Porcelain Enamel Repair

Repair damaged porcelain enamel yourself.

Although a professional will repair the chip, you may also fix it yourself using a porcelain repair kit from a home improvement store.

1. Sand the damaged area of the porcelain enamel with a medium-git sandpaper to roughen the surface. Brush away all sanding dust and chipped porcelain with a cloth.

2. Pour 1 tbsp. rubbing alcohol onto a cloth, and wipe the area thoroughly to remove all surface oil that may interfere with the repair process.

3. Open the repair compound from the porcelain repair kit. Squeeze 1 to 2 tsp. into a paper cup. Add 1/4 tsp. of a glossy, alkyd-base paint that is the same color as the porcelain you are repairing. Mix the two solutions together with a wooden craft stick. Continue mixing adding more paint if needed until you achieve a perfect color match.

4. Scoop up 1 tsp. of the mixture with the craft stick and scrape it into the damaged area. Build the compound up slightly over the top of the damage. Place a razor blade flat against the surface of the porcelain object and drag it across the area to scrape off the excess compound.

5. Allow the repair to sit until it is dry to the touch but not fully cured.

6. Dip a cotton swab into nail polish remover, and rub the edges of the repair with the swab lightly to blend it into the surrounding porcelain enamel. Let compound dry thoroughly.

Tip

Some repair kits have a two-part repair compound that must be mixed together. Follow the instructions on the kit for proper mixing instructions.