check your local hardware store like home depot or loews, they have products there located at the paint departement section, that repairs cracks in plaster walls, i know cuz i had to do the same thing..

Plaster repair:

Open the crack with a painter's 5-in-one tool or a "church key" can opener.....down to the wood lath........clean all dust debris and loose plaster and flat ceiling surface.........paint all surfaces including the wood lath and plaster edges with a LATEX AD-MIX(liquid at home center)........Mix the plaster patching(powder) mix with the ad-mix instead of water to a thick, stiff peanut butter consistancy..........apply with a putty/broad knife to fill the void and match the surrounding surface.........usually two coats...........force into the crack to "key" to the wood lath.........Use a large damp sponge to blend the surface to match the surrounding finish......doug

[This message has been edited by doug seibert (edited October 16, 2002).]

If you have a recurring ceiling crack on a plaster ceiling, you may have an undersupported plaster-over-gypsum lathe ceiling system.

If that is the case, your ceiling cannot be fixed with mesh tape and any type of compound or plaster alone.

It needs to be re-secured to the joists first.

This type of ceiling ( I have coined the term 'transitional ceilings')has been known to collapse unexpectedly.

I would direct you the the proper page on my website for more information:

http://estateplaster.com/TransitionalCeilings.aspx

Philip LaMachio

Estate Plaster, Inc.

Greensboro, N.C. 27403