Last month I went to our local Christmas Craft show with Beauty in the Attempt and Rejuvenating Trisha Lou. I bought a Christmas gift for Missy (niece) and I splurged on a Christmas gift for myself.
See the packaging? It cuts everything! 🙂
It has a glass cutting “wheel” that cuts the glass. That little “blade” flips out to cut the laminates etc.
I braved the winter weather and practiced cutting some ceramic tile.
This was my first attempt on a scrap of mirror. Not so good.
Second attempt was much better.
This is the cutting wheel. The most difficult part is applying the right amount of pressure.
After making the cut, the tool separates the two pieces. As I was trying to take the picture, the small piece snapped off without me even having to “snap” it.
Fast forward a couple of weeks—jamie visits for Christmas. I asked her to bring me a couple of wine bottles. Long story, she had some wine left over from a wedding she worked last summer. She emptied a couple of bottles to bring them to me. I held the cutter steady and turned the bottle. The man (I’m sure e remembers his name) suggested to warm the cut with a candle then run it under cold water to help get a clean snap. I did that a couple of times but it didn’t work. The problem was I had NOT applied enough pressure while turning the bottle. I did the no-no and cut it again.
Jamie and Missy were worried I was going to wind up in the hospital after the bottle exploded in my hands and insisted I wear gloves. (one glove at least) After going around the bottle a second time applying more pressure it did snap quite easily without warming and cooling it. You can see the cut was not straight. In this picture I had been sanding the bottle back and forth on some rough sandpaper.
I was explaining to someone recently that Jamie and I are very impatient crafters. When we get something in our heads we have to do it right NOW. Very shortly after Jamie arrived with the bottles, I was rinsing them out and soaking the labels off.
Sanding glass does work. It makes it a little less sharp.
It still is crooked.
But sanding it made it not so sharp.
I haven’t cut anything else yet. It’s been too cold to work outside. I’m not exactly sure what I will cut next. This EZ Cut came with an extra wheel, an extra blade and a hack saw type blade that cut tile like butta! The man (Ernest?) was a whiz at cutting all types of tile, glass, etc. I know I’ll never be a whiz, but I think this tool will make my DIY’ing a little easier.
Have you cut glass yet? Anyone out there cutting bottles? What do you use, and how do you use the bottles?
gail
related content How to Cut Glass
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Jenn Erickson
Saw your link-up at 504 Main and just had to come by to check out that cool tool! Even thought the cut didn't come out perfect the first time, it definitely looks like a must-have tool for any creative minded person. I look forward to following your adventures in bottle cutting, and beyond! Jenn
Holly
I think I want this...I like new tools and gadgets! I just got a wood burning tool and cannot wait to use that!
Mandy Coffey
HOLY SCHMOLY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for posting this! I'm adding it to my "Pleeease honey" list for my hubby š
Mandy
smallfineprint.blogspot.com
Suzanne@Meridian Road
I have never cut glass. This looks like a handy tool, though. I have some window panes I want to replace, and I could do it myself if I had one of these.
ReeBan
Yay!! I'm glad to see that you made it out unscathed!! And at least I know it works...
June@I will craft
What a great tool. I've have to look for this or put it on my wish list.
Stephanie
Gail you kill me! I would never, ever want to cut those bottles. You were so lucky you didn't hurt yourself. I hope you don't try this soon without anyone around, this could be dangerous.
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
that is the coolest, like, ever! really that is so neat! i am going to run around my house and see what i can cut! š
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
that is the coolest, like, ever! really that is so neat! i am going to run around my house and see what i can cut! š
Katie
WOW, that is too cool!! Love that it cuts tile!
Peggy
OH Gail... I have been wanting to try this for ages! In fact I have a crate of glass bottle just waiting to be turned into glasses and funnels. When we lived in Alaska there was a gentleman at the farmer's market who had a souped up version of the bottle cutter Dana was talking about and he gave lessons. (but they were all scheduled for after our move...) I can hardly wait to find out if you get this figured out!
jamie
i just want to clarify that i did not empty 2 bottles by *drinking* them all by myself. š
just so everyone doesn't think i have tons of money to throw away on dumping out wine, it was a surplus of wine that had been trapped in a 100 degree+ car for hours&hours so i figured it wasn't very good anymore (although i did take the remaining bottles to a party and i think everyone lived after drinking it). š
Dana
Gail--
I started cutting glass when I was in high school (25+ years ago), but haven't done it for a long time.
Anyway, I'm impressed that you got the bottle to actually cut at all. If I remember correctly, you are supposed to do a cut all at once, applying consistant pressure, which is hard to do if you're holding the bottle in your hand and turning it yourself. Seems like we put them in some kind of clamping thing that turned the bottle for us.
We used to have our cuts "wet belt sanded" by a local glazing shop (a place that does glass work) for next to nothing in price. You might consider that if you're going to be cutting a lot of bottles.
Or....if the glass is thin enough, you could apply a copper foil edge. It's has adhesive on one side. You cut it, apply, fold the edges over to encase the cut, solder the joint, then run the soldering iron over the entire piece of copper to turn it all silverish. Clear as mud? lol
Actually, you might want to Google it all if you decide to try it. Like I said, it's been over 25 years since I did much glass work, and technology has probably changed!
Oh, and by the way, one of those first infomercial-Ronco-type-tv-ads had a glass cutter that was made just for bottles. Now I'm showing my age! lol
Blessings--
Dana