#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Best Technique for Cutting Wine Bottle Tops?

Not that we drink a lot in our house, but I have a growing collection of wine bottles with neck size just perfect for slides. I've goggled cutting techniques for these and the most common approach is to use a glass cutter to etch a line around the neck, then dip the neck into boiling water to raise the glass temperature, then plunge it into a bucket of ice water. The sudden contraction causes the neck to break along the etched line.

Well, it works, sort of. I've had several bottles break off cleanly while other times, the fracture line runs up the neck instead of around.

The one thing that is pretty consistent is that the hot/cold method does eventually result in the neck breaking off. Unfortunately, the fracture line is often jagged and rough.

So, does anyone have a sure fire recipe for getting a clean break on a wine bottle so I can add to my slide collection?

Thanks

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jawbone on January 2, 2015 at 9:54am

I have used a cutoff wheel on a bench grinder and then just tap the neck gently on my 1/4" steel bench top and it eventually snaps off - I think you will always get an uneven break - I just grind that down, rubbing on concrete etc. As long as it's smooth enough not to cut - the jaggedness adds character !!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom T on January 2, 2015 at 9:56am

Thanks for the idea. I considered an abrasive cut off wheel, but wondered about the glass-dust flying around. I also considered a powered tile cutter. It has a pump to stray water on the cutting area and keep the dust under control. Just don't know how I would hold the bottle while cutting.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on January 2, 2015 at 10:12am

well i gotta admit ,, this is where i failed ,, ive tried the class cutter and flame and cold water trick. tried the hack saw thing etc ..

and im still the "make 10 , break 7" guy .

my only hope was to call them "barfighter slides " and sell en like that . ;-)

pretending i left them jagged and just sanded down on purpose . ;-)

but i hear the dremmel diamond wheel is the way to go .

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by john mackay on January 2, 2015 at 10:26am

I've tried the hot and cold method none worked.

so I didn't bother any more.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by George Mesheau on January 2, 2015 at 11:25am

Have nothing new to add but have cut a few and always had the best luck with a dremel type tool and a diamond wheel seems to work the best , but still can get a bit ragged cut. I just use a grinder to clean it up of any jagged edges and that is about as good as it gets for me... had no luck with the heat cold thing at all..

I think probably you will find that bottles differ one to the next. certain will cut well others won't.. just the nature of the beast I think...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom T on January 2, 2015 at 12:20pm

I'm leaning toward grabbing my tile cutter. It hasn't had any work in over a year. Maybe crank it up. fill the tray with water and give it a go. I have plenty of spare bottles.........

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ice Bob on January 2, 2015 at 1:42pm

tile saw

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Corbin on January 2, 2015 at 5:11pm

I found this...

Wine Bottle Cutting 30 seconds Perfect Edge Bottle Cutter

http://youtu.be/sFXngPx3w3M

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on January 6, 2015 at 7:42am

This guy looks like he knows what he's talking about. At least his video shows him actually making a cut/break.

The gadget for scoring bottles is sold at Hobby Lobby for $25 USD, but I bought a $4.99 hand-held glass cutter instead. I plan to lay the bottle on a miter box, brace it, and roll it around--much like the Plan B he mentions in the video. I can steal the wife's Brown Betty tea pot for boiling water. I'm gonna' give it a try.

I'll post the results if my fingers are still attached...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom T on January 6, 2015 at 9:53am

I tracked it down on Amazon must to check ratings. A lot of them (over 800). A lot of 5-stars, but nearly 100 one stars. Overall, it looked like about half the ratings were 3-stars or less. That being said, It might be a worthwhile tool. At $16.00 it isn't overly expensive and if purchased from Amazon they will take it back for a year if you don't like it.

May give one a try.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Barbieri on January 2, 2015 at 7:32pm

I had luck with my 1st go at it using the flame method.

The hardest part (and probably most crucial) was making a nice straight etch with the glass cutter.
It would certainly help to have an extra person hold the glass cutter, whilst the other person rotated the bottle.

The remaining process was pretty easy.
Flame the weak point till very hot, plunge into cold water, then gently tap on a soft surface (ie.tea towel).

5-10 minutes of sanding, and it's done !

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott McGilliard on January 3, 2015 at 12:38pm

I clamp 2 2x4 pieces of wood at a right angle on a table to hold the bottle while I turn it, with another pice of wood under the neck so it does not dip and turn the bottle while scoring only once around with a standard glass cutter. I put a piece of blue painter tape around to follow to keep my line absolutely straight. Once scored I pour boiling water slowly on the score while turning the bottle and then put it into a can of ice water. Then I repeat this 2 or three times until the end falls off. After breaking the very end off then I score farther down the neck for the second break. I finish these off by grinding (by hand) on wet dry sand paper on a board. I start with 60 and then 220 and 400 and 600. The breaks are generally good, but the bottle glass usually has a concave dip all the way around. But patient grinding will get rid of all flaws. Good activity while watching TV or conversing with friends. I also use a balsamic vinegar bottle (Colavita, the short bottle with the long neck) as they have the straightest necks of any bottles I've found. At least for the 1.5" I need for my CBGs.