How to Cut Wine Bottles for Crafts

Co-authored by Bicycle Glass

Last Updated: April 24, 2024 References

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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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a String

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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.
Keep it tight, trying to leave the string in a nice ring.

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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.
You can put the string anywhere, depending on how tall you want your bottle. This is more or less where the bottle will cut.
The string should catch quickly.^{[1]
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Research source} Always have your bucket of water right there on hand to prevent any mistakes or accidents.
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.
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]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Scoring and Slicing

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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]
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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.
3
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]
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- 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.
4
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]
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- Heat the scored line for about 5-6 seconds.
EXPERT TIP

Douglass Brown
Glassblowing Expert
Douglass 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.

Douglass Brown
Glassblowing Expert

Use 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.
You will hear a slow breaking sound as you do. Carefully pull apart the two bottle pieces.^{[6]
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By the second or third application, the bottle will slide away and you'll be left with two distinct pieces.
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]
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Expert Q&A

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How do I prepare the bottles if I want to paint on them?

Bicycle Glass
Glassblowing Experts
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.

Bicycle Glass

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Expert Answer

To 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.

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Can you cut glass without a glass cutter?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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You 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.

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How do you make a drinking glass out of a wine bottle?

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Cut 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!

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Warnings

Always wear gloves and goggles when cutting glass.

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Be careful not to rush this you; if you cut too quickly, you might end up breaking the glass and getting cut.

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