Bottle Cutting 101
I purchased my own bottle cutter. Bottle cutting is actually fun WHEN you cut a nice clean line.
What is Bottle Cutting?
Bottle cutting is the process of cutting a glass bottle to use as a light fixture, drinking glass, gift, or vase.
We have a lot of unique glass bottles since we drink local cold brew, raw kombucha, and have a monthly subscription of NingXia Red. I toyed with shipping my bottles off to a “professional” bottle cutter, but that was going to be outrageously expensive.
I typically accumulate enough bottles and bottle cut for an afternoon. I look all creative when I give these bottles away as gifts. The reality is that I watched a video and followed the instructions that came with my Kinkajou Bottle Cutter.
One time I had 14 bottles to cut and only 4 survived. Had I been slower and patient, I think my success rate would have been considerably higher.
When the blade has completed its journey around your bottle, it is important that you hear a click. When you don’t hear that click, it means that your scoring line is uneven. Two things will happen — your bottle lip won’t be even and creates drip-age when you sip (which can be embarrassing for an adult) and the likelihood of the glass cracking is highly probable.
What do you need to cut bottles?
- Kinkajou Bottle Cutter
- diamond pads for sanding
- separation ties once the bottle is scored
- paper towels
- hot water (I use an Electric Kettle)
- cold water
- patience
General Steps for Bottle Cutting
Try to evenly tighten Kinkajou around desired bottle.
Heat electric kettle.
Listen for a click after you have gently twisted the Kinkajou around the bottle.
Gently loosen Kinkajou cutter by lifting black handles.
Place paper towels in your sink to collect glass that will drop.
Put separation ties above and below the score line.
Being careful to keep your fingers from the hot water, continuously drizzle hot water along the score line.
Immediately run cold water over the score line.
Repeat until the top of the bottle falls off onto the paper towel in the sink.
Keep water running.
Sand using the larger bit Diamond Sander under the water.
Smooth over any roughness with the smaller bit Diamond Sander, all while under the water.
Clean up and give as a gift!
