Easy Steps & Items Needed To Repair Cracks In Porcelain Toilet Tank
Some toilet problems are not always possible to get fixed, according to toiletology 101. The ceramic toilet tank and the bowl, that has been cracked, are unrepairable. Temperature, water pressure, and the user's weight can cause the cracked ceramic porcelain to fissure. But, perfunctory cracks in the ceramic finish or a crack in a tank lid can be easily repaired with the help of a rotary tool, a grinding bit, epoxy compound, and with the meticulous care. Before making your repair, assess the direction, depth & location of any toilet crack. If you want to get rid out of this issue by your self then you just need to gather all the required items and follow the steps mentioned below. Here are the required items and steps for this process and also read the tips and warning section for this process:
Things Needed For This Project
- Safety Goggles & Warm Water
- Mild Soap & Sponge
- Rotary Tool & Diamond Rotary Grinder Bit
- White Epoxy & Popsicle Stick
- Sandpaper, 60-Grit & Sandpaper, 600-Grit
- Cotton Balls & Acetone
- Refinishing Spray & Surface Repair Spray
- Clear Packing Tape
Steps For This Process
- Firstly, you need to assess the depth of the cracked area. The easiest cracks to repair are consecutive, perfunctory, and relatively short.
- Now you need to wash the ceramic(porcelain) surface to be repaired with soap, warm water & sponge, & then towel dry the porcelain. Then you need to attach the diamond grinder bit to your rotary tool and then turn it on a "Low" setting to begin your drilling process.
- Next you need to drill a hole through with the ceramic porcelain toilet tank at the end of the cracked area. Then wipe the surface intermittently during the drilling process by using your wet sponge. Water reduces the dust, heat & agitation near the grinding site.
- After that, you need to grind a U-shaped channel with your diamond rotary bit along the length of the cracked area. The channel will be no more than 1/8 inch deep & 1/8 inch wide. Grinding a channel along the cracked area creates more surface area for the better adhesion of epoxy compound.
- Then you need to wipe your surface free of any dust & debris before applying your epoxy compound. Overfill the channel with your epoxy filler.
- Now you need to spread your epoxy compound with a popsicle stick and working it into all of the ridges of the channel but do not wipe off excess epoxy. If you are going to repair a vertical crack then you need to overfill the channel with your epoxy compound and cover it with a piece of your clear packing tape. The tape will avert your epoxy compound from dripping out from the channel.
- Next you need to allow the epoxy compound to dry entirely before the sanding process. Sand the dried epoxy-filled surface with the help of 60-grit sandpaper in order to remove ridges & air pockets. As the surface grows smoother with the sanding process then you need to switch to 600-grit sandpaper. Continue your sanding process until the tank surface is level & smooth.
- Now you need to wipe your repaired surface with the help of an acetone-soaked cotton ball and then allow it to air-dry wholly. You now need to spray a light coating of refinishing spray onto your repair. You have to choose a refinishing spray that matches your ceramic toilet tank. Wait for at least 10 minutes and then spray on a surface repair spray. Both products are easily available at a home supply retailer.
- Finally, you need to allow the repair to dry entirely for at least 24 hours. After that, apply a final coat of refinishing spray and then allow it to dry completely.
Tips & Warnings
- In order to give your repair surface a glossy appearance, you need to apply a clear finishing spray.
- Most of the home supply retailers carry epoxy compound specific to ceramic porcelain.
- For any deep or long cracks or erratic cracks, with the spidery extensions, are impossible to repair.