How to Melt Recycled Glass Bottles

Recycled glass bottles can be melted down for one-of-a-kind art projects.

Glass bottles, if not recycled or reused, will only take up space in landfills if thrown away. If you are interested in melting glass, you can create new life from old recycled glass bottles. While the process takes some trial and error, the end results can be spectacular. Affordable, used kilns can often be found in local classified ads or at online auctions, and used to create melted glass art or other objects.

Things You'll Need

• Recycled glass bottles
• Kiln
• Paper bag
• Rubber band
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Set a glass bottle into the kiln if you just want a slumped glass effect. If your glass bottle is small, you can insert it into a kiln compact enough to fit in your microwave. While this is a more affordable option than traditional kilns, it is common for the bottles to melt unevenly.

2. Create glass pieces for custom art projects. Place your glass bottle in a large paper bag. Close the bag tightly and tie off with a rubber band. Place the bag on a flat surface and strike the bottle with a hammer. You might need to repeat this until your glass is fully shattered.

3. Pour the smashed contents of your bag into the kiln. Arrange your glass pieces to make your desired pieces of art. You might choose to arrange your glass into shapes such as hearts or stars for use as jewelry or holiday decorations. Overlap your glass to prevent any holes from forming in the center of the glass pieces.

4. Scoop any small glass shards and arrange them over the top of your glass pieces. This will add texture and interest to your pieces. For added interest, add pieces of glass in various colors. As the glass heats, the colors will merge together.

5. Close the lid of your kiln and heat. Your kiln should heat to about 500 degrees F in the first hour and then to 1000 degrees in the second hour. To complete the project, heat your kiln to over 1400 degrees and let it sit for several minutes before lowering the heat again to approximately 1000 degrees. Turn off your kiln and allow it cool completely before opening the lid and removing your glass.

References

• Glass Fusing Made Easy: Glass Bottle Art
• The Gemini Geek: How to Melt Glass?
• WWF: Recycling Glass - How It Helps Environment