How to Make Cheese Cutting Boards Out of Liquor Bottles

A melted glass bottle can make a beautiful cheese board.

Any glass bottle, such as wine bottles, can be flattened by melting or slumping, where heat is applied directly to the glass to be manipulated. These flattened bottles can be used for a variety of purposes, including decor and gifts. This process recycles existing glass that may be thrown in a landfill or stored at a recycling facility for an extended period of time until recycling resources are available. The completed projects also serve as an inexpensive gift. One of the main utility purposes for slumped or melted liquor bottles is to form a cheese cutting and serving board. Instructions for completing the process are included in the following section.

Things You'll Need

• Sink
• Water
• Dish-washing detergent
• Plastic scraper
• Sponge with scrubbing surface
• Powdered cleanser
• Paper towel
• Glass cleaner
• Dish drainer
• Kiln
• Kiln primer

Instructions

Preparation

1. Fill sink with a mixture of hot water and dish-washing detergent.

2. Place the empty glass bottle in hot water and let sit for 20 minutes.

3. Remove the glass bottle from the water and begin scraping off labels and glue residue with the plastic scraper.

4. For harder to remove pieces, wet the sponge in the water and sprinkle a small amount of powdered detergent on the scrubbing side. Use the sponge to scrub off any remaining label pieces or glue.

5. Rinse the inside and outside of the bottle with fresh, running water.

6. Dry the exterior of the bottle with a paper towel. Spray the outside of the bottle with glass cleaner and wipe the exterior of the bottle with a new paper towel.

7. Place the bottle upside down in a dish drainer and allow to dry completely.

Melting or Slumping

1. Prime the kiln shelf using the primer.

2. Place the glass bottle onto a kiln shelf.

3. You will now need to fire the kiln in successive intervals, changing the temperature. First, fire the kiln at a ramp of 300 with a target temperature of 750 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Then at a ramp of 300 with a target temperature of 1050 degrees for 30 minutes, then at 1465 degrees for 18 minutes, then at 1030 degrees for 2 hours. Finally, fire the kiln at a ramp of 100 with a target temperature of 700 degrees for one hour.

4. Allow the kiln and the bottle to cool before removing from the kiln.

Tips & Warnings

• The slow ramp schedule will minimize bubbles in the final product. Ramp and temperature may need to be adjusted depending on the type of glass used. The step down in target temperature and extended hold time at the end of the process will assist with the annealing.

• Bubbling and spots may occur in the final product regardless of cleaning methods.

References

• The Bottle Slumper
• Melted Bottle Clock: Melted Wine Bottle Cheese Boards
• Vintage Art: Kitchen and Dining Glass Cheese Board