Can anyone please help me out ??
I have an antique crystal pitcher that has suddenly produced a long vertical crack, probably from thermal shock.
It isn't particularly valuable, but I've owned it for 40+ years and I would like to find a way to repair the crack, so I can continue to use it.
Anyone have any ideas for the repair, please??
Thank you.
Doug
It isn't particularly valuable, but I've owned it for 40+ years and I would like to find a way to repair the crack, so I can continue to use it.
Anyone have any ideas for the repair, please??
Thank you.
Doug
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If it is crystal, you may want to call a local museum in the area and ask about restorers in your area. They would know of good ones. I'm not sure you can do much with glass though. Good luck. 0 -
Just a random thought, maybe a windshield repair kit from an auto parts store. They work well on windshields. Good luck. 0 -
I'm not sure their's any way to "repair" the crack, But , if you want to stop it from going any farther you'll need a "glass cutter/etcher".
You'll need to make a small etch-mark. (like crossing a "t")at the top and bottom of the crack, making sure that the mark you make touches the crack that you are trying to stop from getting longer.
I hope that makes sence to you Doug.
That's the best i can 'splane it..[:D]
Works on windshields too...
Jeff0 -
Good ideas !
Thank you, I'll try them.
Doug0 -
Doug, Ive seen them advertise a product to remove scratches on any type of glass, mainly eye glasses. If you get it and apply it on the crack it should hide it. Good Luck! 0 -
crazy glue. seriously. 0 -
[8D]-Well Big Doug, if it's not, of to sentimental value, having it fixed could be expensive--
--Being crystal (maybe it's not), about the only way That I've heard, is to have a (gem cutter) drill a "fracture block" at each end of the fract. and then he will fill the holes with liquid glass--
--again, are you sure it's genuine crystal or synthetic ??
--Good luck ---JIMBO0 -
This is what I do.....
Fill your sink with piping hot water. Add a 1/2 cup of epsom salts.
Soak your pitcher in the sink, completely submerged for 15 minutes.
Pull the pitcher out of the sink, leaving it about 1/2 full, don't wipe it off. Put it in a preheated oven at 200degrees for a half hour.
Take it out and put it in a brown paper bag.
Then smack it with a hammer.
Works every time.0 -
? the version I heard was, when you take it out of the 200 degree oven, you take a soaking wet ice cold rag and wipe the crack very vigorously. 0 -
That is for glass, this is for crystal. 0 -
dose it leak? 0 -
Doug, I'd very much like to know how this turns out. Would you keep us posted? 0 -
Cubby -
Would you mind if I tested your technique with your head in the sack ??
It's cut lead crystal, given to my Great Grandma on the occasion of her wedding to her first husband, in 1857.
I don't care how much it costs to fix, I'll just pick up more cans and bottles along side the turnpike.
I'm gonna call a curator at the Smithsonian on Tuesday.
oldgunner - I Will keep the board apprised of my progress.
Thank you all for your help.
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
Cubby -
Would you mind if I tested your technique with your head in the sack ??
It's cut lead crystal, given to my Great Grandma on the occasion of her wedding to her first husband, in 1857.
I don't care how much it costs to fix, I'll just pick up more cans and bottles along side the turnpike.
I'm gonna call a curator at the Smithsonian on Tuesday.
oldgunner - I Will keep the board apprised of my progress.
Thank you all for your help.
Doug
Sure Doug, but you'll need more than a hammer.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
Cubby -
Would you mind if I tested your technique with your head in the sack ??
It's cut lead crystal, given to my Great Grandma on the occasion of her wedding to her first husband, in 1857.
I don't care how much it costs to fix, I'll just pick up more cans and bottles along side the turnpike.
I'm gonna call a curator at the Smithsonian on Tuesday.
oldgunner - I Will keep the board apprised of my progress.
Thank you all for your help.
Doug
Funny [:D][:D][:D][:D]0 -
Cracks have to have a stopping point made by drilling a hole at the ends. How to repair the crack in that stuff? I realy don't know but that most likely will stop it from growing. Some old antique motor vehicles develop cracks in engine blocks or on heads. They are repaired if I remember correctly by drilling holes to stop the growth on the ends then a series of holes are made along the crack pins are inserted and it's welded over. Some things simply can not be replaced with a "new" part as it deminishes value to remanufacture a replacement for an "antique". That's all I know about cracks. Do you by chance live in Michigan? Cans and bottles go for $0.10 there. 0 -
Drill a small hole called "stop drilling" just slightly forward of the crack. Make absolutely sure no part of the crack extends beyond the hole or the crack will progress.
This method is used on sheet metal and plastic parts like plexiglass windshields to stop progress of vibration cracks.0 -
v35 you are a smart person. 0 -
Doug,
I don't know how handy you are but this looks like a job for a pro.
Take it to or call some antique dealers.
They can fix it or refer you to a pro.0 -
Find a local glass blower. Long story short, we had a custom glass cake top made for our wedding cake, it fell out of the china cabinet and broke. We took it to a custom glass blowing shop and they had it looking like new in a week. 0 -
DOUG,
as a former auto glass tech, i have replaced, repaired, buffed and custom cut windshields, doors, vents, mirrors, lenses and such.
the technique told to you to score the glass in a "t" formation is not entirely true. though it would stop the original crack, the score itself could very well cause the rest of your pitcher to break. why? because lead crystal glass is a singular glass, meaning that it is in piece of glass formed to that shape. a windshield is made of laminated safety glass, meaning two sheets of glass with a film of lamination between them. as a crack starts in a windshield, it ONLY runs through one sheet of glass...not both. most of the time this is the outer piece. the repair kit used to stop a cracked windshield from expanding utilizes a small diamond tipped or carbide steel drill bit used in a dremel tool. the crack is then drilled at the most central location of the crack and as deeply as to but not through the lamination. next a pedestal (a tubular object with a wide foot on the bottom and tapered at the top) is afixed to the glass via 2 sided tape (already attached to the pedestal). then a resin is injected into the pedestal and a syringe with a release valve is attached via a clear plastic tube. next a vaccuum is created by pulling out the plunger on the syringe. this removes dirt, air, and moisture. next the glass is heated...from the inside (i always got looks from customers when i told them i was gonna set it on fire[:D]). i used a barbeque lighter with a flexible shaft...it was easier to position and heated better than a bic lighter. this causes the extra air inside the smaller cracks to be forced out and the glass expands a bit. too much heat and *boom*...yes i did this...twice. once heated, the release valve is turned and the pressure literally sucks the resin into the crack. a little push on the plunger aids this step. after is sets for about 4-5 minutes, remove the pedestal and clean away the excess resin. to fill in the hole from the drill and even the glass surface, a second UV resin is used. direct sunlight is best to cure the resin but a blacklight will suffice. use a razorblade to scrape the excess resin away and voila!!!! even surfaced repaired windshield.
long winded way of saying, "Doug...don't use this process to fix your pitcher....go to a glass blower. It needs to be reformed to fix it."
anyway, just a bit of glass experience to help you out sir.0 -
Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.
I'll start working on them tomorrow.
Doug0
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