How to Cut Glass for Wine Bottle Art

Wine bottles can be scored or smashed for use in wine bottle art.

Many methods of wine bottle cutting have emerged over the years. Some of the techniques are crude, while others more developed and refined. The burning rope method involves alcohol and heat and produces an unclean cut. The blow torch and oil and heat methods will also successfully cut a wine bottle. However, both methods, like that of the burning rope, create unclean, rough edges and stress marks within the glass. Such results are not acceptable in most bottle art projects. Two methods rise above and are used most often in artistic endeavors: scoring and smashing.

Things You'll Need

• Wine bottle cutter/scoring tool
• Hammer
• Clear clip bags
• Gardening gloves
• Goggles
• Glass grinding tool
• Boiling water
• Glass jar or plastic container
• Small pebbles
• Detergent
• Sieve
• Towel or cloth

Instructions

Basic Preparation

1. 

   Remove labels on bottles before beginning the cutting process.

   Remove the label from the bottle. You can achieve this by either soaking the bottle in hot, soapy water or heating the label with a hair dryer. The heat releases the glue allowing the label to be removed.

2. Wash the inside and outside of the bottle.

3. Allow the bottle to dry or assist the drying with a hair dryer or towel.

Scoring Instructions

1. Place the wine bottle cutter on a sturdy, flat surface such as a work bench.

2. Lay the wine bottle with the neck down and up against the guide on the wind bottle cutter. Adjust the guide so that the cut is made in the desired location.

3. Holding the bottle firmly, twist the bottle one full rotation. Do not continue to twist.

4. Remove the bottle from the wine bottle cutter.

5. 

   Boiling water helps separate the wine bottle at the scoring line.

   Pour boiling water slowly and gently over the scored line on the water bottle. Be sure to do this over a sink. Quickly allow cold water from the tap to run over the neck of the bottle. Repeat the process of alternating boiling water with cold tap water until the bottle comes apart at the scoring line.

Smashing Instructions

1. 

   Gently smash glass with a hammer. Smashing too hard can produce pieces that are too small.

   Place the bottle to be broken inside of the clip bag. Seal the bag.

2. Cover the bag with a towel or cloth. Gently tap the bottle apply more force until the bottle breaks.

3. Remove the towel to look at the sizes and shapes you have created. Replace the towel and continue gently smashing the bottle pieces until the desired size is achieved.

4. Remove the towel, open the bag and take out the pieces you want to work with at the moment.

5. 

   A sieve catches larger pieces to be used and allows small pieces to pass through.

   Place the pieces into the jar with water and detergent. Shake the jar gently, checking the edges of the pieces regularly. Pour the contents of the jar over the sieve and retrieve the pieces you plan to work with or store.

Tips & Warnings

• The scoring method is best used when you would like to keep the majority of the bottle intact. This can be for the purpose of making a vase or a glass for example.

• Scoring more than once will create a very jagged edge.

• The smashing method is best used when you desire to have smaller pieces of glass for mosaics.

• Shaking the jar gently but consistently smooths down rough edges from smashing.

• Always wear goggles and gloves while working with glass.

• Discard unused glass according to your local rules and regulations for glass disposal or recycle.

References

• Oz Mosaics
• Green Power Science