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The most difficult part of gluing broken crockery, glasses or plastic objects can be holding them firmly in place long enough for the glue to dry. This page gives a few suggestions which can be adapted to objects of different sizes that are awkwardly shaped and consequently difficult to support.
[edit] A Box Of Sand
1 Fill a container, such as a plastic sandwich box or a bowl, with fine sand. The sand can be bought from builders' suppliers or in small amounts from hardware stores.
2 Push the object into the sand so that the broken piece will stand upright in the correct position.
3 Apply a thin layer of epoxy resin or other appropriate glue to both surfaces. Take care not to put on too much glue or sand will stick to the object.
4 Press the broken piece in place and run your fingernail across the join to check that it is absolutely accurate.
5 Leave for the appropriate time until the glue has set.
[edit] Gluing a Broken Tile
A broken ceramic tile can easily be glued together on a flat working surface. The job is only really worthwhile for old tiles that are no longer replaceable.
1 Put a piece of paper under the broken pieces of tile. Apply a thin coating of epoxy resin glue on both the broken surfaces and press them together. Run your fingernail across the join to check that it is accurate.
2 Wipe excess glue off the upper surface of the tile with solvent or with turps.
3 Tape the glass or tile to the work surface to hold the two pieces together. Leave overnight for the glue to dry.
4 Remove surplus glue from the underside of the tile with a razor blade.
[edit] Putty Or Plasticine To Hold A Glass Stem
1 Rest the bowl of the glass upside down on a work surface. Press a piece of putty or Plasticine firmly against the bowl at the point of the break so that it will support the glass stem.
2 Spread a thin layer of glass adhesive on one or both of the surfaces, as directed and press them firmly together. Test that the join is accurate.
3 Push the putty firmly against the stem to support it. The putty must not prevent light from getting to the adhesive as many glass adhesives are set by daylight. So do not wrap it around the stem.
4 Leave the glass for about ten minutes for the glue to set, then remove the putty.
[edit] An Open Drawer To Hold A Plate
1 If a plate has broken cleanly in two, stand the larger piece upright, with the broken side up, in a partly open drawer.
2 Put a thin layer of epoxy resin glue or glass adhesive on one or both broken surfaces and balance the top piece of plate in position. Check with your fingernail that the join is accurately aligned.
3 Leave the plate standing upright for the glue to dry. When it has set, you can trim off any surplus glue with a razor blade or a craft knife with a new blade.
[edit] Taping A Handle In Place
1 To glue a broken handle onto a large jug or teapot, spread a thin layer of epoxy resin or glass adhesive on one or both surfaces and put them carefully together.
2 Run your fingernail across the join to check that it is absolutely accurate.
3 Place a piece of adhesive tape across the handle and onto both sides of the jug, making sure that the tension is the same on both sides. Adjust it until you have a perfect join.
4 Put more pieces of tape diagonally across the handle to hold it securely in place, and leave it for the glue to set according to the maker's instructions.
[edit] Using Rubber Or Elastic Bands
Small, awkwardly shaped objects can be held under light but steady pressure with elastic bands of different sizes and strengths.
Strips of old cycle inner tube, cut from the length of the tube, can be used in a similar way for large things.
