How to Use Wine Bottles for Candles
Using wine bottles as candle-holders is a clever way to repurpose an empty bottle rather than throw it in the trash. Attractive brown and green bottles will go with almost any decor. If you cut some of the bottles shorter, you can make an attractive staggered arrangement. You can also use the bottom of the bottle to make a candle. Unfortunately, you have to remove the label before cutting the bottle, but you can leave the labels on the uncut bottles if you wish.
Instructions
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1
Soak the bottle in warm soapy water for 10 minutes or longer. Sometimes the label will lift right off, other times you must score the label and scrub it off. Clean off the glue residue with a fingernail.
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2
Lay the bottle in the bottle-cutting machine. Align the bottle so the cutter is resting where you want to cut the bottle.
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3
Turn the bottle toward you using both hands. Turn steadily until you have scored the whole bottle. The beginning and end of the score marks must meet or you will have to try again on another bottle.
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4
Prepare a bucket of ice water and locate it near your work area.
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5
Heat the score line around the bottle by rotating it over a lit candle. Rotate the bottle steadily to heat the score mark evenly.
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6
Plunge the bottle into the bucket of ice water. If the bottle does not break, repeat the heating and cooling pattern until it does.
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7
Sand the broken edges of the glass with an emery board.
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8
Melt the bottom of a tall candle until it is soft. Push the bottom of the candle into the opening of the bottle and hold candle upright until it hardens.
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Tips & Warnings
If all you have is a regular glass-cutting tool, this can be done by placing the tool in a vise and rotating the glass against the tool but it is much more difficult.
Instead of using a candle heat the bottle, use a small kitchen torch.
Wear leather gloves while working with the bottle.
Wear goggles while cutting and sanding the bottle.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
