From the page: The bottle that still shines
Idea 4
Candles in the cut bottle
Turning bottles into candle holders is a craft fair tradition since the 1970s, when thermal cutters popularized clean glass cutting. It works because glass is a poor heat conductor: the flame heats only the top, and the bottle safely contains the melted wax like a little chisel of light.
What you need
- A wine bottle
- Candle wax (old candle stubs or paraffin in pieces)
- A wick with a metal tab (or cotton twine soaked in wax)
- Electrical wire and a thermal glove for the heat cut
- A double boiler pot and a tall container for melting the wax
- Hot water and ice for the thermal shock
How to make it
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1
Mark the cutting height and wrap a line of hot electrical wire (or rotate very hot water along the mark) around it for about 2 minutes — the heat expands the glass along that ring.
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2
Immediately submerge only the marked line in ice water — the thermal shock makes the glass break straight exactly where the heat concentrated the tension.
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3
Sand the cut edge with fine wet sandpaper until it's smooth to the touch — cut glass has microscopic sharp edges that cut without you noticing.
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4
Melt the wax in a double boiler, never directly on the flame — overheated wax smokes and can catch fire; the double boiler keeps the temperature safe.
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5
Fix the wick in the center of the bottle's base (a drop of wax holds the tab) and keep it straight with a stick laid across the top while you pour the wax.
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6
Let it cool for a few hours without moving it — slow cooling prevents cracks and holes in the center of the candle.
Finishing touches
collect old candle stubs and melt them all together — mixed colors become beautiful earthy tones. A kraft paper label glued to the bottle turns the piece into a gift.
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