How to flatten wine bottles without a kiln

Muyiwa
Jan 16, 2021
3 min read

I told a friend that he can flatten a bottle without it getting broken into shards. he replied "wow is that even possible? Of course, it is possible. You can flatten wine bottles into different shapes. You can do more than just that by adding decorations such as beads to your shaped bottle to appear more attractive. People mostly shape or melt bottles with a klin machine (a type of oven used to produces high temperatures sufficient for hardening, drying, and chemical changes).

However, not everyone has a Kiln at home or within reach. So, if you don't have a kiln but love to or would love to flatten bottles, I've got a way out for you. I have put the best alternative way to flatten a bottle in-form of a guide.

Flatten bottle | Source: Pinterest

Guide on How to Flatten a Bottle Wine without Kiln

So, I'm breaking out this guide on how to flatten a wine bottle without a kiln. So yes, you can flatten a wine bottle without a kiln. Forget the rumours that only a kiln can flatten a bottle perfectly. You can use a campfire to flatten a bottle too, a very scorching campfire will do.

Klin machine

What You Will Need to Flatten a Bottle Wine With a Campfire

Items or tools you will need to flatten a bottle with a campfire are not hard to find. It can be gotten anywhere around a common home.

Gloves
Big thick tile
Safety glasses
Wine Bottle
Thin fire fiber paper
Long Metal Skewer or Pair of Tongs

Step 1: Start a Campfire

Get some woods such as oak, beech or birch that can burn for a long time. Lit it and have a seat beside the campfire, a few feet away. You aren't standing all through the process. It takes for long hours, so be sure to start the fire with some friends for a fun and thrilling experience.

Bottle into a fire Source: shutterstock

Step 2: Be Protective

Be aware, you might miss some steps or overdo a step or two as this might be your first time trying out this method. Any misstep can lead to glass explosion and the flinging of super-hot-melted-glass-bits can be all everywhere. I would recommend you wear safety eye protection and two heat-resistant gloves.

Step 3: Flatten the bottle

When the fire is very hot, very well above 200 degrees, put a thin fire fiber paper on the tile and put the bottle on the fire fiber paper now. Put it into the fire. While the fire burns the bottle, tilt the bottle to different sides of the thick tile - on the fire - severally.

Step 4: Cooling the Flattened Bottle

The bottle will flatten completely after 10 - 15 hours. Now, remove every wood that can keep the fire going. Next, leave the flatten bottle in the ashes and coals for some time.

Step 5: Take What Yours

While on gloves, use a long metal skewer or pair of tongs to bring out the bottle with the thick tile from what left of the ashes. Gently, remove the flatten bottle away from the thin fire fibre paper on the thick tile. And there you go, you have a flattened bottle.

Flatten a wine bottle: Before and after Source: Esty

Make sure you use eye protection and gloves — precisely a heat-resistant glove — for safety. After following all the process correctly, without missing a step, you will have a flattened wine bottle. Put it on display somewhere at home to make an interesting piece of artwork.