My collection of clay pots has grown over the years. Some of these beautiful pots were old when I acquired them, and many were hand-thrown or have intricate designs. Others I prize for the quality of the clay. Over time they often show the wear and tear from constant use.
Small cracks in terra cotta can lead to big problems. Left uncorrected, they will lead to the demise of a good pot. Repairing a crack while the pot is still intact can keep the problem from getting worse.
Most cracks in clay begin as hairline fissures that enlarge due to pressure from expanding roots and the constant swelling of watered soil. Exposure to freezing temperatures is also problematic: Moisture expanding within the clay can cause cracks; pots allowed to freeze with soil can split.
Materials
Safety goggles
Dremel drill with 1/8-inch masonry drill bit
Twisted copper wire
Wire cutters and pliers
Directions
1. Fit broken pieces of the terra cotta pot into place. Make sure the pieces are clean and free of dirt and debris so they fit together snugly. Using a pencil, make marks along both sides of the crack at about the same distance that lace holes would be on a sneaker. Keep the marks 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch from the edge of the broken piece to prevent further stress. (If you’re repairing a crack instead of an actual break, follow the same procedure.)
2. Wear goggles. Drill the marked holes with the speed set almost to the highest setting.
3. Cut the wire into 3-inch lengths. Working from the outside of the pot, put the wire halfway through the lowest drill hole of the pot and put the other end through the adjacent hole.
4. Working from the inside of the pot, carefully and tightly twist the wires together with the pliers; trim the excess copper wire. Repeat on the remaining pairs of holes. Push the wire ends against the inside of the pot until they are flush.
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Sean Conway is host of the TV show “Cultivating Life,” which airs on CLTV at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays. His Web site is cultivatinglife.com.
Watch Sean Conway repair a terra cotta pot on cultivatinglife.com: Just enter “terra cotta repair” in the search field.
