Cutting a bottle

[misspixie]

What can I use to cut a wine bottle? As part of my current project at uni, I'm making a wine bottle pourer/stopper, and need to display it "in use", but a full wine bottle gets in the way of my display boards (we're only given a certain amount of space to display in), so I want to be able to cut the bottle just below the neck (possibly on an angle, if I can), so it sits at the right height... I have a glass cutter-knife-thingy (bought for fusing), will that do it? And how do I clean up the edges afterwards?

(I'm willing to empty a few if it's just something thats gonna need practice... )

Thanks!

[garishglobes]

It does take a bit of experimenting, unfortunately 
I did this a while back by soaking a cotton thread in flammable stuff (like white spirit?) after having wrapped it several times round the bottle where I wanted the cut to be, and tied it.. Then I set fire to it and when it was well alight, dipped it in cold water. The thermal shock makes the cut.
There is a video on t'net somewhere of someone doing this, if you do some digging!

I tried a glass cutter and it was useless - this method wasn't perfect but far better.

[misspixie]

Ooh... Even if it doesn't work, it sounds like fun! 

[Bluebottle]

Another fun way I was told by a teacher in primary school (more years ago than I care to remember    ) is to fill the bottle carefully with engine oil to the level you want to cut it and then plunge a red hot poker into it and it should break at the oil surface level     I've never had the courage to try it    apparently this was done in RAF messes in WWII to produce drinking glasses.

Mike   

[Chameleon]

and for cleaning up the edges, get some wet & dry paper from b&q or halfords 

... use it wet !

[GlassOcean]

Hi Lovely,

I had to cut 50 bottles for my end of year art final entry, I tried all sorts and settled on this:-

• Score round the bottle
• Tie some cotton (about 20 loops) around the bottle just below the score mark
• Soak the cotton in lighter fluid
• Set light to the lighter fluid (the fun bit!)
• As soon as the flame dies away, plunge the bottle comletely into cold water
• This should give you a relatively clean break
• Wet and dry sandpaper the edges and break
• Bobs your new cut in half wine bottle!!

Have fun!!!

[Stacy]

I missed the fireworks the other day so I might give this a go instead just for the fun of it!! 

[Pat from Canvey]

Once you've scored around the bottle with a glass cutter, plunge the bottle fully in cold water till it's all cold. Empty the bottle of the cold water and put it back in the cold water. Pour hot but not boiling water in the cold bottle and leave it to sit for a few minutes to allow the cut to run around the bottle. When you lift the bottle out of the cold water by the neck, it should come apart cleanly. You can use Diapads of different gauges to smooth the rim.
see http://www.retro-glass.co.uk/tools.htm

[Zeldazog]

Someone told me they use a tile cutter (the sort that has the water reservoir) but I haven't tried it on bottles myself (yet)