Fixing and Joining Cracks

February 2002

Leather hard stage, base cracked: Keep the piece wrapped and leatherhard and throw another base. When roughly the same dryness consistency, join by scratching and slipping. Dry very slowly.

Handles cracking: Catch the pot at the right time and have handles at the same dryness. You can leave pulled handles draped over a form, for example a roll of newspaper, until they are same dryness. Fix in place and dry slowly.

Joining and mending dry clay: Paper clay is marvellous. It can even fix a dry handle to a dry cup.

Courtesy COLLECTED WISDOM | 50 years of handy hints from the Ceramic Study Group, Australia