Cracked yixing pot !

[anna]

Hello everyone !
I have a big yixing teapot (500 mL), flat shape, and very dark.

Today, brewing my usual da hong pao into it, I noticed the teapot leaked through a very thin crack, but deep enough to let tea flow out. My teapot was cracked. Maybe it happened a long time ago and I didn't notice... I assume I can't use it anymore, fearing that it might break into two pieces.

But did any of you once experience that ? Can the crack be caused by thermal shock on yixing (it was zisha) ? I used to directly pour boiling water in it while it was rather cold, at room's temperature often. I never considered I should pre warm it with hot (not boiling) water, or in another way.
How do you people proceed ? do you pre warm your teapot ? How do you go on when you make multiple infusions, how do you manage to pre warm the teapot again with the leaves already inside (if you actually pre warm your teapot)
Anyway, maybe it's not that at all, or it was there from the beginning, just sad and trying to understand :/

thank you !

[futurebird]

do you have a photo?

[jbu2]

i want i photo too !
it sounds like a beautiful teapot !

also sorry for your lost

[TuoChaTea]

I had a tiny zhuni teapot once. Real zhuni. And once I forgot to preheat it - just poured boiling water into the teapot. And suddenly I heard a very quiet cracking sound, and the teapot started to leak from the side

I gave it to a local teashop to display, because I couldn't bear the sight of this broken beauty.

[TuoChaTea]

Here are the photos of my cracked teapot. It happened 6 years ago and still maked me sad.

[anna]

That's exactly what happened to me, but, guys, any photo would be useless I think, because the crack is much thinner that this and my camera wouldn't really show it.... but there it is nonetheless and it's leaking if I don't pre heat it. I think I'm gonna go on using it anyway, I don't want it to end up dead on a shelf so come what may... I don't even know if it's really the cause of the crack.. maybe I didn't pay attention to a little shock I could have given it I don't know... I hope the crack won't grow over uses ..
shame it was a gift from someone really important to me :/

[TIM]

Perhaps guilting it with a sheet of gold or silver inside the pot?

[Evan Draper]

I recommend searching these forums for "kintsugi" or "JB Marine Weld"

[sonnyd53]

For a 500 ml pot, pour about a cup of sushi rice (short grain/sticky), put top on, submerge into a pot with cold water. Slowly bring to a boil. Low boil (not rapid) for about 30-45 minutes. Let cool in water to room temperature, clean cooked rice out of pot and test for leaks.

This technique was used to bond certain sections of The Great Wall and has restored most of my cracked pots. Sometimes you have to repeat the process a couple of times. I have found that if you regularly use the pot, that it may not ever leak again. However, if you rotate it out for a long period of time, you may have to re-do it.

Please do not just display it. Try and bring it back to your service. You will both be happier!

Please advise as to the result of your attempt. Blessings!

[kyarazen]

big.. flat shape.. perfect recipe for cracking!

Hello everyone !
I have a big yixing teapot (500 mL), flat shape, and very dark.

[Alex]

Here are the photos of my cracked teapot. It happened 6 years ago and still maked me sad.

Damn that's sad to see. Looks like nice clay as well?