A really very silly question - if I may please ?

[scooby1]

the problem you have is you have a dish not suitable for frost that has fractured
it will never be suitable for frost yes you can glue it back together but you havent changed it inability to cope with frost
you can keep repairing until it no longer cracks but the fact perhaps 20% is still old material and perhaps 80% is now replacement material looking awful wasting many hours and quite expensive materials to get a result that can still fail in the future is not a good idea

You chaps are beginning to convince me to stop p*****g about and go and buy something that won't break when it gets frosty.

 

[scooby1]

And to top it all, you run the risk of poisoning and killing the bird’s with the chemical bonding you’re considering.

Yes, I had thought about that but assumed that something like putty would be O.K.

 

[scooby1]

Find a glue specific to the purpose of sticking ceramics, like Loctite Super Glue Liquid Precision

Thanks. I will have a look at that.

 

[scooby1]

I'd be inclined to try a food safe silicone. Seems like the OP may like to continue using it for sentimental reasons, for which its hard to criticize. Some grumpy feckers in this thread.

Wow. Someone on my side. Thank you kind Sir.

 

[scooby1]

You put the damaged bowl in a coffee grinder - grind it to dust - make a mould - mix the dust with two part resin filler and cast a new bowl - simples.

Crikey, that's a bit technical. But not a good idea for someone like me. I would be spending more time, more money, experiencing more grief from the Head Gardener, all sorts of problems would ensue.

 

[Mottie]

Yes, we've got one of those but I wondered if any hard frost would damage it in any way when it was full of water.

No. In fact last week in the cold spell I upended it every day and got a solid block of ice out of it.

 

[scooby1]

No. In fact last week in the cold spell I upended it every day and got a solid block of ice out of it.

That's interesting. I did wonder if the birds might be a bit jittery about drinking (and bathing) out of something bright and shiny though.

 

[foxhole]

That's interesting. I did wonder if the birds might be a bit jittery about drinking (and bathing) out of something bright and shiny though.

No

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes, we've got one of those but I wondered if any hard frost would damage it in any way when it was full of water.

No, and two reasons...

1. The stainless steel will be able to resist the expansion/ give enough to accomodate it.
2. The sloping sides of such dishes, mean the expanding ice plug, will force itself up, to where the dish is wider.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

That's interesting. I did wonder if the birds might be a bit jittery about drinking (and bathing) out of something bright and shiny though.

Add a sign by the bowl, 'safe for drinking and bathing'.