Top 8 Best Glue for Ceramic to Piece and Renovate in 2023

Seeing your toddler wrecking all those expensive ceramic ornaments might make you shout “Damn, no baby, not again!”

But there’s one solution that could calm you down. This solution works even when you mistakenly drop your costly ceramic mug or plate and start shedding tears! And that solution is to find the right glue for ceramic products.

Ceramic glue is an adhesive to piece your favorite ceramic ornament together and glue up the smile right back into your face! Getting a quality ceramic glue can serve multiple functions for you.

Since ceramic is so fragile, you need to find a way to repair it. This buying guide here is all about showing you that way out and helping you answer what is the best glue for ceramics.

Different Types of Ceramic Glue

While choosing the best ceramic glue, you need to know the different types available. You’ve probably heard about epoxy or super glue. These are the two main types of glue for ceramic repairing. Let’s have a better look at them here:

Super Glue

Super glue is a strong adhesive made out of Cyanide-derived Cyanoacrylate. It gets hardened by reacting with moisture in the air. It’s easier to use as you don’t need to mix it with any other compound.

Moreover, it dries quicker than epoxy. Although it’s a rapid fixer for lighter ceramics, it’s not an ideal option if you need strong bonds. Besides, it’s not a waterproof glue to be used in products that go into the dishwasher frequently.

One downside is that the super glue doesn’t fill in gaps evenly like the epoxy glue and is more likely to leave the repaired joints voids.

Epoxy Glue

Epoxy glue is basically polymer glue that is made out of two distinct compounds, resin and hardener. You can create the strongest glue by mixing these compounds yourself. Although it requires a little effort, the epoxy glue can provide the strongest bond to fill in the shallow chips, cracks, or any other damage.

One of its key advantages over other ceramic glue is its waterproof and heat-resistance property. It’s a highly durable adhesive, but mixing them in the right proportion is a little tricky.

One of its downsides is it takes longer to dry and isn’t the quickest fixer. Also, it’s more visible on the fixed ceramic surface. If the color doesn’t match, it might be evident that you’re using a repaired ceramic product.

Top 8 Best Glue for Ceramics Reviews in 2023

1. Gorilla Super Glue Gel

If you don’t like your superglue getting everywhere on the ceramic surface, we’ve got a special glue for you!

This special one is made from gel formula that goes down only where you put it. It’s the Gorilla super glue gel that comes with ‘no run’ and non-watery consistency to provide better control while using.

Now you don’t have to feel terrible after breaking any decorative plate from your mother’s cabinet. You can instantly fix it with this glue gel that dries in 10-45 seconds. The glue dries so clear that your mother won’t even realize what had happened to her favorite ceramic ornament. As a matter of fact, you can indeed consider it as the best glue for glazed ceramic.

Another great thing about this glue is the container that will glue you neither to it nor to yourself. This glue doesn’t drip all over, not at all! Moreover, there’s that anti-clog cap that helps keep the glue from drying. You can also use this glue on a vertical surface with superior control!

Now talking about its strength, well, it’s impressive again from Gorilla. The glue is specially formulated for impact strength and resistance. If you’re using it to repair some household ceramic ornaments, you won’t be disappointed with its bond strength.

This glue gel isn’t the thinnest available in the market. So one downside for the gel is you might be using it a little more than you would’ve wanted.

Highlighted Features:

• A Cyanoacrylate Glue made of gel formula making it easier to apply
• Includes anti-clog cap so you don’t have to unclog every time you start your work
• Fast-setting time compliments the anti-clog gap
• Compatible with paper to paper, ceramic, wood, plastic, leather, and more

2. Elmer’s China and Glass Cement Glue

There must be one secret weapon that’s helping you to make your ceramic dishes look unbroken even after years of use! It won’t be surprising if that’s Elmer's E1012 China and Glass Cement that you use to repair the ceramic items. This food-safe glue makes a safe and probably the best adhesive for ceramic in your mother’s kitchen.

