What Glue Sticks to Ceramic?

General Glues

• General crafting glue will not hold ceramic together very well. The glue dries too quickly, leaving behind a weak and unstable bond where you need a firm hold. For this reason, you must use a slow-drying adhesive, such as Super Glue or Crazy Glue. Another good option is epoxy glue, which generally comes in two parts. When you mix the two parts together, you get a slow-drying, clear and strong adhesive that will bond nearly any surface to another very strongly.

Ceramic Glues

• Some manufacturers also produce ceramic-specific glues, designed to bond together broken and shattered pieces. These glues are available from crafting supply stores and hardware retailers. When dealing with these glues, follow all of your manufacturer's specific warnings and instructions. Many of these may resemble rubber cement or even mortar, but will definitely hold the ceramic together as long as you apply them properly.

Preparation and Application

• Wash the ceramic surface first in a solvent cleaner like mineral spirits to make sure you remove all dirt and dust. Any contaminants on the surface will interfere with the bonding of the glue. Rinse with clean water, since solvents dissolve adhesive. Spread the adhesive onto one side of the joint and let it dry for a few minutes until it gets tacky, or sticky. Each manufacturer will provide different instructions regarding tacky time. Once it's tacky, press the other piece firmly into place and bind the two pieces together with tape or clay to apply constant pressure while the glue dries.

Safety

• Wear protective gloves for this project. Shattered ceramic will have sharp edges that can easily cut into the skin. Also, strong glues, especially epoxies, bond indiscriminately, which means you can just as easily glue your fingers together as you can repair your ceramic pieces. The gloves will help protect your skin from damage or from the embarrassing stuck-together situation.