Repairing a porcelain sink

Question

I have a new kohler cast iron and porcelain sink that has a chip and crack on the front at the drain, it goes around to the back/bottom. Is it possible to get it repaired?  One of the the pictures makes it look very big but its about 1 inch the chip and the crack Im not sure how far it goes maybe a couple inches. The 3rd picture shows the crack. Anybody ever have a sink resurfaced with repairs? I know it can be resurfaced but can the damage be fixed? It's especially worrisome to me since its at the drain where water will be constantly. Thanks in advance Dee

Emi Harr · Answer

I'm thinking the only solution would be to repair it with epoxy... but I'm not a sink expert... just a crafty diy'er.

Vimarhonor · Answer

Ive repaired so many things with the Oatey epoxy putty stick! Even a garage laundry sink with a hole ( thanks for hiding that defect with carrots -previous homeowner).

It's a two-part epoxy sticky-found at big box hardware stores for about $6.
 You mix press -then you can use scrape off excess (I use depleted gift card) and/or sand and paint. Cured putty is strong enough to drill through. Its a light grey putty. After your satisfied with the final sanded surface finish -There's an epoxy paint made for appliance repair in a small bottle much like nail polish that's quite white thick and shiny that might suffice along with using a strainer basket probably totally disguise repair. These two items might cost $10-12 worth a try!

Oatey Putty safely seals/waterproofs for plumbing boat repairs.... Ive used it for exterior entry door frame wood rot repair, elliptical pedal repair, multiple arts and crafts repair of pottery- wood -ceramics.
Every home owner crafter or second hand shopper need a 2 part putty epoxy stick!
You can find other expensive and smaller 2 part epoxy sticks versions in the boat marine and wood repair sections this Oatey one is a great value.

William · Answer

I agree with Vimarhonor. Sand the area before applying the epoxy putty. You can also get the appliance repair epoxy kit at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, or Ace Hardware. I have used the epoxy putty to repair holes in gas tanks with great results.

Brian Rayl · Answer

Bondo. The stuff they use to fix dents in your car.  Mix bondo, smooth on with a plastic putty knife. The disposable kind. Sand smooth and spray with Sherwin Williams appliance paint. Or call a bathtub glazer.

Vimarhonor · Answer

Its a putty ---so thicker than bondo. In fact that could be an idea too...fill with putty for structure followed by skim top coat with bondo might be easier to get that professional final smooth finish. Quite structural they state the cured putty can be drilled. Certainly you can apply putty on both the finished ( enameled) and unfinished sides of the sink. My concern is getting the smoothness ( sanding)on the finished side ---that you'd be happy with. Ive used it to repair fine cracks in my second-homes plastic bathtub....before the bathroom remodel. It held up fine with standing on it with showering. Please keep this product in mind for other repairs or projects --if you dont use it this time. We used it twice this week.....and I'm always thinking on new repair and rehab uses for it. Btw- Im not associated with the company. Kindest regards Karen http://www.oatey.com/doc/Epoxy_Putty.pdf

Joseph · Answer

Repair it with bondo after you apply the bondo sand it and use spray paint for metal  you can get it at Home Depot or lowes

Deanna Nassar · Answer

You said 'New'.  How new and was there a warranty of any kind?   From supplier or installer.

Joseph · Answer

You can still repair it as new with bondo as is use to repair metal that's your best
 Shot on repair it or use it as a flower planter for your gardening

Lucie Webb · Answer

Check your warranty

Lucie Webb · Answer

Glad this worked so well for you!

Carol · Answer

Some products do have lifetime warranty.  I buy a lot of stuff at yard sales.  If damaged,  I check warranty and go from there.  I also check with manufacturers for suggested repair and I also check  google and YouTube.  If all else fills Use bonds or epoxy to the metal side,  it appears the drain flange will cover the porcelain side. Check and then repair the surface and put the whole thing together.  There are also people who resurface tubs and maybe they can also do sinks.  Let us know about the repair or warranty replacement goes.

Lynn · Answer

There are SO many epoxies and bondo products out there. There is silicone, outdoor and metal epoxies...You may want to  check with a marine/boat place to see what they would recommend.

Paul D. Donovan · Answer

This is a manufacturers defect that should not have left the factory, you should be able to exchange it!  However, if I have purchased it, REALLY CHEAP, in the hopes of repairing and using this sink, here is how I would repair it.  First, select a 1/8 drill bit for drilling Steel. S L O W L Y drill a hole 1/4 of an inch from the end of the crack, through the cast iron side of the sink, just deep enough to touch the porcelaine.  Then use 50 or 60 grit sandpaper to cut down through the softer, exposed, porcelaine until ALL rust is removed on the inner bowl side, with JUST the sandpaper.  Once ALL the rust had been removed, use a round 'something', the correct diameter, to trace a circle as large as the end of this area to be sanded, all the way around the sink drain hole at that water level.  INSIDE that circle, sandpaper this surface to give it 'tooth' for epoxy to which to adhere!   Measure the sink drain tube and, if it is too short, add a piece long enough to reach down through the hole from the water level of epoxy.  Set-up the sink and Drain Tube to the installed level.  Mix the epoxy and pour around the drain tube, fill until the epoxy just touches the underside of the drain opening flange.  Then combine and mix some, White, Half Hour working time, epoxy, enough to pour into the sink and fill this area.  Let it cure for a WEEK until it is rich hard and totally cured.  Some types of epoxy, shrink just a little after it cures.  If this happens, you should be able to thread/pull the drain tube out of the NEW hole, apply white silicone and reinstall the drain and put a weight on it, or tighten it enough, to give the silicone sealer enough time to cure/seal completely.  Once this is done, flip the sink over and tape off the drain nub and the sorrounding outer edge of the sink,  completely.    Purchase a spray can of (White, if possible!) Rust Stop Paint.  Starting at the drain opening, spray the entire bottom of the sink until it is dripping down the sides in a perfect sheen. Use the entire can if it needs it.  Let the paint dry/cure, in a very warm place, (A seldom used car or truck, in the sun, is best!) for a week.  Then sand the excess flange from around the outer edge of the sink, install and use as you see fit.  Some times if you wait until the epoxy is JUST beginning to get hard, you can push the drain flange down enough to create that last water run-off edge that sinks need to prevent that little puddle around the drain flange!  Unless you want to get creative and use a die grinder to create your own.  As you may have guessed, this worked for me, very well indeed.  I have used this sink, heavily, for more than six years now, no problems at all.  I DID fine sand and polish the epoxy until it was as shiny as the Porcelaine.  Warning, if you tell people of your success, with this repair, they may throw money at you to come repair THEIR sinks.   Lord have mercy!!

Johnavallance82 · Answer

YOU CAN BUY cERAMIC rEPAIR kITS, BUT YOU MAY FIND IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

Repairing a porcelain sink

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Repairing a porcelain sink

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