The adhesive is made of solvent-free, non-toxic materials, and you can safely glue any of your favorite ceramic ornaments. It’s temperature-resistant and holds well in the dishwasher as well. The repair on the ornaments would meet your expectations with its strong and permanent bond.

You can use the glue for ceramic mug handles or ceramic candle bowls of your dining arrangement. You’d surely be amazed to see how clearly it joints and how nothing remains visible.

It works well with other materials as well, primarily when you use the glue for glass and ceramic. It’s not only suitable for indoor projects, but you can also use the glue for outdoor ceramic items. It sets in minutes, and you can use the glue to repair multiple pieces in no time.

There’s one drawback which is it requires 2-3 days to reach full strength. You might not be patient enough to wait for this long, but if you do, we bet it’ll be worth waiting!

Highlighted Features:

• Made of non-toxic materials so don’t worry when applying on dishes
•  You can easily use water on it and even put it in the dishwasher
• Compatible with glass, ceramic, wood, concrete, and metal
• Dries clear without any sign or extra reflection

3. PC Clear Liquid Epoxy Adhesive

When it comes to ceramic fixes, epoxies rock! With epoxy, you don’t want the joint to be quick but to be strong as heck. And this is something you can enjoy with the PC Products clear epoxy adhesive. This makes the best glue for ceramic repair that undergo heavy use.

Some think epoxies are hard to use or mix. The PC epoxy will probably prove you wrong. It provides easy mixing, and all you need is to cure for hours to get the strongest possible bond for your ceramic items.

PC epoxy makes an ideal choice for high detail fixes for different ceramic art objects. This adhesive is chemical resistant and provides non-toxic bonds. So you can safely use the glue for your kitchen ceramic fixing.

Besides, it's waterproof, and you can use the glue for ceramic dishes to be put on the dishwasher. It’s also well formulated to stay clear during and after the curing time.

This is an inexpensive, American adhesive that works great with the ceramic product. The bond might take a little longer to be cured; however, its bonding time is faster than most other epoxies out there.

The PC adhesive states of being a 4-minute glue; however, it doesn’t seem so in practice. The glue can take hours to reach the desired strength level, which could become frustrating for some.

Highlighted Features:

• Dries clear and makes the finish product look closer to the original
• Provides non-toxic bond making it okay to use on regular use dishes
• Wash the ceramic dishes as much as you want even after using the adhesive
•  Compatible with wood, glass, ceramic, concrete, and metal

4. Loctite Liquid Professional Super Glue

The thinnest consistency can ensure maximum control while gluing up your ceramic items. Loctite makes sure that you get nothing less than a heavy-duty performance with its professional super glue.

Loctite Liquid comes with a professional formula that includes low viscosity, making it an ideal choice for bonding smooth, narrow-fitting surfaces. You can now fix your broken ceramic faster with this glue that sets in 15-30 seconds. It holds pretty strong to make you use the repaired ornament over and over again!

We’ve talked about its consistency and control. It’s enhanced by the extra-long, pinpoint nozzle that helps precisely apply to your item. Loctite comes with a patented cap having a quick-open/lock-closed feature that helps prevent any buildup, spillage, or clogging. So no more wastage to deal with.

Another plus is the drying opacity of the Loctite liquid glue. The adhesive dries transparent. And you can get invisible repairs in seconds for crafting ceramics or other porous and non-porous materials. It can withstand extreme temperatures and heatwaves. The glue is waterproof and solvent-resistant as well.

It sets and dries fast with a no-run consistency, so you’ve to be quick enough and be spot on while applying.

Highlighted Features:

• Cyanoacrylate super that is affordable as well
• Fast-setting formula making it great for art projects
• Features a long, pinpoint nozzle and a quick control cap
• Dries transparent without any kind of reflection
• Compatible with ceramic, leather, wood, glass, plastic, metal, and more

5. Gorilla Clear Glue for Ceramics Repair

Crystal clear drying opacity is one of the key features that are sought for the ceramic adhesives. Gorilla, a market leader for CA Glue is here with their Clear Glue. With this adhesive, you don’t even realize the damage repair.

