Repairing broken antiques doesn’t necessarily mean you have to shell out a few thousand dollars. The following DIY techniques will show you how to make simple yet effective repairs.
Fixing Opaque Antique Vases
Required Tools and Materials
Crayons
Matches
Old newspapers
Butter knife
Polishing cloth
Step 1
Purchase crayons that have a similar color as your vase. Today’s crayons come in all shades and hues, so finding one that matches your vase should be easy.
Step 2
Set the vase atop some old newspapers. Take off the paper from the crayon. Position the crayon near the vase crack.
Step 3
Light the match to melt the crayon. When repairing broken antiques, you need to keep melting the wax until it fills the crack.
Step 4
When the crack is filled, let it dry. Remove any excessive wax with a knife. Finish it off with the polishing cloth. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Warnings
Take care when using the matches. This method is only for opaque antiques; it is not applicable to crystalline materials.
Fixing Antique Porcelain
If you have some porcelain antiques that have cracked, use the following techniques to repair them.
Required Tools and Materials
Small brush
Dry rice
Ice pop stick
Porcelain enamel kit
Epoxy glue
Box
Cotton swab
Tack cloth
Step 1
Before you begin repairing broken antiques like porcelain, make sure it is dry. If necessary, dry it with the tack cloth.
Step 2
Mix the epoxy glue as indicated in the package.
Step 3
To fix chipped porcelain dip the cotton swab in the epoxy. Apply this on the chipped part. Carefully align this chipped piece on the damaged edge. Hold the chipped piece in place for about a minute.
Step 4
If there are cracks in the porcelain, you need to use porcelain enamel. Dip a small brush in the enamel. Put this on the crack and fill it. Use the ice pop stick to level the area.
The next step for repairing broken antiques like porcelain is to let it dry for 24 hours. Add a few more enamel coats to even the surface. Give each coating time to dry.
Mending Broken Porcelain
If the porcelain has splintered into two parts, you need to prepare a box filled with dry rice or beans. Put epoxy in it. Put the broken pieces there and let it dry.
Tips and Warnings
Don’t let your fingers get mired in the epoxy. If the porcelain or vase has been damaged too severely, you should contact a professional to fix them. Also keep in mind that these repairs may affect its value if you’re going to sell it. You might want to inform the buyer of its condition before they find out first.
The methods described above should not be tried on antique silverware; those should be repaired with silver polish. Other antiques may require special cleaning solutions.
There’s no need to despair if those antiques have broken down. By knowing the ways of repairing broken antiques, you’ll be able to bring back its luster.
