How to Make Recycled Wine Bottle Platters

A large bottle will have more surface area for a platter.

Recycled wine bottles convert into platters using a process called “slumping.” Empty bottles are placed into a kiln, then melted at high temperatures. It's not a difficult process, but it is a time-consuming process that takes a few more steps besides simply putting a bottle in a hot oven. Follow the prescribed process and you can make many wine bottle platters for yourself or to give as gifts.

Things You'll Need

• Wine bottle
• Soap
• Paint scraper
• Kiln paper
• Kiln

Instructions

1. Remove the labels from empty wine bottles. Wash the bottles in hot soapy water, scraping the labels off with a paint scraper. Rinse the bottles well and allow the them to dry.

2. Place the wine bottles on a shelf in a kiln on top of kiln paper. Turn on the kiln to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and let the wine bottle sit in the kiln for an hour as it is reaching 500 degrees.

3. Turn it up to 1100 degrees Fahrenheit, and once the temperature reaches 1100 degrees, keep it there for 10 minutes. Turn the temperature up to 1425 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the temperature reaches 1425 degrees, leave the bottles in the kiln at this temperature for 15 minutes.

4. Turn the temperature the kiln off. Allow the kiln to return to room temperature, at which point you can remove the flattened wine bottle platters.

Tips & Warnings

• Different sizes and shapes of wine bottles may take different amounts of time to melt. Try one bottle first, then raise the temperatures slightly if the first bottle doesn't melt correctly.

• Do not attempt to melt a wine bottle in a household oven; it doesn't reach high enough temperatures.

References

• Glass Fusing Made Easy: Slumping Bottles