 If you’re wondering why your dad always buys Gorilla Glue for household ornament repairing, there are some good reasons for that. The Clear Glue here comes with the non-foaming formula that helps it dry crystal clear. Moreover, it’s an easy-to-use adhesive that comes with a convenient container.

It works great with ceramic products. Even a fair amount holds pretty well and sets in seconds. Once set, it can be cured with water or simply wiped off for a clearer finish.

The glue provides strong bonds to different materials, including ceramic. You can try the glue for ceramic pots kept in your mother’s room. We bet your mom wouldn’t be able to figure it out! You will have 5.75 ounces in the bottle and which is a very decent amount.

Like other CA glues, it’s suitable for smaller applications. And this will not give you the best results if you’re in an industrial settings or repairing sophisticated items like ceramic tiles.

Highlighted Features:

• Non-foaming formula making it easier for you to apply
• Dries clear very fast with minimum blemishes
• You can easily use it with liquids
• Comes with pinpoint nozzle that is great for larger projects
• Compatible with ceramic, wood, metal, glass, and stone

6. E6000A Craft Adhesive

Do you need an adhesive to glue up your girl?! Well, there’s something that literally glues anything. Check out the E6000 Craft Adhesive. It’s a specially formulated glue that provides industrial-strength bonds for your broken ceramic pieces.

E6000 makes an ideal choice for those who looking for a perfect craft glue. It can bond two surfaces so well that you’ll feel like joining anything you want. This is an ideal craft adhesive as it dries clear and keeps the surface paintable.

This adhesive can withstand anything to make sure that the ceramics don’t get ruined. It’s photo-safe, temperature-resistant, and non-flammable once cured. The waterproof property makes the glued items washer and dryer safe as well. Unlike the regular superglues, its tube won’t dry out within minutes after opening. So you can use it for its expected lifetime.

The tube doesn’t include a pinpoint nozzle, something that manufacturers could improve!

Highlighted Features:

• Dries clear and paintable making it a perfect fit for art projects
• Put it in the dishwasher without worry as it is waterproof
• Non-flammable and temperature resistant
• Compatible with ceramic, fiberglass, plastic, wood, metal to plastic, glass, and more

7. Epoxy Glue - Clear 2 Part Adhesive Repair Kit by Pratley

We know you need more epoxies in the list as you’re dealing with a rigid material like ceramic. An epoxy with runny consistency is what you need if you’re working with a detailed and close matching joint. So here we have the Pratley 2 Part Epoxy Glue, an amazing adhesive repair kit to have in your crafting arsenal.

The Pratley Epoxy might not be the easiest to use, but a bit of effort could save you a lot of money! An image that you were about to lose after breaking a pricey ceramic ornament. This glue from Pratley includes a high-strength, quickset formula and all you need to do is allow some drying time before you get started.

It’s waterproof, and you need not worry about using it on your ceramic plant pot or anything that’s immersed in water. This epoxy for ceramic works invisibly. The dried glue will be totally transparent and won’t bleed out of the seams to provide an intact look to your ceramic product. Besides ceramic, it’s a top choice for pottery. Some of the crafters find it as the best glue for pottery repair.

Like other epoxies, mixing Pratley 2 Part could seem to be hazardous. If you don’t mix well, it might not perform the way it’s intended.

Highlighted Features:

• Epoxy glue is the best kind for ceramics
• Quick set formula that will be great for busy people
• More runny consistency that allows the glue to get into crevices
• Dries invisible and clear that needs a close eye to catch
• Compatible with ceramic, concrete, stone, fiber, metal, glass, and more

8. Glue Masters Cyanoacrylate Super Glue

The variation in the viscosity gives you that extra option and be more specific about your application. Here you can get the variation and a professional-grade performance from a brand you can trust.

