For many modern crafters, we will often see new ways to reuse our old stuff, and quite often the humble glass bottle makes its way into our gaze and we find ourselves saying what can we do with this bottle? More importantly, how can I cut it so I can turn it into something cool?
The 4 best ways you can cut a glass bottle are:
- Scoring with a glass cutter or cutting jig
- Alternating heat and cold
- Using chemicals such as acetone
- Using electricity
In many cases shown below, you will often see a combination of these techniques used to create the desired results, as you will need to create a stress line around the bottle and then stress that weakened point to gently break the bottle cleanly.
You can also use a dedicated glass cutting tool.
Scoring with a glass cutter or cutting jig is best
There are many different ways you can cut a bottle to make a drinking glass, a candle, or a cool lamp. I believe the safest and most reliable ways are with proper bottle cutting jigs. There are 2 main types. One is a clamp-style jig that clamps around the bottle and is rotated to create a scoreline which is then stressed with heat to break the bottle along the scoreline. The other type is a flat tabletop jig on which the bottle rests and the bottle is then rotated as opposed to the jig to create the scoreline, once complete this is also stressed with heat to break the bottle along the scoreline.
This video features a handheld bottle cutting jig. You attach the jig to the bottle by unscrewing the two guide bolts on either side of the jig. Then once you have tightened them to where the wheels are touching the bottle you then secure the clamps to keep the jig in place.
Once you have done this you then close the clamp with the glass cutting disc to secure the wheel also against the bottle. Once done slowly turn the jig around the bottle one time so you have an even score line.
Don’t turn the bottle through more than one turn as you only need one line. Also you need to ensure the jig is as flush and close to 90° as possible to the bottle so the cut is perfectly even all the way around.
Aft this has been done you will need to immerse the bottle scoreline into alternaiting hot and cold water to stress and break the bottle.
This video features a flat bed cutting jig. This jig is generally the easiest to use but it is not as versatile as other jigs. You can adjust the length of the jig to make a large variety of cuts along the length of the bottle.
You can also cut a a variety of widths but the bottles cannot really go below beer bottle size and you cannot cut into the neck of the bottle at all as there is not a feature for you to do this.
That said the cuts are more reliable and clean as you have a backstop guide to prevent the bottle moving up and down and guide wheels to allow you to rotate the bottle cleanly.
As per the clamp-style cutting jig the bottle needs to be immersed in hot then cold water to break it along the scoreline.
This video show you how you can make your own cutting jig at home but you really need a workshop with a bench you are comfortable screwing screws into of if you have a series of clamps you can use.
Whilst saving you money on a jig you will need to source a glass cutter and other materials to make this item yourself so if you are not as adventurous then getting a ready made jig can save you time and effort and may be worth the money in the long run as they are not expensive
If you are pushed for time, however then premade jig will be the better choice and you will get a manufacturers warranty into the bargain as well so you will not need to worry about perfecting your jig crafting skills.
This video shows you how to cut glass at an angle. It does require you to make a fairly complicated gadget to cut at an angle so this is really for the more adventurous creators out there. The results, however, if you do decide to go ahead with this project are quite cool. The sheer variety of angles you can cut the bottles at will ensure your work is always interesting and unique.
Using a car battery to push current through the wire to heat it can be dangerous so if you are going to try and follow this method then you need to take all necessary safety precautions before attempting to do this.
This video features an older tried and tested method of cutting glass bottles using acetone or nail polish remover as it’s more commonly known as/used for.
Immerse some string in the acetone and then tie it around the bottle at the level you are happy with. Make sure the string is tight and even at the knot as you want a clean even cut all the way around.
Light the string with a lighter of match and slowly turn the bottle while the acetone is lit so you can get an even burn against the bottle.
Dip the bottle into cold water once done and the stress of the heat and cold should break the bottle along the stress line.