Breaking a jar (a better way involving fire!)

Use a blowtorch and a bucket to fairly cleanly cut a bottle or jar in half.

Step 1: Get a bottle

Get your target bottle, and a few to practise on. Get a bucket of clean cold water. Get a blow torch, brazing torch, or other blue flame burner thing. Grab a bit of string too.

Comments

[sanmarr]

The classic military manual TM31-210 had a way of cutting wine bottles used for making shaped charges that utilized string soaked in a mixture of gasoline and oil. I have done it this way, and also used solid strand 14 gauge copper wire which was twisted one time around a thick glass bottle and then heated with a propane torch (heating the wire around the circumference of the bottle). Then simply dunk in your water and dress as desired.

[harlyquin]

nice! I've wondered how to get more use out of an empty glass bottle in a no deposit state. great instructable soapy!

[pmac93]

A little easier method: Take the string, dip in alcohol, tie around jar, light, and quench.

[DanYHKim]

I'll have to try this out. It would make a nice lamp glass for my oil candles. One way to rotate the jar might be to chuck the string handle into a variable speed drill. Let it run on low speed to rotate the jar while heating.

[UVLite]

scoring it lightly, yes, but tying a wire around the bottle at the intended break point and doing what you describe might work even better

[zachninme]

I think it would be cool to use a narrow glass, heat the edge till molten, and seal it by twisting it. Then hold it over the fire, and it will explode because the air would expand so much.

[lemonie]

It most probaly wouldn't, but a sealed bottle containing water could make a good bang (air would not build as much pressure). The usual trick for breaking a jar in this way is to score a line around it first, and let thermal-shock snap the bottom of nice & clean.

[belenus]

I'll have to try this...it'd be nice to see some picturess of your results though.

[jtobako]

might be easier the 'old fashioned way'-soak a string in kerosene, tie it where you want the bottle to break, and set it on fire. or, fill the bottle with water to the 'cut' line and heat the top part with the torch.

[_soapy_]

I've tried the "old fashioned way" but it's not nearly as effective, and you end up with lots of soot to clean off. It also takes a lot longer. I've not tried putting the water inside the bottle, I'll have to give it a go. I'll add some pictures soon. I threw this up just because of that idiot with the broken jagged glass jar for drinking out of.

[blog.darkforestdesign.com]

Pictures?!!