The Best Way to Cut a Glass Bottle

The best way to cut a glass bottle for craft projects

Learn the easiest way to cut a glass bottle to use for craft and diy projects with this tutorial. A glass cutting tool is used to score a beer or wine bottle. Alternate pouring cold and hot water onto the bottle to make it crack where the bottle is scored.

Hey Gnomies,

A skill I have wanted to learn for a really long time is cutting glass bottles so I can recycle them into new crafts.

You can make all sorts of neat things with recycled bottles. I've seen candle holders, drinking glasses, shot glass and wind chimes just to name a few.

I did some investigation on Pinterest and saw a popular method of cutting glass bottles that involves soaking a piece of yarn in acetone or lighter fluid and setting it on fire. The idea behind this method is that the flame will score the glass, making it break easily.

The thought of intentionally setting things on fire terrifies me. Over the past year I have accidentally started way too many fires in the kitchen.

I keep having grease fires while I'm cooking and I almost burned down the house trying recharge some reusable batteries. My microwave recently decided to explode and shoot flames for no reason. Luckily nothing was ruined (besides the microwave) and no one was hurt, but I can honestly say I will never be lighting anything on fire except scented candles and bonfires in the back yard.

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If you don't want to deal with flames and dangerous chemicals I recommend this easy way to cut a glass bottle. All you need is a simple glass cutting tool.

I discovered this glass bottle cutter on Amazon and decided to give it a try. It’s inexpensive and I don’t have to worry about burning down the house.

After a little trial and error, I found that this is the best method to cut glass bottles.

Supplies for cutting a glass bottle

• Glass cutting tool
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Hot and cold water
• Safety glasses
• Gloves

Directions for cutting a glass bottle

Always wear your safety glasses and wear gloves to prevent cutting yourself.

Use the bottle cutter as directed to score the glass. This means adjusting the cutter to fit the bottle you are using and then rotating the bottle along the cutter. Simply place your bottle on the support device, apply constant moderate pressure, and rotate

I recommend practicing with bottles that you don’t want to use for  craft project because you might need some practice before the glass scores properly. You might ruin your fancy, funky bottles if you try to use them right off the bat.

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The bottle needs to be smooth. The bottles I used have a smooth area and a bumpy area. I cut it in the smooth area and then used the bumpy area for crafts.

Once you have scored the bottle, bring it over to the sink. Put your safety glasses and gloves on for this next part.

Heat up a kettle of boiling water and turn the faucet onto the coldest water you can get.

Start with the hot water and pour it over the scored area of the bottle as you rotate it.

After spinning the bottle a few times around under a small stream of boiling water, put the kettle aside and turn on a small stream of cold water from the faucet. Turn the bottle slowly, letting the cold water fall onto the scored edge.

Go back and forth between the hot and cold water. You should only have to do this once or twice and then the bottle will break. The reason this works is because hot water expands and cool water constricts. When you go back and forth between hot and cool the glass will expand and contract and the score line will get weaker and eventually break along the line.

It took me a few tries to get the hang of the whole process which is why I recommend you practice on some bottles that are destined for the recycling bin and not the fancy bottles you want to use for a craft project.

The edge of the cut bottle will be sharp. You need to use fine grit sandpaper file the edge so you don't cut yourself on it.

Once the bottle is in two pieces use a piece of fine grit sandpaper to smooth the edge of the bottle so it isn’t sharp. The bottle cutter I purchased came with sandpaper.

Once the edge is smooth and won’t cut anyone, you are ready to use it craft projects.

I used my bottles as a centerpiece on my dinner table. I placed lighted tea lights on a plate and put the cut bottle tops on top of them.

My next project will be a recycled glass wind chime with the bottle tops.

What kind of crafts will you make with your cut bottles? Let me know in the comments and if you try this method make sure you use hashtag #craftylittlegnome on social media to be featured on my pages.