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Terracotta pots are an asset to many home gardens, just non when they're cracked and broken. Earlier you pick up a new pot from your local gardening store, cheque around your dwelling house for a few uncomplicated repair supplies. Within a twenty-four hour period or so, you might get your favorite terracotta pots back in working order once more!

  1. one

    Movement your pot to a well-ventilated surface area. Epoxy fumes are no joke, and are no fun to exhale in. Find an open, well-ventilated space where you tin repair your pot so yous don't take to inhale any nasty chemicals.[1]

    • A room with several open up windows can work, or you can repair it outside.

  2. 2

    Wipe down the broken shards with a fabric to remove any dirt. Grab a make clean material and brush off any obvious dirt or grime from your terracotta pot so the pieces fit together snugly. It'due south okay if your pieces are still a niggling dusty subsequently—you'll probably be filling your pots with soil, anyhow.[two]

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  3. 3

    Stir equal parts of epoxy and hardener together. Pour a blueberry-sized corporeality of both epoxy resin and hardener on a paper plate or dish. Grab a toothpick and mix them both together before you start reconstructing your pot.[iii]

    • Check the instructions on your epoxy packages beforehand. Some glues might come pre-mixed, then you don't have to worry about stirring them together.
    • Silicone caulk is also a proficient option for repairing a cleaved terracotta pot. You tin can besides buy caulk in a colour that best matches your pot![4]

  4. iv

    Mix colored clay powder into the epoxy mixture and so it matches your pot. Scoop a small spoonful of powdered dirt and mix it in with the epoxy. This helps the epoxy blend in well with your terracotta pot, creating a more than seamless finish.[5]

    • You can find powdered clay online, or at your local ceramics or arts and crafts store.

  5. 5

    Spread the epoxy over the cracked edge with a toothpick. Dip a clean toothpick into the epoxy mixture and spread information technology along the base department of the crack. Keep dipping and spreading the epoxy in a sparse layer along the fissure, so your broken shards take no problem sticking together.[6]

    • You only need to spread epoxy on the bottom portion of your pot.
    • Don't worry if you use too much epoxy—you can always wipe off the excess with an acetone-soaked towel or cloth.[vii]

  6. vi

    Press the cleaved piece into the mucilage and hold it for several seconds. Grab the broken department and center it exactly over the epoxy, every bit though you're putting together a puzzle. Concur the shard in identify for several seconds with your fingers, or secure information technology in place with a metallic clamp.[8]

  7. 7

    Allow the epoxy dry out overnight so information technology can cure completely. Double-bank check the instructions on your epoxy bottle to come across how much fourth dimension information technology needs to dry out and cure. Some products demand at least 1 nighttime to cure completely.[9]

    • Don't use your pot until the epoxy is completely stale and cured.

  8. 8

    Sand down the surface with fine sandpaper to make information technology polish and flat. Catch a canvas of super fine-dust sandpaper and rub along the glued seam of your pot. Work away any imperfections or inconsistencies, and then your pot feels smoothen and seamless. At this point, you lot'll be ready to use your pot over again![10]

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  1. one

    Dust off the pieces of your pot with a clean cloth. Go over the sides and edges of your terracotta pot with a rag, cleaning away any leftover dust and grime. Sometimes, clay gets stuck in the broken cracks and makes the pot more tricky to repair.[11]

  2. two

    Fit the broken piece of terracotta into the correct spot. Adjust the broken shard carefully, lining up the broken edges exactly with the lesser of the pot. Check that the slice is steady before removing your hand.[12]

    • Depending on the intermission, you may need to agree the cleaved shard in place.

  3. 3

    Pencil in dotted marks on both sides of the terracotta crack. Mark each dot about one⁄4 to 1⁄2  in (0.64 to 1.27 cm) away from the broken seam. Space out these dots about 1 in (ii.v cm) or so apart, similar you're sketching out a row of eyelets on a pair of shoes.[13]

    • Essentially, you'll exist threading the wire through these marks to "sew" the pot back together.

  4. 4

    Drill into the pencil marks with a 1⁄8  in (0.32 cm) masonry drill bit. Install a thin masonry fleck in your drill and drill into each dot. Ready your drill to a high setting, and then you don't take any difficulty getting through the terracotta.[14]

    • Don't use a standard drill fleck for this—you don't want to damage your equipment or pot.

  5. 5

    Cut a length of copper wire into several 3 in (7.6 cm) pieces. Lay out a section of copper wire, measuring and marking every 3 in (seven.6 cm). Snip off these short sections of wire with a pair of wire cutters, and set the pieces aside.[15]

    • This wire volition exist the "thread" that sews your pot back together.

  6. half-dozen

    String the wire through two holes above and below the crack. Slide 1 end of the wire through the acme hole, and the other end into the bottom hole. Proceed the wire fifty-fifty while you thread it, then even pieces of wire are going through the pot. Repeat this process with each fix of drilled holes along the broken seam.[16]

  7. 7

    Twist the wires together forth the inside of the pot. Grab a pair of pliers and twist the wires together into a coil. Do your best to make this as tight as possible, so the pot stays together.[17]

  8. 8

    Button the twisted wires against the inner edge of the pot. Press along the coiled wires until they're snug against the inner wall of your terra cotta pot. This way, your pot is much more than probable to stay together![18]

    • Once you've twisted and pushed in all your wires, yous tin can use your pot again.

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  • If your terracotta pot is shattered into many pieces, information technology might be worth getting a new pot.

  • Some people find that gorilla glue works well for repairing pots. You can apply this just similar the epoxy.[19]

  • If your terracotta pot is only cracked, you can fill in the cracks with several layers of joint compound. So, y'all tin sand over the dried chemical compound and spray waterproof sealant on top.[20]

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  • Always wear rubber goggles when you apply power tools.[21]

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Things You'll Need

  • Epoxy (resin and hardener) or silicon caulk
  • Cloth
  • Toothpick
  • Powdered clay
  • Fine-grit sandpaper
  • Clean textile
  • Pencil
  • Electrical drill
  • Masonry drill bit
  • Copper wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Pliers

References

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