<p>By epoxy I presume you mean Araldite etc. Do not use this, it has too much bulk and you will never get a good fit. Use superglue to stick it together to begin with, and then you can fill the gaps with a suitable filler. I have used Polyfiller, which then gets sanded, painted and varnished.</p>

<p>I have tried and failed too many times to re-repair items done with epoxy. It takes too long to set, giving plenty of time for the pieces to slip, as you have found out. You cannot then remove the glue for a second chance.</p>

<p>Superglue will give an almost invisible mend (depending on condition of break) and also sets quickly enough to hold together with the fingers (carefully!). This, combined with filler for any missing splinters, will give a repair plenty good enough for display and probably for restricted use.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T15:51:58.430Z
This is a good combination of practical experience with why epoxy would perform poorly, and making an alternative proposal. Thanks for the Answer!
Erica
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-19T10:45:55.690Z
CA glues are, at best, water resistant. Most won't survive more than a splash of water. That has implications for dishes and the like.
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-11T16:19:29.383Z
2017-04-12T15:51:41.187Z
2017-04-12T15:51:41.187Z
Chris
<blockquote>
<p>epoxy seems like a reasonable choice</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Epoxies are really versatile and can give very strong results. It would have been the first thing I considered as well.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>since there are some gaps of around 1mm width</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Likely not an issue but most glues need perfectly mated surfaces for good adhesion. There are expanding glues, like Gorrila Glue, but most? epoxies are not meant to fill gaps. As long as there are sufficiently mated surface area this would be a non issue. If you do end up gluing it, think ahead of how the project will be sitting as it dries. Epoxies and take several hours to cure. If something shifts during that time you might be stuck with it (Ha, I made a pun)</p>
<p>I am glad to see you already took some precautionary thought when it came to temperature and toxicity. I would have asked other wise if you had concerns about food safety. Some epoxies are food safe once cured and most have varying temperature tolerances. Read your product documentation carefully.</p>
<p>I used a cheap 2-part epoxy to repair the handle on my pottery mug that broke in 4 places after I accidentally threw it of my work desk.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/5IWEn.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/5IWEn.png" alt="My renaissance fair mug " /></a></p>
<p>Part of the handle shifted while curing, as I can see a crack (not very visible on the right hand side of the photo) that should not be there, but it has held strong for over a year now. The &quot;crack&quot; you see in front is a void because I could not find the chip the came from there.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-04-09T20:34:33.280Z
2021-04-19T13:07:52.600Z
2021-04-19T13:07:52.600Z
Matt
<p>I need to repair a cracked pottery bowl - an epoxy seems like a reasonable choice since there are some gaps of around 1mm width. The material seems fairly porous, and is maybe 3-4mm thick.</p>

<p>Obviously this is only going to be good for display, so I don't need to worry about temperature resistance or toxicity too much.</p>

<p>Is epoxy the best choice here, or am I missing something else?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-09T20:22:49.967Z
Best _can_ have negative connotations and attract opinions. I removed it 
 from the title in place of words you used in the question. Roll back if you prefer.
Matt
<adhesives><epoxy-resin><pottery>
Is epoxy a reasonable adhesive choice for repairing pottery?
Sean Houlihane
# Is epoxy a reasonable adhesive choice for repairing pottery?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-09)

I need to repair a cracked pottery bowl - an epoxy seems like a reasonable choice since there are some gaps of around 1mm width. The material seems fairly porous, and is maybe 3-4mm thick.

Obviously this is only going to be good for display, so I don't need to worry about temperature resistance or toxicity too much.

Is epoxy the best choice here, or am I missing something else?

**Tags:** adhesives, epoxy-resin, pottery

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Best _can_ have negative connotations and attract opinions. I removed it   from the title in place of words you used in the question. Roll back if you prefer.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-04-09. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

> epoxy seems like a reasonable choice

Epoxies are really versatile and can give very strong results. It would have been the first thing I considered as well.

> since there are some gaps of around 1mm width

Likely not an issue but most glues need perfectly mated surfaces for good adhesion. There are expanding glues, like Gorrila Glue, but most? epoxies are not meant to fill gaps. As long as there are sufficiently mated surface area this would be a non issue. If you do end up gluing it, think ahead of how the project will be sitting as it dries. Epoxies and take several hours to cure. If something shifts during that time you might be stuck with it (Ha, I made a pun)

I am glad to see you already took some precautionary thought when it came to temperature and toxicity. I would have asked other wise if you had concerns about food safety. Some epoxies are food safe once cured and most have varying temperature tolerances. Read your product documentation carefully.

I used a cheap 2-part epoxy to repair the handle on my pottery mug that broke in 4 places after I accidentally threw it of my work desk.

[![My renaissance fair mug ](https://i.sstatic.net/5IWEn.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/5IWEn.png)

Part of the handle shifted while curing, as I can see a crack (not very visible on the right hand side of the photo) that should not be there, but it has held strong for over a year now. The "crack" you see in front is a void because I could not find the chip the came from there.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-04-11. Score: 3

By epoxy I presume you mean Araldite etc. Do not use this, it has too much bulk and you will never get a good fit. Use superglue to stick it together to begin with, and then you can fill the gaps with a suitable filler. I have used Polyfiller, which then gets sanded, painted and varnished.

I have tried and failed too many times to re-repair items done with epoxy. It takes too long to set, giving plenty of time for the pieces to slip, as you have found out. You cannot then remove the glue for a second chance.

Superglue will give an almost invisible mend (depending on condition of break) and also sets quickly enough to hold together with the fingers (carefully!). This, combined with filler for any missing splinters, will give a repair plenty good enough for display and probably for restricted use.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This is a good combination of practical experience with why epoxy would perform poorly, and making an alternative proposal. Thanks for the Answer!  
> **username_1**: CA glues are, at best, water resistant. Most won't survive more than a splash of water. That has implications for dishes and the like.  

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