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Bindu Studio Bottle Cutting 101
Instruction Guide: How to a Cut Glass Bottle
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With the Bindu Studio Bottle Cutter ™
Work Smart - Wear Eye Protection
1: Scoring the Bottle
Rotating the Bottle to Create a Score Line
2: Separating the Bottle
Heating then Cooling the Score Line
3: Cleaning the Edge
Sanding the Cut Glass Edge
Note: Cutting a glass bottle is not difficult. Just like cutting a flat piece of glass is not difficult.
However there is a learning curve.
1: Scoring the Bottle
We do not 'cut glass' but score it, creating a minute fissure and then separate it at that point.
Our objective is to score and separate the bottle so that the resulting cut edge has a good quality surface,
as free as possible of nicks and chips.
Start with a Clean Bottle
Be sure there is no label, glue, dirt or contaminates at the point where the scoring wheel
will come in contact with the bottle.
Position the Bottle on the Tool
We suggest you start with a standard circular wine bottle.
It is easiest to adjust the Bindu Studio Bottle Cutter ™ when it is sitting flat on the surface
of the work table. Adjustments can be done by hand, no tools necessary.
Since the back stop and the front support generally do not move you can tighten them down snugly.
Length Adjustment
Support the rear of the bottle with the rear base at a location where the rollers can rotate around the
bottle without obstructions.
Set the front base, with turret /scoring wheel, at the point that corresponds to the location that the bottle is
to be scored when positioned on the tool.
Width Adjustment
To increase or decrease the width support, loosen the top screw holding the lift to the base. Remove the
bottom screw, pivot the lift and replace the screw. Most bottles will fit the middle lift width position.
Turret Adjustment
Loosen the turret screw and rotate the turret body so that a SINGLE scoring wheel will come in full
contact with the bottle. Retighten. When a scoring wheel becomes dull simply use the next in line.
Rotate the Bottle to Create a Score Line
This position ‘as seen above’ with the bottle cutter and the bottle facing the operator from the side
is the best position to use when scoring a bottle. It allows both hands easy access to the top of the bottle
for easy rotation and maintaining proper pressure throughout the full 360 degrees.
Put a drop of cutting fluid on the cutting wheel. This will help in the scoring process and lubricate the
cutting wheel axle. You can use light machine oil, kerosene or a 50/50 mix.
The single small scoring wheel must roll freely on its axle and be in direct contact with the glass.
Rotate the bottle 360 degrees with a light even downward pressure.
Keep an even speed and keep the back of the bottle against the back stop.
The best score is free of glass chips and barely visible when looking at the glass surface.
When the score becomes a white gritty line or if chips and glass dust are created then too much pressure
was applied. The resulting score is a gouge, not a fissure.
Some practice is required to get the feel and the proper pressure without crushing the glass.
It is essential to maintain the proper force uniformly throughout the full length of the score. If the pressure
varies then the depth of the fissure will vary and affect the quality of the separation.
This requires practice but the technique is easily learned.
Do not rescore over a score line. A score line can only be made once.
2: Separating the Bottle
Heating the Score Line
Rotate the score line of the bottle directly over the flame of a candle for approximately 25 - 35 seconds.
The bottle should make approximately 3 revolutions.
Cooling the Score Line
Now rotate the bottle’s score line under cold running tap water for the same amount of time.
Do not force the bottle apart, let it separate on its own.
Be sure to give the bottle the full amount of time under the running tap water. It will almost always
separate under the water, not over the flame.
You are after an even distribution of heating and cooling around the score line. If it does not separate on
the first try repeat the process.
If needed a small pull or flex on the bottle is okay. But separation on its own is best.
Adapt the timing of the heating and cooling to wall thickness, bottle circumference and bottle shape.
*There are other techniques to separate a bottle, ‘heat and cool a score line’.
Example: Submerse your bottles’ score line into a container of hot water, not quite boiling, and then into a
container of ice cold water. etc.
The separation process is a craft of its own. You will improve with experience and knowledge.
3: Cleaning the Cut Edge
At Bindu Studio we use silicon carbide sandpaper to clean and smooth the cut edge of our glass bottles.
It is an economical, cost effective and versatile option. Available in sheet, disc and belt form,
with grit sizes ranging from 80 to 400.
You can use it wet, which increases the longevity of the paper, improves performance
and keeps the dust down.
We Recommend a Dust Mask When Sanding
Generally we start with a 80 or 100 grit paper to remove all the uneven properties of the cut surface.
Then we use a 150 and finish up with a 220 grit.
Sandpaper is large enough to clean the entire cut surface of the bottle simultaneously,
thus keeping it uniformly flat.
* The use of an electric sander will make cleaning the cut edge much quicker and easier.
There are other methods such as diamond coated discs, files, dremels, stained glass grinders, etc.
that can be used to clean a cut glass edge.
- General Notes
Not every bottle will separate cleanly. Some will be unusable. It is a good idea to have more bottles on
hand than your project requires. Broken bottles are recyclable.
If the bottle is not separating cleanly, then the scoring process or the separation, ‘heating and cooling’
process needs to be improved.
If the bottle is showing fracture lines when separating, then you are applying to much pressure when
scoring, or you are over heating when separating.
Thinner walled bottles can be difficult. Do not apply to much pressure when scoring.
Thicker walled bottles may require more time in the heating and cooling process.
The Bindu Studio Bottle Cutter ™ is adaptable.
The turret and roller lifts can go on either the front or rear base. The turret and the rollers can go on either
side of the lifts, etc. Feel free to move the parts around to fit the bottle and the circumstances.
- Advanced Techniques
Odd shaped bottles ‘square, oval, etc.’ require concentration and good eye-hand coordination. Some
bottles will not always rotate in the support cradle, but ride on top of the rollers.
Keep the score line continuous and the bottle against the back stop.
The separation of some odd shaped bottles might not be as clean as with a standard circular bottle.
Therefore more cleaning of the cut edge may be required.
Practice, some skill is required.
Not every bottle can be scored. Sharp corners, acute slopes, severe shapes, raised lettering, etc.
When scoring a bottle on a sloped surface, and the washer faced turret screw is interfering,
‘contacting the bottle', replace it with the standard turret screw. – Included.
When scoring some bottles on the sloping neck area it may be necessary to shim the turret lift.
Washers will work. Adjusting the angle of the lift /scoring wheel to match the slope of the bottle.
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