# Broken teacup **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695 "2001-01-06T04:59:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/1 "2001-01-06T04:59:29Z")
An old teacup got broken today, and it happens to be our favorite, with a lot of sentimental value. If all else fails, I’ll fix it with super glue and use it as a pencil holder, but is there any way to glue the shards back together so that it will hold water? -Ben ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/2 "2001-01-06T05:34:32Z")
I’m not sure I understand. Why not just use a cyanoacrylate superglue? If you do it very carefully on clean pieces, and apply only slight amounts, and dry it properly overnight on heat, you can often have excellent results with ceramics. And they will certainly hold hot water, just not solvents. ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/3 "2001-01-06T06:15:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*I’m not sure I understand. Why not just use a cyanoacrylate superglue? If you do it very carefully on clean pieces, and apply only slight amounts, and dry it properly overnight on heat, you can often have excellent results with ceramics. And they will certainly hold hot water, just not solvents. \*\* Maybe I’m not being careful enough about fitting it together, then- it seemed like I couldn’t get a perfect match between the pieces. Certainly some holes will need to be filled, since a corner crumbled on a shard or two. -Ben ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/4 "2001-01-06T07:34:44Z")
It’s not cheap, but if the cup is very important to you, you can have it put back together by a professional. If you call a local china store, they should be able to tell you where in your area this can be done. I have also seen “repair kits” in china stores that include both a strong glue, and a sort of “filler paste” that lets you patch up the missing chips. I strongly suspect that it would take a practice run or two to get the hang of how to apply the filler. A google search on “china repair kit” turned up a few availabe for purchase online. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/5 "2001-01-06T14:20:23Z")
I suggest having the repair done by a professional. That way you don’t make any permanent glue mistakes, and the repair will be done as well as possible. I broke a precious china plate and had it professionally restored and now you really can’t even tell it has been broken. I know you said it was sentimental, but would you consider getting an exact replacement, if it’s not repairable? [http://www.ehow.com](http://www.ehow.com) lists a few good china replacement services, and should be able to get you the exact same piece. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/6 "2001-01-06T16:44:45Z")
Look at the writing on the bottom, if it has any, input it at [ebay.com](http://ebay.com) youmight be able to find a match. DO NOT use superglue. Use only clear epoxy. That is all you should use & its quite water proof then. Try the 5 minute type. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/7 "2001-01-06T19:01:22Z")
Careful what glue you use–read the package carefully. Some “superglues” don’t hold up well to heat. Probably best to get an actual china repair kid. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-teacup/48695/8 "2001-01-06T19:03:35Z")
Yes, that’s right, a china repair \*_kid_. Find some kid who has been trained from birth to repair china. They aren’t hard to find if you’re in or near a fair-sized city. Some people say it’s child abuse, but hey, somebody has to fix this stuff. :rolleyes: Must proofread. _wanders off, mumbling to self_