Repair broken bird bath bowl?

[595Heaven]

Bloody pigeons have managed to dislodge the concrete bowl from the top of our bird bath and it broke into two. It has never been attached to the base, but has a short metal peg cast into the flat base that roughly locates it on the base.

Has sentimental value for Mrs 595 so would like to try and repair if possible.

Break looks pretty clean, with only a few small chips missing. Fits together quite nicely, but is very heavy so just bonding the two halves together probably isn’t going to work.

Any ideas?

[Simpo Two]

It's fit only to be crushed for hardcore but sentimental value outweighs many things!

It may be heavy but it looks like the break has a decent surface area. My first thought is Araldite or a 'no more nails' product. The surfaces must be 100% clean and dry.

[Sterillium]

THIS stuff is pretty impressive.

If you really wanted to go belt and braces you could drill some holes into the two broken edges and add some steel rods as a mini armature.

[Panamax]

That's an easy fix with Gorilla glue/adhesive. £12.50 for 250ml on Amazon.

[Len Clifton]

Glue. Really?

Get some of this, it’s made for the job
https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-cp48-postfi...

Sets in no time, but let it set for 24 hours.

[Panamax]

Panamax said:

That's an easy fix with Gorilla glue/adhesive. £12.50 for 250ml on Amazon.

Yes, really. Just do it.

[RGG]

Have a go with Toupret Murex - Resin based filler.

I think it will do the job and be pretty much moisture impervious.

It's also known as Toupret Rock Solid.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/toupret-rock-solid-repa...

[PhilboSE]

Panamax said:

Panamax said:

That's an easy fix with Gorilla glue/adhesive. £12.50 for 250ml on Amazon.

Yes, really. Just do it.

Gorilla is the brand; they make lots of different glues. I don’t think their wood glue will do it!

However, the epoxy one (or any other brand 2 pack epoxy), will.

[B'stard Child]

CT1 is pretty good - I glued a concrete roof tile together that had broken across the tile with it as a stop gap repair pending replacement in better weather.......................... (that was 5 years ago and it's still holding fast)

https://www.sealantsupplies.co.uk/product/ct1-seal...

PS (so the bottom half slid down the roof leaving a big hole exposing the roof felt - the break was on the tile next to the ridge which is cemented on so I couldn't just pull it out and replace it)

[Bezerk]

CT1 as above. I've also glued roof tiles back together with it and fixed broken concrete capping stones.

Still totally solid years later.

[JoshSm]

Panamax said:

Panamax said:

That's an easy fix with Gorilla glue/adhesive. £12.50 for 250ml on Amazon.

Yes, really. Just do it.

That'd be my choice too (the orange PU stuff); it's waterproof, it bonds fine, it survives outside and it works. Just make sure the bits are solidly held while it sets so expansion doesn't cause problems. Excess can be scraped off once set.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Len Clifton said:

Glue. Really?

Yes. Really.

I’ve fixed loads of concrete or brick things with the white Gorilla glue. It actually lists masonry as one of the things it is designed for, and it works provided the pieces fit and lock together, which it looks like they do from the picture above. The repair is very strong.

Whatever you repair this with might need a bead of silicone sealant along the edge to make it waterproof.

[595Heaven]

Many thanks all - pleased that it should be repairable!

Will try the Gorilla Glue to start with I think

Can I check which one please…

https://uk.gorillaglue.com/gorilla-glue-clear/

Or

https://uk.gorillaglue.com/gorilla-glue-original/

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

The stuff I’ve had success with is the white grabbing stuff: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HD-Grab-Adhesive-200ml-Tu...

But I note that both the products you linked to specify stone - although the “original” lists it first, if that means anything.

Also, the “original” makes stronger claims of temperature resistance and waterproofing, so I’d go for that one out of the two you’ve linked.

If you use the white stuff I’d avoid going too close to the top edge, to ensure that the glue isn’t visible - it stays white. So perhaps the “original” is a better choice in this application.

You could probably stand the pieces so that their weight holds them together during curing.

[paulwirral]

595Heaven said:

Many thanks all - pleased that it should be repairable!

Will try the Gorilla Glue to start with I think

Can I check which one please…

https://uk.gorillaglue.com/gorilla-glue-clear/

Or

https://uk.gorillaglue.com/gorilla-glue-original/

This is what you need , ensure both surfaces are damp which is why this glue is ideal for stone .

Bizarrely I’m just about to glue my broken bird bath together with it

[nyt]

I've glued a few pots together with clear bathroom silicone.

If you're careful, the repair is almost invisible

[jeremyc]

I carried out exactly the same repair using No More Nails Heavy Objects



On the reverse side of the bath I drilled two countersunk holes at an angle through the break into the other half. With rawlplugs in the blind holes I was able to hold the two halves tightly together whilst the glue set. Then simply fill the countersunk holes.

[Huzzah]

And should the repair be unsatisfactory.

[595Heaven]

Bought some of the Gorilla Glue and also some of their tape to hold the thing together.

Won't get a chance to fix it today as we have people over. Job for sunday!

Thanks again all

Huzzah - I searched for replacements a well! Hopefully not required

[GasEngineer]

I remember Kirsten fixed a Bird Bath on the Repair Shop.

You could always give her a shout!