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How to Repair Weller Iridescent Pottery

People have collected and valued Weller iridescent pottery for many years because of its graceful lines and subdued iridescent glazes. Like all china and ceramic ware, it can crack or break, and professional repair is available but expensive. Repairing Weller pottery at home, while challenging, is a chore some owners prefer to do for themselves after evaluating the damage.

Things You'll Need

Vinyl or latex gloves
Lacquer thinner
Cotton swabs
Dish detergent
Oxygen bleach
Plastic scrubber or soft toothbrush
White glue (polyvinyl acetate)
Single edge razor blade
Non-drying modeling clay

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect pottery pieces, handling them with gloves to avoid damage from sharp edges, to determine if they have been previously repaired. Scrape or soak off any old glue from the edges before attempting the second repair. White glue is water soluble and will usually soften in warm water. Epoxies may require removal with lacquer thinner applied with a cotton swab.
- 2
  Wash the broken pieces of pottery in warm water and dish detergent and allow them to dry thoroughly. If the pieces are very soiled, scrub them with a plastic scrubber or soft toothbrush. To remove stubborn stains, it may be necessary to soak pieces for several hours in a solution of highly diluted chlorine bleach and water. Rinse, wash and dry thoroughly.
- 3
  Apply white glue with your fingertip or a cotton swab to one of the broken edges of the pottery. Align the edges and apply pressure for about 1 minute. Carefully remove excess glue with a damp cotton swab and allow the pieces to dry. If holding the pieces together is a problem, place a strip of modeling clay on the back or front to temporarily bond while the glue is drying for at least 12 hours.
- 4
  Clean excess dried glue from the pottery using a single edge razor blade, taking care not to damage the exterior of the pottery, or gently swab the area with detergent and warm water.

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