Fixing crack in stone birdbath

[ppppenguin]

Not wood or metal but this seems like the best section.

This stone birdbath, about 16" square, sits on a larger structure but that's not important here. Recently I cleaned it thoroughly with a pressure washer and now it leaks. Careful examination shows a fine crack running across the entire bath. Not very visible in photo. It's quite big near bottom left corner, then hairline going up and to the right until it's easily visible again to the right of top centre. Presumably it was crud in the crack that was stopping it leaking. It seems in no danger of falling apart. Yet. At the moment it's indoors drying out, pending a fix.

What do you suggest for fixing it? I've got Araldite which I can spread along the crack, then use a hairdryer to make it runnier to fill the crack. Some kind of thinner epoxy would probably be better but I don't think I have anything. I've got a little  bit of the fluid you use on slightly rotten wood to harden it, though not enough for this and I don't know how well it would work. It's a resin of some kind and it's a very mobile fluid.

Any better ideas?

[Refugee]

When I do stone repairs or wall fixings I first add a layer of resin without hardener and allow it to soak in for a while and then add some with hardener later so that the resin has time to soak in. It will take a long time for it to fully set.

[ppppenguin]

What sort of resin and hardener? I've no experience in this field.

[Refugee]

Car body resin may well work better than the tube stuff I used for wall plugs. It is a bit more runny.

[pwdrive]

Clay, fine wood dust.

When I worked at the mine, sawdust sorted most water leaks out.

Lawrence.

[Gryphon]

The official way of doing this kind of repair is to run molten lead into the crack. Start at the lowest point, and work upwards, slowly.

You need to make sure that the crack is absolutely bone dry, or you will find your world full of molten lead at the most unexpected moments. Wear full-face, or at the very least, eye protection.

You might perhaps try plumbers' solder. You will need a blowlamp.

[Crackle]

Super glue is like water and will seep in to the crack, I use it for all sorts of things including wood with small cracks and lifting grain.
Mike

[ppppenguin]

Since all I had to hand was Araldite I 've just used it. Not ideal as it doesn't really flow into the fine bits of the crack. I used a hairdryer to make it a bit more fluid. I'll find out tomorrow whether the leak is sealed.

[alanworland]

We had a porous concrete bird bath which I lined with piece of lead I had laying around - did the trick!

Alan

[Refugee]

How many of the birds went down with lead poisoning?