Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Bicycle Glass. Bicycle Glass Co. was founded in 2016 by David Royce and Michael Boyd, two professional glass experts. Bicycle Glass is primarily a lighting company, committed to quality, sustainability, and affordability. All Bicycle Glass products are made of high-quality, recycled glass and are hand-blown by a dedicated team of artisans. The studio is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by conserving energy in all of its production. Using renewable wind energy to offset all electricity usage, the studio is actively working toward the goal of carbon neutrality. Bicycle Glass believes that high-quality, handmade glass products should be within reach for everyone.
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A great way to recycle old wine bottles is to use them for home decorations. However, if you need to change their shape for the craft, you'll find that cutting them takes a lot of practice. Moreover, since you're dealing with glass, it's very important that you learn to cut wine bottles the right way.
Steps
Wrap a string around the bottle several times, then tie it on. You want to wrap it at least 3-4 times tightly around the widest part of the bottle. Then cut off the ends of the knot.
Slide the wrapped string off the top of the bottle. Keep it tight, trying to leave the string in a nice ring.Advertisement
Soak the string in acetone, which is often used as nail polish remover. The acetone will burn, heating the bottle along your string line to make it break off cleanly. It only needs to soak for a few minutes.
Slip the string back on the bottle, stopping it roughly where it starts to taper up into the neck. You can put the string anywhere, depending on how tall you want your bottle. This is more or less where the bottle will cut.
Light the string on fire over a tub of water, with the bottle held horizontally. The string should catch quickly.[1] Always have your bucket of water right there on hand to prevent any mistakes or accidents.
Spin the bottle as it heats up to distribute the heat evenly. Use both hands to turn the bottle as if it were a piece of corn. Keep spinning until the acetone stops burning, which is usually when it starts to smoke.
Dunk the bottle in cold water to "cut" right at the hot, flaming string. The abrupt change in temperature should sheer the bottle right where the flame was. Take a piece of sandpaper and smooth out the edges to prevent any possible shards or rough spots.[2]
Purchase an industrial bottle cutter or sharp precision knife. These are small machines that are made to evenly slice rounded pieces of glass. You likely won't need one for much else than this, but bottle cutters are helpful, cheap tools if you're doing this a lot. Otherwise, a glass cutting knife or sharp, precision blade will do just fine.[3]
Snugly wrap an industrial hose clamp around the wine bottle to provide a "tracing" line. Place it wherever you wish to make the cut, ensuring that it is sitting evenly. This clamp will provide your guidance line when scoring the bottle, like using a ruler to draw a straight line. You could also use a roll of masking tape with the bottle shoved in the center to provide a nice, straight line.
Using a sharp, precision knife, score the bottle by following your tracing line. Follow the line of the clamp to unsure an even cut. Work slowly and methodically.[4]- You may have to trace out this line 3-4 times to get a nice, deep score. Note that you aren't trying to cut through the bottle, just create a nice, even line.
Heat the line you scored over a candle. Rotate the bottle so that the whole line gets nice and hot. Heat changes cause glass to weaken, and your already scored mark around the bottle will help speed up the process and ensure and even break.[5]- Heat the scored line for about 5-6 seconds.
EXPERT TIPDouglass Brown is a Glassblowing Expert based in Half Moon Bay, California. He has over 25 years of experience as a glass artist, and is the owner and operator of 2 glass blowing studios in the San Francisco Bay Area, Half Moon Bay Art Glass and Mare Island Art Glass. Douglass believes in sharing hot glass experiences with anyone who wants to learn about the processes of blowing and sculpting glass. When not teaching, Douglass creates glass art that is a mix of his takes on nature and functional glassware. He has also created the Glass Troubadours, which is a mobile glass blowing studio that hosts parties, events, and visits craft shows.Glassblowing Expert
Douglass Brown
Glassblowing ExpertUse the hot popping technique to cut wine bottles that are too thick. To do this, you can score the bottle all the way around and use a small butane torch to heat the edge while turning it. Place the bottle on a record player or Lazy Susan to keep it spinning.
Rub an ice cube around the scored line. You will hear a slow breaking sound as you do. Carefully pull apart the two bottle pieces.[6]
Reheat the bottle and reapply the ice cube if it doesn't work at first. By the second or third application, the bottle will slide away and you'll be left with two distinct pieces.
Sand away any rough edges before using. While this method creates a relatively clean break, you can never be too careful. Sand down the rim to get rid of any jagged or rough edges.[7]
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do I prepare the bottles if I want to paint on them?
Bicycle GlassBicycle Glass Co. was founded in 2016 by David Royce and Michael Boyd, two professional glass experts. Bicycle Glass is primarily a lighting company, committed to quality, sustainability, and affordability. All Bicycle Glass products are made of high-quality, recycled glass and are hand-blown by a dedicated team of artisans. The studio is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by conserving energy in all of its production. Using renewable wind energy to offset all electricity usage, the studio is actively working toward the goal of carbon neutrality. Bicycle Glass believes that high-quality, handmade glass products should be within reach for everyone.
Glassblowing ExpertsTo paint glass bottles, begin by cleaning the surface thoroughly using soap and water. This step is crucial to remove any oil, dirt, or dust that might hinder the adhesion of paint to the glass. - QuestionCan you cut glass without a glass cutter?
How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can cut the glass using the string method. You can also score a line around the bottle with a piece of sharp glass, then heat a wire over a flame until it’s red hot. Wrap the wire around the bottle where you scored the cut line, then submerge the bottle in cold water. The glass should break along the line of the wire. - QuestionHow do you make a drinking glass out of a wine bottle?How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerCut the top off the bottle at the desired height using your preferred method, then sand down the edges. The bottom of the bottle will form the base of your glass!
Tips
Warnings
- Always wear gloves and goggles when cutting glass.Thanks
- Be careful not to rush this you; if you cut too quickly, you might end up breaking the glass and getting cut.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Bottle for cutting
- Glass cutter
- Industrial hose clamp
- Candle
- Ice cube
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about working with glass, check out our in-depth interview with Bicycle Glass.
References
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-cut-wine-bottles/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxKZ8hhcmvg
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-cut-wine-bottles/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-cut-wine-bottles/
- ↑ https://sipmagazine.com/we-dig-diy-wine-bottle-crafts/
- ↑ https://sipmagazine.com/we-dig-diy-wine-bottle-crafts/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxKZ8hhcmvg
- Videos provided by Shake the Future
About This Article
To cut a wine bottle for crafting, first wrap a string around the bottle a few times where you want to cut it and tie it tight. Cut off the excess string. Then, slide the string off of the bottle and soak it in acetone or acetone nail polish remover. Slide the soaked string back onto the bottle where it was before. Put on safety glasses and gloves, and fill a bucket with water. Working outdoors, light the soaked string with a lighter and turn the bottle around until the fire burns through most of the acetone. Finally, submerge the bottle in the bucket of water to make a clean cut where the string is. Make sure the cork is out of the bottle before submerging it. Use sandpaper to smooth the cut edges of the bottle when you’re finished. For more tips, including how to smooth out the sharp edges, read on!
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