Hangari Repair
A couple months ago we had a mishap with one of our hangari. It fell on the floor and broke.
Hangari are earthenware vessels and, while they are ideal for makgeolli brewing, they are very brittle. A short drop onto the kitchen floor broke this one, but we were able to fix in pretty easily.
Hangari are earthenware vessels and, while they are ideal for makgeolli brewing, they are very brittle. A short drop onto the kitchen floor broke this one, but we were able to fix in pretty easily.
We were lucky, actually.
The only piece to break was the lid, and the break was relatively clean, but it was spreading.
Since this was the lid, it's not critical for holding liquids. Instead, its primary function is to keep out contaminants and light. For this reason, we have lots of options for adhesives to repair this break. Anything that is non-toxic should work, and I would recommend an adhesive that is specifically suited for ceramic or tile applications. In this case I used Weldbond.
If you have hangari damage that is not as superficial, such as a fracture of the actual vessel, I would recommend a different method of repair: take it to a professional. The reason is the repair needs to be food safe, durable, and watertight, and I am not confident that commercial adhesives can guarantee either of these things.
On to the repair...
The only piece to break was the lid, and the break was relatively clean, but it was spreading.
Since this was the lid, it's not critical for holding liquids. Instead, its primary function is to keep out contaminants and light. For this reason, we have lots of options for adhesives to repair this break. Anything that is non-toxic should work, and I would recommend an adhesive that is specifically suited for ceramic or tile applications. In this case I used Weldbond.
If you have hangari damage that is not as superficial, such as a fracture of the actual vessel, I would recommend a different method of repair: take it to a professional. The reason is the repair needs to be food safe, durable, and watertight, and I am not confident that commercial adhesives can guarantee either of these things.
On to the repair...
I took a very small amount of adhesive, just enough to coat the edges of the broken piece, and smeared it on both sides of the joint.
I then took my time to slide the pieces together, the goal is to get the smooth surfaces of the hangari as close to their original position as possible. When refitting the pieces some adhesive will squeeze up through the cracks. Just wipe away the excess as it appears. Also, use a clean finger to smudge adhesive into any hairline cracks that may propagate if disturbed, to prevent future cracking.
Remember to check both sides!
I then took my time to slide the pieces together, the goal is to get the smooth surfaces of the hangari as close to their original position as possible. When refitting the pieces some adhesive will squeeze up through the cracks. Just wipe away the excess as it appears. Also, use a clean finger to smudge adhesive into any hairline cracks that may propagate if disturbed, to prevent future cracking.
Remember to check both sides!
When I was satisfied with the fit I carefully laid the hangari lid on a surface where it could dry undisturbed. Because of where it broke, the piece held into the lid nicely.
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