If you have very small cracks or high porosity, you can apply a thin layer of Portland cement mixed with nothing but bonding agent and just a tiny amount of water to the inside of the bowl. A slurry of this mixture is extrmely dense but it does require very controlled curing. As soon as the surface gets it's initial set, mist it thoroughly and seal it up as air-tight as possible (plastic garbage bags work great). Then re-mist and close it up again daily for the next 4-5 days. Once the curing process is well established, you can let it sit for a few more days in the bag or plastic wrap, then uncover it to dry. Once the surface is thoroughly dry, apply several coats of a good concrete sealer. A water-based sealer will be more "bird-friendly" than some of the solvent-based products. The solvent-based products seal much better but are rumored to leach small amounts of toxins into standing water. If you have larger, more open cracks, you can use the finishing technique above, but must seal and secure the cracks first with a commercial-grade "crack sealer" first. HD & Lowe's both carry what you need. Best of luck and enjoy the birdies.

The leg mold for this bench is my least favorite of all molds I have ever used. Last year Teresa, the at the time ,Canadian History Stones rep. came over and we made her a bench. She brought her own leg and top mold as she thought the leg mold had been made a bit thicker than the one I had bought previously. We both struggled to unmold the darn things. We used a hair dryer to warm the molds up, a good releasant, and had reinforced the outside of the mold with tape to keep the bulging down. Still a big challenge. She ended up mortaring the legs to her top so it was sturdier. I think I will try imbedding the leg mold in a bed of sand next casting to see if that helps. I have been busy dealing with elderly parent challenges, but it appears my life should be closer to back to normal soon. That means playing in the mud, I can't wait to make some more projects. Cindy

I had one that cracked. I put a gob of silicone on my index finger and pushed it into the crack.... it held water for years after that until a tree branch landed on it. I just couldn't throw the base away just because the top was smashed so I have a base to play with. I was thinking the other day how it would be cool to drill holes in the sides of the base and grow annuals in it, like those hanging bags.... or maybe I could stick hens and chicks in there too.

The drilling is easy - any drill motor + an inexpensive carbide masonry bit will quickly get the job done. While it's not necessary, pouring a cup or so of water in the bowl helps to keep the drill bit cool and makes it last longer. Lots of good ideas for plugging the holes upthread. Since I have it readily available at work, I'd use hydraulic cement. It looks like plaster of Paris, and you mix it the same way. Tape off the bottom of the hole or cover it with your finger, add water to the cement until you have a pourable paste, fill the hole, use a toothpick to make sure there are no bubbles in the material, wait 5 minutes and it's ready to fill with water. Hydraulic cement expands while it sets and would be even stronger than the material the bird bath is made of. Al