We have the Professional Grade Cyanoacrylate Glue here from Glue Masters. You can use the glue to fix ceramic ornaments like never before.

This amazing adhesive is good enough to rule out others glues in the market for a wide range of materials, including ceramic. It might not be the fastest CA glue to settle. However, less than 90 seconds is still quick, considering the bond strength it provides.

If you want more control, this well-balanced thick viscosity option should do well for you. On the other hand, the thin viscosity could work well with the closing joints and where a runny consistency is required.

The GlueMasters’ CA Glue is truly a hobbyist’s friend. If you’re a ceramic crafter, you must have this in your box to make some magical outcomes.

Besides ceramics, you can use the glue master on a wide range of materials including wood, leather, fabric, plastic etc. It’s not only about professional use; you can also keep it in your household collection as it works equally well for smaller fixes.

It’s an easy-to-use glue that comes with a well-design tip to provide superior control. The adhesive dries clear and enhances the beauty of your ceramic ornaments after wiping off the excess. The bottle is designed well so that you don’t waste any amount of glue while using it.

As the Glue Master can take up to 90 seconds, you can’t call it an instant adhesive. The thicker option is good but doesn’t seem to be thick enough.

Highlighted Features;

• Cyanoacrylate resin is one of the finest glues
• Available in different viscosity which is rarely seen for this price
• Quick fix formula makes your live much easier
• Comes with a tip to control the application smoothly
• Dries transparent in minimum time
• Compatible with wood, fabric, plastic, ceramic, and more

Comparison Table of Glue for Ceramic

How to Get the Leading Glue for Ceramic from the Market

There are tons of ceramic glues to mess up with your decision. So you need to look at some specifics before you choose one. The factors could include strength, drying time to waterproofing, and food safety. This guide should help you understand which adhesive works well for your particular application. Let’s take a better look at it!

Glue Type

Choosing the glue type is probably the most significant consideration. We’ve talked about its types —epoxy and superglue in the earlier section.

Epoxy should be your go-to option if you need industry-grade strength and durability. This is the effective choice for sophisticated bonding on heavy-duty ceramic items. It’s also the choice for ceramic products that are put in the dishwasher or immersed in water.

However, you might not find it an ideal option for smaller applications that require less setting time and ease of use. But for smaller ceramic ornaments, you can choose the super glue as it’s a quick fixer, dries clear, and is easy to use.

Dry Time

There are fixes that need to be made quickly, like fixing the broken part of your ceramic mug or living room showpiece. In such cases, you’ve no other option but to choose the superglue as it sets and dries in seconds.

Epoxy takes a longer drying time as they fill the void entirely and provide superior strength. If bonding time is more important to you than the bonding strength, super glue is a more effective choice.

Glue Container

To ensure the ease of use and reduced waste of glue, you need a glue container that’s designed for easy application and doesn’t cause excess dripping. Some of the containers include a pinpoint nozzle that adds more convenience, while others come with a brush to provide you control over the thickness of the glue.

Opacity or transparency

Drying opacity is an important factor as you don’t want the exterior aesthetic of the ceramic ornament to be compromised. Most of the super glues and epoxies dry clear and don’t really ruin the look. If you’re using glue as filler for your ceramic item, make sure that it matches the item's color.

Waterproof

There are lots of ceramic items that are exposed to water or liquid, such as the dishes that go into the dishwasher. In that case, you need to choose a glue that’s waterproof.

Epoxies make the best choice for waterproof glues. However, there are some water-resistant superglues available out there. You can find out about this property on the product label, so make sure to check before you purchase.

Food Safety

Check the certification on the product label that should be mentioning FDA Approve. Most of the glues that deal with items around food are food-safe today. But you should still check out the label before using the glue for ceramic mug or other crockeries and utensils.

Non-Toxic and Non-Flammable

You surely want your ceramic glue to be non-poisonous or harmless for your pets or other family members. Also, getting one that doesn’t emit fume and is non-flammable could be an important factor, especially if the application is prone to any extreme environment.

