How to Cut Wine Bottles for Crafts

Using a String

Wrap a string around the bottle several times, then tie it on. You want to wrap it at least 3-4 times tightly around the widest part of the bottle. Then cut off the ends of the knot.

Slide the wrapped string off the top of the bottle. Keep it tight, trying to leave the string in a nice ring.

Soak the string in acetone, which is often used as nail polish remover. The acetone will burn, heating the bottle along your string line to make it break off cleanly. It only needs to soak for a few minutes. EXPERT TIP Bicycle Glass Bicycle Glass Glassblowing Experts Bicycle Glass Co. was founded in 2016 by David Royce and Michael Boyd, two professional glass experts. Bicycle Glass is primarily a lighting company, committed to quality, sustainability, and affordability. All Bicycle Glass products are made of high-quality, recycled glass and are hand-blown by a dedicated team of artisans. The studio is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by conserving energy in all of its production. Using renewable wind energy to offset all electricity usage, the studio is actively working toward the goal of carbon neutrality. Bicycle Glass believes that high-quality, handmade glass products should be within reach for everyone. Bicycle Glass Bicycle Glass Glassblowing Experts You can cut wine bottles using a lit string soaked in acetone. This method doesn't create a scoreline, however, so the glass doesn't have a point to start to crack from. It's a popular DIY craft to try, but it doesn’t guarantee a clean cut and should be approached with caution.

Slip the string back on the bottle, stopping it roughly where it starts to taper up into the neck. You can put the string anywhere, depending on how tall you want your bottle. This is more or less where the bottle will cut.

Light the string on fire over a tub of water, with the bottle held horizontally. The string should catch quickly. Always have your bucket of water right there on hand to prevent any mistakes or accidents.

Spin the bottle as it heats up to distribute the heat evenly. Use both hands to turn the bottle as if it were a piece of corn. Keep spinning until the acetone stops burning, which is usually when it starts to smoke.

Dunk the bottle in cold water to "cut" right at the hot, flaming string. The abrupt change in temperature should sheer the bottle right where the flame was. Take a piece of sandpaper and smooth out the edges to prevent any possible shards or rough spots.

Scoring and Slicing

Purchase an industrial bottle cutter or sharp precision knife. These are small machines that are made to evenly slice rounded pieces of glass. You likely won't need one for much else than this, but bottle cutters are helpful, cheap tools if you're doing this a lot. Otherwise, a glass cutting knife or sharp, precision blade will do just fine.

Snugly wrap an industrial hose clamp around the wine bottle to provide a "tracing" line. Place it wherever you wish to make the cut, ensuring that it is sitting evenly. This clamp will provide your guidance line when scoring the bottle, like using a ruler to draw a straight line. You could also use a roll of masking tape with the bottle shoved in the center to provide a nice, straight line.

Using a sharp, precision knife, score the bottle by following your tracing line. Follow the line of the clamp to unsure an even cut. Work slowly and methodically. You may have to trace out this line 3-4 times to get a nice, deep score. Note that you aren't trying to cut through the bottle, just create a nice, even line.

Heat the line you scored over a candle. Rotate the bottle so that the whole line gets nice and hot. Heat changes cause glass to weaken, and your already scored mark around the bottle will help speed up the process and ensure and even break. Heat the scored line for about 5-6 seconds. EXPERT TIP Douglass Brown Douglass Brown Glassblowing Expert Douglass Brown is a Glassblowing Expert based in Half Moon Bay, California. He has over 25 years of experience as a glass artist, and is the owner and operator of 2 glass blowing studios in the San Francisco Bay Area, Half Moon Bay Art Glass and Mare Island Art Glass. Douglass believes in sharing hot glass experiences with anyone who wants to learn about the processes of blowing and sculpting glass. When not teaching, Douglass creates glass art that is a mix of his takes on nature and functional glassware. He has also created the Glass Troubadours, which is a mobile glass blowing studio that hosts parties, events, and visits craft shows. Douglass Brown Douglass Brown Glassblowing Expert Use the hot popping technique to cut wine bottles that are too thick. To do this, you can score the bottle all the way around and use a small butane torch to heat the edge while turning it. Place the bottle on a record player or Lazy Susan to keep it spinning.

Rub an ice cube around the scored line. You will hear a slow breaking sound as you do. Carefully pull apart the two bottle pieces.

Reheat the bottle and reapply the ice cube if it doesn't work at first. By the second or third application, the bottle will slide away and you'll be left with two distinct pieces.

Sand away any rough edges before using. While this method creates a relatively clean break, you can never be too careful. Sand down the rim to get rid of any jagged or rough edges.