Mending Cracks

We are fortunate to have received a very useful book titled “Collected Wisdom – 50 years of handy hints” from the Ceramic Study Group, Australia supplied to us by Clare H. from her recent trip to Gulgong. It is a collection of tips and techniques gathered and published in their newsletters since the 1960’s. Each month we will delve into this vast archive of information regarding all things ceramics and bring to you snippets of their collected wisdom.

JUNE 1974 newsletter – Mending Cracks

Leatherhard: If the clay is still leather hard, a crack can often be mended by gentle pressure from a modelling tool. If the ware is dry, make a slurry from dry clay (same clay as the pot) and vinegar and press it well into the crack and then smooth off.

Bisqueware: A fine hair crack can often be filled by filling it by rubbing it with another piece of bisqueware made from the same clay, pushing the fine grog thus produced well into the crack with finger. If the crack is wide fill it with a paste made from fine grog and a little bit of glaze which you are going to use on the pot.

Reglazing: Sometimes it is difficult to get a second coat of glaze to adhere to an unsatisfactory glazed pot. Lokrete or Bondcrete (a cement sealing compound sold in hardware stores) mixed 50/50 with water, painted over the pot and allowed to dry, gives a very satisfactory "key" which makes reglazing much easier. This process is made quicker still if the pot is first warmed in the oven or on top of a kiln. The glue burns out in the firing and makes no difference to the glaze.

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