Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to bond terra cotta? I have a wall sconce I broke and I need to repair it!

Erin H
by Erin H
  13 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jan 22, 2012
    I've heard Gorilla Glue works. I haven't tried it, but I also haven't found anything that Gorilla Glue won't repair.
  • Erin H Erin H on Jan 22, 2012
    I can try it... I'm hoping that it doesn't absorb into the terra cotta! Thanks for the idea!
  • Tammie W Tammie W on Jan 22, 2012
    hmmm, terra cotta is pourus. Gorilla glue expands as i dries so be sure to wipe before it expands beyond he crack and hardens.
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jan 22, 2012
    As I said, I haven't personally tried this, so you can't sue me if it doesn't work, Erin.
  • There are several two part epoxies that you can purchase at the big box stores. Many of which will do this job nicely.
  • Erin H Erin H on Jan 23, 2012
    LOL, Steve, I am not the suing type! Woodbridge Environmental, they won't absorb into the terracotta? The sconces I have are handmade from Mexico (found them at a garage sale about 10 years ago for 3 bucks!) and while I didn't pay alot for them or go to Mexico to buy them, they were one of the first things I bought for my apartment and it's scentamental (Yes I know it's spelled incorrectly lol!) to me and I don't want to lose them as a pair. What brand do you recomend?
  • I use the Devcon brand epoxies all the time. I would not be concerned about absorption as you really do not want this anyway. Its the bonding ability to the surface that matters. In fact if the product did absorb into the pottery I would think that would discolor it.
  • Erin H Erin H on Jan 24, 2012
    I wish I had a picture of the sconces but they are infact 1,000 miles away right now :( But if I had to describe them it would be like a half round top (the shelf) and drops down to a rounded point at the bottom. They are about 12 inches in length and the last 3 inches of the bottom made a clean snap. I figure if I put the epoxy closer to the back it should be ok right? That way the front facing part will look fine?
  • Ricardo B Ricardo B on Jan 24, 2012
    Before using anything else, just humor me and listen to this idea... please! Buy a tube of DAP brand Auto/Marine Sealant. It's 100% silicone, drys clear, is water proof and it's under $4.00. If your sconce is outdoors... great thing to use! Only one drawback, though; It's noticeable if you get it on the porous terra cotta side you can see so be careful NOT to let it squeeze out to the visible side.
  • Sounds like a road trip Erin!
  • Erin H Erin H on Apr 17, 2012
    Thank you for the suggestions but this doesn't answer my question because I believe now that the sconces aren't actually terra cotta but possibly clay.
    • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Oct 04, 2015
      @Erin H terra cota is clay - red. I have a large statue which i suspect was fired at a very low temp, which makes it harder to work with, Try getting good advice on glue from your hardware store, and support carefully with low-tack tap eand wrapping with string instead of clamps.
  • Erin H Erin H on Apr 17, 2012
    I finally have them in my posession again, so hopefully this will help?
  • 3po3 3po3 on Apr 17, 2012
    Sounds like you could still try Ricardo's plan.