There’s a bit of a pile of mending building up again, including the never-ending sock darning. However, today’s mend required a bit more care than simply brandishing a darning needle.
Mr Snail has a much-loved mug that he got when he contributed to crowd-funding a stage production of Aberystwyth Mon Amour in Aberystwyth a few years back… he’s also got an original script, but it’s the mug that’s the subject of this post. Sadly, a couple of months ago, there was an incident and the handle broke. Rather than add it to the growing collection of pen pots round the house, I decided a mend might be possible. I toyed with various options, but in the end I used Gorilla Glue combined with a cloth binding. I never trust a handle that’s just been glued and, indeed my first attempt without the binding just wouldn’t hold. So, I glued the surfaces that needed to be joined, and then I glued a “bandage” of strong cotton fabric in place. Once it was completely dry, I soaked some ribbon in diluted pva glue and bound this over the cotton fabric. A little more pva to ensure that the whole thing was waterproof and it was done.
We have lots of mugs and it has to be a special one to make it worth mending, but hopefully this will now last a good few more years.
The Snail of Happiness 
Nice Piece of Work
/ October 19, 2020A most original solution, and I’m sure Mr Snail was very chuffed not to lose his precious memento.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020I’m just glad it wasn’t me that broke it!
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Nice Piece of Work
/ October 20, 2020*laughing*
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tialys
/ October 19, 2020Yes, yes, very clever but I think we should be told more about the ‘incident’.
😉
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020I did not witness the incident… the report was that it “just broke”!
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nanacathy2
/ October 19, 2020I am with tialys on this one- what was the incident? Special mugs are a conumdrum really, do we use them and maybe loose them, or keep them safe at the back of a cupboard?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020I suspect I will never know what actually happened!
We’ve made a decision to use special things so that we see them and enjoy them. It does mean that sometimes they get broken, but we deal with that when it happens and, fortunately, this break was not terminal.
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Going Batty in Wales
/ October 19, 2020I have a special mug which lost its handle and like you I tried to mend it. Gorilla glue didn’t hold so I will have to try your solution!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020It seems to be doing ok and it has been washed (by hand) without falling apart, so I am hopeful.
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nanacathy2
/ October 19, 2020I absolutely agree that we should use the pretty special things or it is ridiculous to have them in the first place. Good wine glasses is another thing too.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020We have some crystal champagne flutes that my late dad bought for me and we use those whenever we have fizz. If they break I will be sad, but I think about him every time we use them and it’s so good that the risk is completely worth it.
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katechiconi
/ October 19, 2020The fabric binding is an ingenious solution to the extra strength the handle is going to need in future. Half the skill in mending is avoiding surplus attachments, such as glueing my own fingers to the mended loop on my watchstrap. Sometimes only superglue will do, and sometimes… it won’t.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020Mr Snail was keen to use superglue for this mend, but I don’t think it would have done the trick. I’m really hoping this combination will last. However… I did end up with Gorilla glue on the draining board… sigh
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Rainbow Junkie
/ October 19, 2020Hope your mend holds. At least there is a good bit of the top still left. I’ve never had any success mending handles but never tried your ingenious approach.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020It seems to be good so far… time will tell.
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arlingwoman
/ October 19, 2020What a nice solution! I hope it lasts and that the glue comes out of the sink…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 19, 2020I think I may need to resort to a razor blade for glue removal!
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arlingwoman
/ October 19, 2020That’ll work!
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Claire
/ October 25, 2020I repaired a broken mug with sugru a couple of months ago, and it’s been holding great, despite being washed in the dishwasher at least once a week. Definitely recommend sugru for broken mugs
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