Where the magic happens
Or, more likely where I am getting my daily glass cuts.
The most difficult part when working with bottles is often to get sizeable pieces cut - simply simply smashing it with a hammer is not necessarily the method of choice here.
There is the option of using a tile saw with a diamond blade, but for the type of products I am making, I prefer a simpler method as shown in the video clips.
The first step involves scoring around the glass panels to create a weakened line along which the glass with break later.
The bottle is then moved in between boiling water and ice water to break it.
I usually start in hot water, leave for 1-2 minutes, then move to ice water. The temperature shock causes the glass to break cleanly along the score lines (at least it does now most of the time, but it took a few years of practice to get this reliably). Sometimes you have to move the bottle multiple times for the panels to fall apart.
Sometimes, especially if the temperature gradient is not quite steep enough (e.g. when you try to break the 4th or 5th bottle in the same water), things need a little help. If some of the panels are still stuck together, a little gentle tapping usually does the trick.
I have a kilncare hobbyfuser 3.
I am very happy to share basic schedules. Please get in touch