Turn your wine bottles into glasses: video + pictures

Are you a wine enthusiast with a creative side? Do you often find yourself wondering what to do with those empty wine bottles after enjoying a glass of your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon or any other type of wine?

I’ve got great news for you! Transforming those empty wine bottles into wine glasses is not only a simple DIY project but also a fantastic way to reduce waste AND get a few free drinking glasses.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the easy steps of making wine bottle glasses, turning ordinary glass bottles into extraordinary drink ware. But before you get started, I wanted to caution you. This project is simple, but not necessarily fast. Each glass can take 20+ minutes with all of the steps, just being honest.

What You’ll Need:

Empty wine bottles (different sizes) or any glass bottle will work
Glass bottle cutter tool
Tea kettle of boiling water
Ice-cold water bath
Finer grit sandpaper (various grits)
Shallow dish
Paper towel

I use affiliate links so I can afford to keep doing this. Hope it saves you time. See my disclosure policy.

Steps to Make Glasses out of Wine Bottles

There are a number of steps the process of cutting the glass. Be sure you set aside a bit of time to make each glass. Some of the time is just waiting time, but it’s not as fast as the product video makes it out to be.

Step 1: Remove label. The easiest way to remove the label is to soak the wine bottle in warm water for at least 15 minutes. Most of the label will come off, but for the sticky residue I used a grill brush.

Step 2: Set up Cutter. The bottle cutting kits are adjustable. This allows you to use them to cut off the very top of the bottle (if you want to use as a candle holder), or the bottom end (if you want to use for a light). You’ll need to tighten the bracket that holds the bottom of the bottle in place at the length that you want.

Step 3: Test the scoring tip to make sure it hits the bottle at a 45-degree angle.

Step 4: Score the Glass Bottles. Place the bottle on a firm surface and rotate it while gently pressing the cutter against the glass. This will create a scored line around the bottle, which is the starting point for your cut. The kit I used came with gloves for this process.

Step 5: Apply Heat and Cold. There are several ways to do this, here are just 2.

The kit comes with rubber bands that you roll onto each side of the score line. This helps the glass to break more evenly.
Boil water in a tea kettle and carefully pour it over the scored line. After pouring the hot water, immediately place the bottle in a shallow dish filled with ice water. The temperature difference will cause a clean break along the scored line, separating the bottom of the bottle from the top.
Rotate the scored line on the bottle over a candle then place the bottle in an ice bath.

Step 6: Smooth the Edges. Once you have the cut wine bottle, the edges may still be sharp. The first bottle I cut had jagged edges sharp enough to kill an intruder. 😂 To smooth them out, use finer grit sandpaper. Start with a coarser grit and gradually move to finer grits to achieve a polished look. Wet sandpaper can be especially effective in creating a smooth finish. The sanding process can take a while if you have an rough spots.

How to Use Cut Glass Bottles

Let your creativity shine. Now comes the fun part – decorating your newly crafted wine glasses! You can leave them as they are for a simple and elegant look, or you can explore various DIY projects.

Consider using different sizes of wine bottles to create glasses of varying heights or turn them into stylish flower vases, candle holders, wind chimes or even planters. Your options are only limited by your imagination!

Final Thoughts: Crafting wine bottle glasses is not only a great way to showcase your creative side but also an excellent method of upcycling.

With easy-to-follow instructions and a bit of patience, you’ll be sipping your favorite wines from your very own handcrafted glasses in no time. So, gather your empty wine bottles, grab your glass bottle cutter tool, and embark on this cool DIY project that’s sure to impress your friends and fellow wine drinkers. Cheers to a job well done and a sustainable, stylish sip!

If you liked this, you might like how to paint glass or how to make a fillable glass lamp.