Terra Cotta Pot Repair

 by woomyse
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My Wife and Mother in-law went shopping and came back with a largish palm type of plant. We had a large terra cotta pot to put it in but it had been broken by freeze/thaw last winter...

Cheapness is the mother of all invention, so I decided to fix the pot...

Please note, if you hurt or injure yourself, others or cause damage to your property or any one else's property, I accept no responsibility in any way shape or form, now or in the future, even if the concept, concepts, dangers, unintended and intended consequences or anything else you see here or as a result of seeing this instrucable.

If you don't have common sense or have hands like frozen hams, then go watch TV
 
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Step 1: Check the Fit...

I didn't invent anything for this instructable, but it's a good idea to fit the pieces together for two reasons; to check if it is actually worth while fixing the pot. Secondly you get an idea how to put the pieces together, once you've applied glue. I found that when I had the glue on and put the parts together, I had to fidget them a bit but the crack still showed. Nothing is perfect. These pots always seem to crack from the bottom, where the drain hole is and where the water would collect in the winter freeze and thaw process.

In this picture, at about ten o'clock, you can see one side of the crack. The other is pointing to about the two o'clock position.

Important point: I used scrap bits of wood to prevent the pot from rolling off the table.
AubreeMarie says: Aug 7, 2008. 6:33 AM
Ah, yes, finally! But also, neverunderestimate the benefit of broken terra cotta chips for use of drainage crockery in the bottom of other pots
I can't bring myself to break them so I sometimes hope a little they will break in these tought new england winters, but now I can fix the ones I love!
tjk1939 in reply to AubreeMarieJul 25, 2010. 7:09 AM
coffee filters work fine
woomyse (author) in reply to AubreeMarieAug 24, 2008. 8:12 PM
Thank-you AubreeMarie. My mother would use smaller chips for drainage also. Thanks for dropping by...
northconnor says: Jan 16, 2010. 5:22 PM
Will JB Weld work too?
woomyse (author) in reply to northconnorApr 24, 2010. 2:28 PM
 I'm sure it would, it's an epoxy too...
Solderguy says: Sep 13, 2008. 7:20 PM
I recommend using a clamp or something like that to keep the pot pieces together when the glue expands and to prevent warping.
SMU79 says: Jul 28, 2008. 12:25 PM
From one tight wad to another--THANKS, I have several pots I'll repair with your advice. I'm glad you mentioned using the gel glue.
woomyse (author) in reply to SMU79Jul 28, 2008. 6:48 PM
Thanks SMU79, my pleasure.
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