Custom glasses from repurposed bottles

For our wedding we planned on purchasing pilsner or pint glasses for many of our guests.  We had intended to have our names and the date printed on them.  However, with minimum order sizes, shipping costs, and realizing that glasses with other people's names on them are not much fun we decided to make our own.

A friend that married a few years ago bought beer steins for each of his best men.  He bought most from eBay and each one had a meaning to the recipient - for instance, one that liked golf had a golf-themed stein.  I liked his gesture and wanted something similar.  Although we didn't have a bridal party and we did not intend to make them for everyone.

By using wine and liquor bottles we gave a little extra life to something that was discarded.  We plucked the bottles from community recycling drop bins.

Step 1: Requirements

You will need:

• bottles!  (wine bottles are pretty good but some liquor bottles work too)
• a tile saw
• rotary tool with grinding bits
• multiple grades of fine sandpaper
• tape
• letter decals
• glass etching paste
• paintbrush
• face shield, hearing protection, and respiratory protection
• the names or initials of the guests you want glasses for

Note that we did not make glasses for everyone.  We made them for about 50 of our close friends and family.  These could be used to mark seats for guests.

Comments

[67spyder]

Keeping the bottle at 90 degrees to the blade is easy, simply use a block of wood that is taller than the radius of the bottle to be cut. Clamp the block of wood perpendicular to the blade, between the fence and the blade in a position that will allow the blade to just penetrate the glass. As in the instructable, roll the bottle onto the blade then when the bottle is against the block of wood rotate the bottle while holding it against the wood :-)

[Michael Nichols]

I have wanted to try this but was always worried about any sharp edges where you put your mouth. I might try it again.

[skylane]

You can "sand" down the edges and make them "smooth as glass", so to speak.

[hiyahoney]

Riesling wines come in blue bottles. Pinnacle vodka also has a beautifully shaped blue bottle.

[ilpug]

Skyy vodka also comes in blue.

[SurreyTrnsPlnt]

Awesome idea but do you think there would be a different way a I could do this without the tile saw, all I got is a dremel

[thepelton]

What kind of booze comes in blue bottles? I recall Milk of Magnesia in such a color of glass, but I don't know what brand of alcohol is in a blue bottle.

[lifeviapictures]

"Schmitt Sohne Riesling" comes in a blue bottle as well.

[thepelton]

Thanks to all of you. I wasn't really planning to make blue drinking glasses, but I was fascinated with the lampwork beads, and I didn't want them all to be brown, green, or clear like most booze bottles.

[kill-a-watt]

harvey's bristol cream

[zieak]

I'd like to get my hands on some of that! ...and the bottles. Also try Bridgeview wines... And of course, Skyy Vodka.

[designinmind]

WHOA! This has to be the most dangerous method for cutting a bottle. Keeping the bottle parallel to the fence it not only a good thing to to it is the only thing to do. If the bottle moves out of this relationship it could shatter and send glass shards everywhere. There are much safer options. Having said that I still like the project very cool idea!

[PinkHeart]

A nice "green" idea. I couldn't even tell they were re purposed in the picture.

[caitlinsdad]

Very nice.  btw, did you get soaked from the wet saw afterwards? My tile saw throws off water to the back.  

I will have to try those glass etching creams.  Only seen it used when they etch the VIN on car windows.  Probably a smoother finish on big projects  than sandblasting.

[zieak]

This saw throws water forward...

I have used my Dremel to do a mechanical etch - it's easy to sketch on it. Just print out your design and tape it to the inside of the glass!

[TheCheese9921]

Great Inscrutable, more importantly. Step 7 - Picture 3. Best Beard ever!!

[zieak]

Thank you! I'm sure my brother would love the acknowledgment of his year and a half "working" on it! He plans on going to the World Beard & Moustache Championships in Norway in May. He hasn't decided on a category to compete in yet though.