Let’s begin with the bottom line…you cannot melt wine bottles in your kitchen oven.
So, how to flatten wine bottles without a kiln at home? By using either one of two methods; a microwave kiln or by lampworking. Melting glass bottle in a microwave kiln can be effective if it’s a small fusing project. Lampworking requires a torch to melt the glass to become easily manipulated.
Here’s how to flatten wines bottles at home
To hold the empty wine bottle in place, add a bit of salt to the tray, then put the bottle, label side up on the tray. Shut the toaster oven door, set temperature to 200 degrees. After a couple of hours, turn up the temperature as high as you can, but do not put it on broil.
Is it possible to fuse glass in my microwave?
Yes! Not only will it fuse glass, but it will do it in under 10 minutes.
Flatten Wine Bottles Without a Kiln
Melting down glass bottles
Using the method of draping, which is allowing the weight of melted glass form over a mold at 1200 F. Using the tack fusing technique at 1350 F, glass marbles can be melted until stuck together. At 1480 F, using the method frit casting, you can put crushed pieces into a mold.
Lampworking Method
Lampworking requires a torch to first melt the glass then shape it. When the glass is heated to a liquefied state, it can then be formed by blowing and shaping using hand movements and certain tools. It is also referred to as flameworking.
Are Flameworking and Lampworking the Same?
Basically, yes. It’s really just about lingo. Lampworking terminology was created when Venetian glassworkers used oil lamps to get their glass heated. Flameworking is just a more current terminology. Today, glass artists typically work with a blow torch that is oxygen-propane based.
Techniques of Lampworking
There are several techniques you can use with a torch when you start lampworking. Below are some techniques that are basic to decorative, such as lamp wounding and marvering.
Hollow work
This technique is used to produce hollow beads, vessels and other arrangements. You can come at this a couple different ways. One is to begin with hollow tubing and heat to shape into whatever form you desire, or create a small steel blowpipe and construct the neck right on the tube.
Lamp wound work
This technique is basically generating a bead using heat from gravity and the torch and winding the glass around a mandrel.
Marvering
With this, you shape the glass while it’s hot by working it with different tools that come from paddles, graphite, steel, marble, brass, wood, stainless steel and tungsten.
Casting
Cast the glass by easily pressing it into a form while it’s in a molten state.
Stringers
There are filaments of glass put over the torch’s flame from sheet glass that was remelted. The width of the stringer can be adjusted by how slow or fast you pull.
The End of Day Bead
Bead makers ended their day with their work area covered with glass frit and shrapnel. At the end of their day, they cleaned up the area by heating low-cost glass and rolling it over the frit on their work area. That would melt it into one colorful, beautiful, unique bead which was referred to as end of day bead.
Flatten Wine Bottles Without a Kiln
Microwave Kiln Method
You can use your household microwave by placing a microwave kiln into it so it becomes just like a microwave kiln. This method is better for small projects, mainly small fine clay or glass work. This is because it cannot reach the temperature that is needed for larger projects.
Think about the size
In order for your kiln to work correctly, the kiln needs to fit properly in your household microwave. Small ones typically are 2 ¾ inches to bigger ones that are about 6 ¼ inches in perimeter. If you’re a newbie, it’s best to start small to gain better control of the stability and heat.
Time allowed to heat and cool
It’s important to know that it can take 5 to 10 minutes for the kiln to reach its temperature depending on the output of power, the work that’s being fired and the size. Once the firing is done, the kiln takes about 20 minutes to cool prior to opening and even longer for larger kilns.
Slippage of glass
You need to take into consideration, glass slippage when using a microwave kiln for glass. Disturbing the top of the microwave kiln may cause the glass to slip-up within the kiln. It can also happen from an uneven plate, resulting in wobbling when rotated. Also, when heated to quickly, it can slip, causing the glass to adhere itself to the sides or base of the kiln or even cracking the glass.
What materials will you need?
To stop the glass from sticking to the microwave kiln, you can line it with fiber paper. It’s a good idea to have a respirator handy so you don’t inhale any particles from your products. Kiln wash is good to have as well to keep it free of particles and clean Make sure to have a heat resistant mat or tile to put the kiln on after removing it from the microwave, along with gloves to handle the products and the kiln.
Can a microwave kiln be used for metal?
There are jewelry and glass projects that contain metal in the design. Does a microwave kiln get the job done? Sure, it can with no sparks as you would have expected. Be sure to do some experimenting, as some metals may become black through oxidization.
Safety features of using a microwave kiln
Even though microwave kilns are appropriate for smaller projects, they don’t provide much opportunity for bigger projects or business ventures. If this is what you are looking to do, then perhaps this method is not the right choice. You can choose from a variety of kilns that are free-standing which will heat to much higher degrees and can fire other materials as well, such as clay.