r/whatisit 3h ago

Solved! Irreplaceable Mug

[deleted]

118 Upvotes

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33

u/Lef_RSA 3h ago

Now you have a chance to learn this technique: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi

25

u/Cosmic_Hitchhiker 3h ago

Kintsugi only looks good when it's done by people who have worked hard to get good at it. And usually it's not a useable foodware item afterwards.

8

u/Specific_Pear_665 3h ago

Thank you, šŸ™šŸ¼ there are some DIYs that just shouldn't be attempted.

3

u/PhoenixChamberlain 2h ago

I have found this to be true through trial and error. Mostly error.

13

u/GrapefruitSobe 3h ago

Kintsugi is only food safe if done with the traditional urushi lacquer and real gold/silver.

2

u/Which_Specific9891 2h ago

What about the kits that promise they are food safe?

4

u/GrapefruitSobe 2h ago

I’d be very wary of any DIY epoxy or resin based kits. Theres a lot that can go wrong, from the user mixing the wrong proportions or not fully curing the epoxy, and kits that don’t clearly explain.

But here’s a video on the stuff usually available on the market.

1

u/Which_Specific9891 2h ago

Cheers. I have a lovely little bowl that I've got taped up right now, I was thinking about ordering one of the kids because getting the traditional material doesn't seem likely. Thanks for the link!

6

u/Playful_Champion3189 3h ago

It's beautiful and so anti consumerism.

2

u/Ok_Expression7723 2h ago

My mom broke a plate I decorated (one of those ceramic diy event stores where they kiln fire for you after you paint it). She was so upset thinking she ruined something I loved. I was a tiny bit sad about the plate but incredibly sad she felt so bad. I assured her it was ok, but she couldn’t let it go until she glued it back together and framed it with a picture of us from when I was little. NOW I love it, because she made it special to me.

All this to say, I wholeheartedly agree that repairing the item so it can be repurposed is absolutely the way to go. It becomes a new treasured item that is a physical reminder of the love someone has for you.

1

u/Legitimate-Fox-7030 3h ago

I was thinking about this! Thanks for the name of the technique.

1

u/NygirlinNashville222 3h ago

I was just thinking that!!!šŸ˜

0

u/Cold_Dead_Heart 3h ago

Oh I love that idea. They sell kintsugi kits on Amazon

7

u/GrapefruitSobe 3h ago

The kits available on Amazon are NOT food safe.

-2

u/Cold_Dead_Heart 3h ago

I didn’t say they were.

And kintsugi pieces are only food safe if gold or silver is used and then urushi lacquer is applied and allowed to fully cure. A lot of kintsugi pieces are not food safe.

2

u/GrapefruitSobe 3h ago

It’s an important note to include for someone looking to repair or replace a mug that intended for use. Don’t want OP to waste their time and money.

-3

u/Cold_Dead_Heart 3h ago

Or maybe if they take that advice they should be smart enough to read the directions which undoubtedly say ā€œnot food safeā€.