Breaking and destroying ceramic items would always happen from time to time. Sometimes, it would be frustrating, especially if you broke your favorite ceramic or the most expensive one you have. However, repairing your broken ceramic would be a piece of cake with the help of the best glues for ceramics on the market.
Do not feel hopeless after dropping your ceramic item as long as you have all the broken pieces and find the best ceramic glue. Having high-quality ceramic glue would help you fix your small and big ceramic problems. Ceramic glues could fix small chips from your ceramic or even large broken ceramic items. Aside from that, these glues can also fix ceramic countertops and even tiles made of ceramic.
The best glues for ceramic are actually considered great all-around adhesives. Glues like these are strong, durable, quick-drying, and have a great finish. It would help if you have a specialty glue for ceramics, but glues like epoxies and super glues would also work well.
When purchasing ceramic glue, you’ll have to consider many things, especially the type of ceramic you need to fix. You also need to check its consistency and ensure that it has a perfect consistency that could stay put on your ceramic and, at the same time, is easy to apply.
GUIDE TO BUYING CERAMIC ADHESIVES
There are different types of ceramics, and they could also crack differently. This is why it is essential first to know your item and analyze the break before choosing what would be the best ceramic glue to use.
Ceramic glues have different chemical compositions, meaning they will also have varying results when applied to ceramic. One ceramic glue may be suited for one type of ceramic and situation than the other. This is why it is important to pick the right glue for building broken ceramic pieces to avoid further damaging your ceramic.
Here are some of the best glues for ceramic and their characteristics.
Super Glues
Cyanoacrylate glue, commonly known as super glue, is a strong ceramic glue that sets and cures quickly and easily. Many super glues come in different consistencies and viscosities, but most have a thin consistency and are less viscous than other adhesives like epoxy. Because of this, super glue is perfect for small ceramic repairs, like gluing ceramic edges or filling in small cracks on the ceramic.
One downside of super glue is that it dries up very quickly, which is why it’s not open to mistakes. Once they dried up, your actions might already be limited, and you cannot move or modify the ceramic easily.
Aside from that, because super glues easily dry up, they have a shorter shelf life. However, other super glues have longer shelf life than others, so make sure to choose one with a longer life span if you want to use the super glue for a long time. Aside from that, you must also practice closing the lid very tightly and storing your glue in cold temperatures to prevent them from drying up faster.
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Epoxy Glue
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Epoxy glue is divided into two parts – epoxy resin and epoxy hardener. These two parts are mixed to create a strong adhesive. Mixing the resin and hardener also allows epoxy glue to have a longer shelf life than super glues.
Unlike super glues, epoxy glues take longer to set and cure. However, this would be very helpful if you want to make some adjustments and modifications to the broken ceramic pieces you’re gluing together.
Epoxy glues also have thicker consistencies and are more viscous than super glues, which is why they look like thick pastes. Because of this, epoxy glue would be helpful if you want to fill a huge gap in your broken ceramic. The epoxy glue could serve as a ceramic filler for the missing pieces on the ceramic object you are repairing.
Waterproof Polyurethane Glue
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When dealing with broken ceramic vases and other ceramic items constantly exposed to water, it is important to get waterproof glue. The waterproof polyurethane glue is ideal for these ceramic items as it doesn’t break down when constantly exposed or submerged in water.
This polyurethane glue is water-activated and expands three sizes larger in the broken ceramic item to form a durable and tight bond that could last a very long time. This glue may also be used for different materials, such as concrete, foam, glass, metal, stone, and wood, making it a perfect alternative when you run out of model glue.
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING CERAMIC GLUE
Drying Time and Opacity
All glues have different drying times depending on their chemical composition. The fastest glue to set and cure is super glue. It would take less than a minute for super glues to set and only several hours to cure completely. This means you are allowed only a very limited adjustment time. For fast-drying glues like this, make sure to dry-fit the pieces before gluing to ensure that you attach the pieces properly. Epoxies, on the other hand, would take approximately thirty seconds to five minutes to set and about ten minutes to several hours to fully cure.
For drying opacity, most ceramic glues would have a clear finish, so it wouldn’t be evident that there’s glue on the ceramic. However, some adhesives may change colors as soon as they dry – they tend to have a yellowish finish. So when you want to use ceramic glue as fillers, ensure that their finish is the same colors as the ceramic object you are repairing.
Food Safety
When repairing ceramic items, such as plates and cups used for food, ensure you get a “food-safe” glue. Ceramic adhesives have a strong hold because of their chemical properties, which are not entirely safe to consume.
Super glues consist of cyanoacrylate, a chemical not for consumption as it could cause stomachache and skin irritation. When you repair ceramic objects used for food, look for an FDA-approved glue. If the glue has a certification from the FDA, it is food-safe.
Waterproof and Temperature Resistant
Some ceramic glues may be water-resistant but not waterproof, and some may be neither. Water-resistant but not waterproof ceramic adhesives mean they can be exposed to moisture, mildew, and other types of liquid from time to time, but they cannot be submerged in water as they could lose their bond. One example of a water-resistant ceramic glue is super glue. However, if your ceramic item is constantly exposed to liquid, it is safer to get waterproof ceramic glue, such as epoxy.
You should also get a temperature-resistant adhesive for your outdoor ceramic items. Temperature-resistant glues would help, especially if your item is constantly exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures. A temperature-resistant glue would ensure that the glue will stay for a long time and hold the broken ceramic pieces together even with varying temperatures.