How to Make Flat Bottle Cheese Boards
Flattening glass bottles, better known as slumping, allows you to turn your favorite wine bottle into a crafty item to be used time and time again. Glass bottles that are flattened and made into cheese boards make a practical gift that is infused with your own personal creative touch. Because they are such a unique item, these flattened glass cheese boards are a favorite at craft and holiday fairs.
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Things You'll Need
- Empty bottle
- Soap
- Water
- Devit spray (optional)
- Prepared kiln shelf or shelf paper
- Kiln
- Bow (optional)
- Decorative ribbon (optional)
- Cheese slicer or knife (optional)
Instructions
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1
Select your bottle. Be sure it fits into the kiln.
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2
Remove all labels from the bottle. Wash both the inside and the outside of the bottle and set aside until it has dried completely.
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3
Apply a devit spray to the bottle, if it is colored, to prevent devitrification. This is not necessary, but it is recommended for colored bottles.
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4
Prepare kiln shelf by washing with kiln wash or applying kiln paper to prevent the bottle from adhering to the shelf.
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5
Set the bottle on the prepared kiln shelf and turn the kiln on. Increase the temperature slowly, adjusting every hour by an additional 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid heating any faster than this or you may damage or break the glass.
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6
When the temperature hits 1100 degrees, soak the bottle. Allow to soak for 10 minutes to be sure all areas of the glass meet the same temperature together.
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After soaking the bottle, begin increasing the temperature every hour by 250 degrees Fahrenheit. After the temperature hits 1300 degrees, you can stop with the gradual heating and just allow the temperature to heat up to 1425 degrees Fahrenheit.
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8
Slightly open the lid of the kiln to help crash cool the temperature back down to 1100 degrees. Shut the kiln off after the temperature reaches 1100 degrees to allow the glass to cool completely.
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9
Remove the glass from the kiln when it has cooled completely. Place the glossy, slumped side facing up with the dull side facing down on the counter or table. Attach an attractive bow to the neck of the bottle and tie a cheese slicer onto the bottle with a decorative ribbon.
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Tips & Warnings
Heating time of kilns can vary so it is important that you watch your glass while it is heating. Adjust the temperature accordingly if your kiln appears to be heating faster or slower than the basic guidelines.
To help remove labels from the bottle, try using a blow dryer on high setting to reheat the glue holding the label in place. It should slide off easily once hot.
Kilns reach extremely high temperatures so it is important to wear protective clothing and gloves at all times when working with kilns.
