glues come with a nozzle, brush, or syringe applicator.

J-B Weld is ideal for a wide variety of household repairs, including chipped ceramics such as flooring tiles or kitchen plates.

Gorilla Super Glue is the best of the best for glue. These super glues are a great choice for ceramic repairs because it contains special rubber particles that boost bond strength and impact resistance. Besides ceramics, you can use this on many other materials, including plastic, metal, stone, fabric, and rubber.

Is Gorilla Glue Good for Ceramics?

White Gorilla Glue has the same severe strength as Original Gorilla Glue, but it dries white and dries faster. White Gorilla Glue is a waterproof glue that can be used indoors and outdoors and is strong enough to withstand the elements. Foam, wood, metal, ceramic, stone, and many other materials easily adhere to white glue. (Learn How To Get Gorilla Glue Off Fingers)

What Can I Use to Fix Broken Ceramics?

You can use super glues if you are doing any ceramic repair, yet the best glue for ceramic is a resin and hardener.
Note: most epoxies may not be food-safe.

Here are the steps you’ll go through to fix ceramic items.

Step 1: What You Need for Pottery Mending

• Two-part clear epoxy
• Wooden stick or something for applying adhesive
• A container with PVC pebbles, rice, or sand for the pieces to sit-in
• Clay
• Razorblade
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Cardboard to mix your Epoxy on

Step 2: Preparation for Fixing Ceramic Items

• Clean the broken pieces with Alcohol
• Use your box of pebbles or sand to hold the pieces in position. Test the correct matching of broken pieces.
• Place the largest broken piece in the tub so gravity can hold the smaller section after you glue it in position.

Step 3: Apply Your 2-part Epoxy to Your Broken Pottery

• Place equal amounts of clear epoxy on your cardboard, or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Mix the epoxy using your stick.
• Apply the epoxy mix to one side using your stick or similar.

Step 4: Place Broken Ceramic Pieces

• Align the pieces and squeeze them together. Epoxy will seep from the gap. Don’t be tempted to wipe as you’ll smear it.
• Wait for 20 minutes at least before proceeding with any further pieces. You may need to use your clay if you have multiple pieces you need to fix in position.

Step 5: Remove Excess Epoxy Adhesive

• Let the epoxy cure for 60 minutes after your last piece before using the razor blade to remove excess epoxy.
• Clean surfaces with alcohol for proper filler bonding

What Kind of Glue Should You Use to Fix a Broken Ceramic Mug?

When you want to repair a treasured mug, you’ll want the pieces back together, so you can’t tell. It’s hard to tell which adhesive to use, and you can use superglues and epoxies, yet if you want to use the mug again, the epoxies formula offers the best strength on porous surfaces and is long-lasting once you glue pieces together.

The same can be said for many other household items, such as china, porcelain, and pottery. Unless you have colored epoxies, this sticks better to the surfaces and mending your treasured china, porcelain, and household pottery give you a better sense of satisfaction now they have an extended shelf life. (Learn How To Remove Hot Glue From Fabric)

Here are the steps for mending your mug.

Step 1: Gather the mug bits

Assemble all the broken ceramic coffee mug pieces. Set aside the prices. Empty hands should not be used to pick up sharp pieces. To pick up the broken pieces, wear gloves.

Step 2: Set your broken mug

Place the main body of the ceramic coffee mug in a pail of sand, with the repairable part facing up. This keeps the ceramic mug secure while allowing you to use both hands to work.

Step 3: Clean dust from the mugs broken pieces

Brush debris or dust off the broken edges with a paintbrush.

Step 4: Mix your epoxy formula

Mix a small amount of epoxy with the same amount of hardener to make a solution. A hardener is included with epoxy. Some epoxy and hardener products come with a dual syringe applicator that disperses both materials. On a piece of cardboard, dispense the epoxy and hardener and thoroughly mix with a stick.

Step 5: Apply epoxy on the main broken body

Apply the epoxy mixture to the edges of the break of the main body of the mug by using a toothpick.

Step 6: Repair the mug

Set the broken piece on the main body of the ceramic mug and hold it for at least 30 to 40 seconds. Clean the repair surface of the mug with a soft cloth.

Step 7: Let the epoxy mix dry

Place a plain surface and set the mug on it. Allow at least 15 minutes for the epoxy to set completely on the fixed mug. After that, wipe the mug by removing the masking tape. Your broken mug has been fixed, and you can use it as usual.