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How to repair broken ceramic with kintsugi

By Bunnings magazine /

A cup, vase, and flower-patterned plate repaired with kintsugi techniques, each with a vein of gold running through

Overview

Dating back to the 15th century, kintsugi reflects the philosophy of embracing the flawed. Give your favourite ceramic pieces new life and meaning with this Japanese art project.

Steps

1Piece together the broken item

Green Bunnings hammer
Tip: The epoxy adhesive dries very quickly. Protect your skin by wearing disposable gloves and cover the work area with a drop sheet or cardboard.
Patterned ceramic plate broken into pieces

2Activate and apply the adhesive

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to activate the adhesive on a timber offcut, mixing with a craft stick. With the largest unbroken piece as the base, take the largest adjacent piece, apply adhesive along the joining edge, position it against the base and hold it until the adhesive dries.
Craft stick used to apply a clear glue to a broken plate

3Stick all the broken pieces together

Working from the largest adjacent pieces to the smallest, apply adhesive along the broken edges that join with the repaired base section, holding in position until the adhesive dries.
Broken ceramic plate is pieced together

4Clean up the adhesive

Scrape away excess adhesive using a sharp craft knife, holding it at 45° to run over the surface.
A craft knife is used to scrape off excess glue

5Paint over the joins

Stir gold oil-based enamel paint with a clean craft stick. Using a fine paintbrush, paint over the joins and leave to dry completely.
Green Bunnings hammer
Keep in mind... Repaired items are not food-safe and might not be watertight, so must be used for decorative purposes only.

Paint colours may vary on application.
A fine paintbrush is used to paint over ceramic plate joins in gold

6More craft ideas

Check out our D.I.Y. advice page for a tonne of inspiration and step-by-step guides.

Photo Credit: Belinda Merrie and Sam van Kan
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.