A Gorilla 5 Minute Epoxy syringe in its retail packaging, clear two part epoxy in a dual barrel applicator

FOR KINTSUGI

Gorilla 5-Minute Epoxy

Your piece broke. That does not have to be the end of it. Kintsugi mends the break with metallic powder so the repair stops being the flaw and starts being the point.

Clear two-part epoxy in a 25 ml syringe. Five minutes to apply and position, thirty minutes to set, twenty-four hours to full strength.

$9.50 0.85 fl oz (25 ml) syringe

We keep it behind the counter because somebody always needs it today, and there are a few dollars on top for that. It is cheaper on Amazon (opens in a new tab) if today can wait. In-studio purchase only. We do not ship any of this. If you are not a member standing in the building, this one is not for you.

DRIES CLEAR 5 MINUTE SET GAP FILLING

How kintsugi actually goes

The whole job takes an evening. Six of these seven steps are waiting, and the one that is not lasts five minutes, so have everything ready before you press the plunger.

  1. 1

    Dry fit it first

    Work out the order the pieces go back together before anything is sticky. With three or more shards the order is the entire puzzle, and five minutes goes fast.

  2. 2

    Dispense equal parts

    The plunger pushes resin and hardener out together onto a scrap of cardboard. Mix them thoroughly. Under-mixed epoxy stays tacky forever.

  3. 3

    Stir in a pinch of mica

    Enough to tint the epoxy, not enough to turn it into paste. Too much powder and the bond gets weak and crumbly.

  4. 4

    Butter both edges thin

    A thin film on each face. Thick epoxy squeezes out, holds the pieces apart, and shows as a lump you cannot sand off later.

  5. 5

    Press, then hold it still

    Tape it, prop it, brace it in a bowl of rice. Whatever it takes to stop it drifting while it sets.

  6. 6

    Brush the seam while tacky

    This is the gold. A thicker coat of straight mica powder along the seam at the moment the epoxy is still grabby but no longer wet.

  7. 7

    Leave it alone

    Thirty minutes undisturbed to set. Twenty-four hours before you trust it with any weight. A cold room makes both numbers longer.

Read this before you glue

A kintsugi piece is art. It is not tableware any more.

It is not food safe

Epoxy is not a food-contact material and no amount of firing fixes that, because a mended piece never goes back in the kiln. Do not eat off a mended surface and do not drink from a mended cup. Shelf, mantel, windowsill: yes. Dinner: no.

Nothing hot

Gorilla rates the bond to 180°F. Dishwashers, microwaves and ovens all go past that, and past it the joint softens and lets go. Dust it, or wipe it with a barely damp cloth.

Nothing soaked

The label says it is not for below-waterline use. A mended vase should hold a dry arrangement, not standing water, and a mended planter should not be watered through.

Work safe with it

The label warns that it is harmful if swallowed and by skin absorption, and that skin contact can cause an allergic reaction. Wear glasses, keep air moving, keep it off your hands, and keep it away from kids.

The seam is going to show

That is the entire idea. Kintsugi does not hide a break, it draws a line straight down it in gold. If what you actually want is an invisible repair, this is the wrong technique and we should talk.

It fills gaps, within reason

Missing chips and uneven edges are fine, that is what a gap-filling epoxy is for. A piece that shattered into eleven shards with dust missing between them is a much longer evening than you think.

Worth knowing

  • In-studio purchase only. We do not ship any of this. If you are not a member standing in the building, this one is not for you.
  • No refunds.
  • One 0.85 fl oz (25 ml) syringe. Dries clear. Made in the USA.
  • Set 5 minutes. Handle at 30 minutes. Full cure at 24 hours. Cooler rooms cure slower.
  • Bond withstands -10°F to 180°F. Not for below-waterline use.
  • Bonds ceramic, glass, metal, wood and most plastics. Not recommended on polyethylene or polypropylene.
  • Mica powder is not included in this purchase.
  • Harmful if swallowed and by skin absorption. Wear eye protection, work in a ventilated spot, keep out of reach of children.

A broken pot is a repair waiting to happen. Some of them come out better.