Epoxy vs. Super Glue: Which One is Best for Ceramic?

If you’re up for the best ceramic glue, check out the differences between two of its main types and which one excels for the ceramic items.

Ease of Use

Cyanoacrylate, aka super glue, is a ready-to-use adhesive and quick fixer for ceramics.  On the other hand, epoxy glue is made of two components—epoxy and hardener; that require to be mixed together. The mixing process is laborious, and you won’t be getting much time before the glue hardens.

Bond Strength

The epoxy glue comes with massive structural strength and is an ideal choice for bonding gaps between two broken parts, even if there’s resistance at different angles. It can easily be called the first-rate glue for ceramics.

As a result, it’s widely used in different industrial settings. You can also use it as a filler for holes, gaps, and cracks. On the contrary, super glue provides much lower shear strength and is only suitable for bonding smaller items.

Dry Time

The epoxy glue is a more sophisticated adhesive hence requires a longer application and dry time. While super glue is a rapid adhesive that sets and dries in seconds.

Clear Finish

If your ornament requires a clear finish and is smaller in size, then super glue is your go-to option. Its crystal clear finish makes it an ideal choice for different arts and crafts projects and home ornaments.

One of these crafts is figurine, and this is the perfect glue for ceramic figurine. Although epoxy doesn’t dry as clear as super glue, you can still sand it down to a smooth coating once cured.

Summary

Epoxy makes a better choice for ceramics that undergo some heavy uses. They also provide a strong and long-lasting solution for products that are regularly immersed in water.

Considering the fact that they take up much drying time, don’t dry clear, and require a laborious effort to apply, the superglue makes an effective choice only for repairing small ceramic ornaments.

How to Use Ceramic Glue

To use ceramic glue for piecing the ceramic items back together isn’t a big deal. Simply follows the steps below to successfully use the ceramic glue.

Clean and Dry: At first, you need to fully clean the ceramic pieces and let them dry completely.

Place the Pieces: Make sure you’ve all the pieces to work with. Then, place all the broken pieces back together.

For Epoxy: If you’re using epoxy, make sure to mix them in the right proportion and apply a thin layer of the mixture on both sides of the pieces within three minutes of mixing.

For Super Glues: Super glues are one-part ready-to-use adhesive, so simply apply a thin layer on either side of the broken piece.

Press: Once you’ve applied the glue, now press the glued pieces back together and hold them as they were to secure the bond. Do that for the entire time period of setting as mentioned in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Wipe off and Scrape: Once it’s completely cured, wipe off any excess or spilled glue. You can use a safety razor if wiping off with the cloth doesn’t work. Gently scrape away the glue, and you’ll probably see a beautiful, intact piece in your hand!

People Also Asked

How to dissolve ceramic glue?

To dissolve ceramic glue, you need to apply a fair amount of acetone to the super glue on the surface of the ceramic piece. You’ll see that acetone is loosening the bond between the surface and the glue. The amount should be as little as possible because acetone dries out the skin and can create discoloration.

Is Gorilla glue Food Safe?

When cured, Gorilla Glue complies with the FDA #CFR21 175.105 for indirect food contact. So it is food safe and can be used on ceramic products such as plates, salad bowls, etc.

Is Super Glue non-toxic after it dries?

The cyanoacrylates glues are generally non-toxic, safe, and aren’t really harmful. They instantly polymerize and become inert once they come in contact with moisture, including the water present in our respiratory tracts.

Can I use wood glue on ceramics?

There are some wood glues that are compatible with ceramics as well. So you need to check out the compatibility of the wood glue before using it on ceramics.

Final Thoughts

As we approach the end of the article, we believe now you know what factors and options to consider while choosing the best glue for ceramic. If you’re preparing a crafting toolbox for your ceramic project, we’d suggest you have a great glue gun.

You can choose any of the multifunctional glues mentioned in the list above, depending on your application. Ceramic is fragile, but the glues here will make sure that your smile is not!