Can I repair chip in toilet bowl?

FataVerde

I used Kilrock Mega-K Multi-Purpose Descaler in my toilet bowl using manufacturer instruction on dosage and leaving overnight. It removed the limescale, but now there is a chip on the bottom of my toilet bowl. I checked it with a screwdriver and it feels like a little hole so it's definitely not a stain. I have two questions:
1. are toilets not made of porcelain, which should be fine with cleaning agents like these? The toilet was already installed when I moved in and just assumed it's made of porcelain. I can't see any inscription on it but attaching photos of chip and toilet. Could it be enamel?
2. is there any way to cover/repair that chip? It's obviously going to be submerged in water so I wonder if there is a long lasting solution.

mexican_dave

Reckon your WC is a ceramic, but not porcelain. Unless it's something really obscure and novel, then very much doubt it's enamel, as that would require a metal base and your WC would sound "tinny" if tapped.
Can't tell from the photo but from what you say there could be a chip in the glaze of the ceramic, maybe someone else dropped something in it, maybe a screwdriver during installation? This can't be repaired as far as I know.
Good news, don't worry about the chip the water will not leak out, the worst that can happen is the hole in the glaze might discolour. Try and forget about it.

FataVerde

mexican_dave said:

Reckon your WC is a ceramic, but not porcelain. Unless it's something really obscure and novel, then very much doubt it's enamel, as that would require a metal base and your WC would sound "tinny" if tapped.
Can't tell from the photo but from what you say there could be a chip in the glaze of the ceramic, maybe someone else dropped something in it, maybe a screwdriver during installation? This can't be repaired as far as I know.
Good news, don't worry about the chip the water will not leak out, the worst that can happen is the hole in the glaze might discolour. Try and forget about it.

I wonder if the descaler caused the chip or if it was there before the descaler. I had the flat rented briefly before this and I suspect the tenant dropped something in and the limescale (not a lot) was masking the chip until I used the descaler. The toilet did not have the chip when I moved in or before the tenant moved so that's years after the installation. Should ceramic withstand a descaler? Trying to figure out if it's safe to use in the future. And yes, the toilet seems solid, definitely not tinny like the bathtub, which is enamel.

grumbler

You can try some white epoxy compound, but you'll have to drain the water and to make sure that the dent is very dry and degreased.

grumbler

If you use epoxy putty, fill the dent, remove excessive putty and cover the dent with clear polyethylene film (most plastic carrier and packaging bags are made from it). Remove the film after the putty sets and you'll get glossy finish.

twopenny

I've used Milliput - epoxy putty - on sinks.

Good tip Grumbler - I've saved that

FataVerde

grumbler said:

If you use epoxy putty, fill the dent, remove excessive putty and cover the dent with clear polyethylene film (most plastic carrier and packaging bags are made from it). Remove the film after the putty sets and you'll get a glossy finish.

I was wondering about the finish. Thanks for the tip. This forum never disappoints.

Postik

Could it be the chip was there already and covered in limescale?

Alternatively perhaps it had been repaired already and then the strong acidic cleaner removed what had been used to repair it?

Grumbler's tips sound good but I wonder if it's worth it?  If it were a sink or bath it might be easier to give it a go.  But with a toilet you're gonna have to empty it, dry it, degrease it, somehow get your hands/tools inside and then not use it for a while.  And after all that it might not work or could still be noticeable.

With that said I have had smaller marks than this play on my mind, so I can't really talk