How can I melt a beer bottle into an ashtray without it breaking in an open fire?

Question

I've heard it can be done on an open fire.

Kiln is not an option.

Have tons of wood and no anticipated shortage of beer bottles if I ask around.

Got propane, acetelyne, mapp, etc.

It's been done in a open wood flame.
And the results are terrific.

Want to recreate it with best odds of success.
No, I don't know who and how exactly they did it - but it's not one of those rural legends either.

Before shaping problems and all that...

1. First hurdle is getting glass beer bottle to melt w/o cracking first.

2. Probably be best if it would melt more it less straight down into pool?

3. Repeat 1 & 2 until you get best results.

Complete meltdown is OK.
Perhaps it could melt down over a round rock and end up inverted?

So far, none of you are going to even be considered for "Myth Busters" internship. Not even for "off-camera guy getting the coffee" gofer job.

All so negative!

You would probably all say that it's impossble to make great charcoal in a 55-gallon drum too.

I could buy glass ashtray or I could cut bottom off of bottle to make one (used to have a toy/kit that'd do that).

Nothing on cracking problem.

Putting bottle in sand and corning reference at least are thinking. Have read the question correctly and not ("List all reasons why you think it's impossible to" ... ).

No way to make wood fire hot enough?
Fan, blower? I guess the iron age a was myth too?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Blonde X.

1. Never said I smoked or drank.
2. Never said it was for me.
3. Never said that I wanted (or anyone) wanted to use it.

But, just in case - at least smoking and drinking can change - but you're always going to be blonde (it just breaks my little heart!)

Answer 1

With great difficulty! Slumping glass [where you change its shape without melting completely] requires controlled heating and cooling. This is very hard to do with a gas torch. You could try burying the bottle in sand and building a fire on top and letting it burn slowly ie; like a charcoal fire. Over time it could "slump" Legend has it that this was the way glass was discovered. Sand contains Silica, a component of glass.Best of luck!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How can I melt a beer bottle into an ashtray without it breaking in an open fire?
I've heard it can be done on an open fire.

Answer 4

Beer Bottle Fire Pit

Answer 5

The reason the glass breaks is because it heats too fast, or it heats unevenly (look up glass COE), or doesn't get properly annealed. The key is to heat glass slowly (ramp phase), till you get the desired shape. Heat the glass all the way around (like in a sealed chamber). Hold the glass at a specific temp (soak phase). This temp varies with most slumping occurring at about 1300-1410 degrees for around 10 + mins. Then you need to turn off heat and flash vent till you get to about 1100 degrees. Once the temp holds to 1100 degrees leave temp off till it cools to 955 degrees naturally. You need to hold the heat at 955 degrees for about 15 mins. This may require you to add a little heat to keep it from dropping too low too quick, (anneal phase). The anneal phase is extremely important to prevent thermal stress fractures. Once you have completed the anneal phase, you can remove all the heat, without opening the chamber, until the glass cools completely on it's own. DO NOT PEEK at your glass piece until it is completely cool. No matter what the glass has done, there is nothing you can do at this point to change it now. If you open the chamber before it is completely cool, it will undoubtedly cause your piece to develop thermal stress fractures and break, if not immediately, in will in time. As you can see, you will need a thermostat for proper glass slumping, as it is seriously a science and can cause serious popping and flying glass. Your best bet is to do some research on kiln fired glass to understand the temps of the different stages of glass melting and annealing. We in the hot glass business call this a firing schedule. Good luck and might I suggest wearing eye protection and a leather apron if you plan on doing this on your own in an open pit. There is nothing like hot glass exploading and hitting your flesh. It sticks like syrup.

Answer 6

I seriously doubt that you could get a fire hot enough on a small scale. Did you try a flame working torch? If you go to the website for Corning Museum of Glass www.cmog.org they probably have pictures of things and maybe for sale. They can at least give you the answer that you need if you write to them.. Good luck!

Answer 7

Perhaps using a propane torch very slowly circling the bottle, allowing it to melt.

Answer 8

So I also wanted to know this answer so I just actually did it and this is what I got from it

This is a glass Heineken bottle

Answer 9

Use MAP gas, it's hotter than Propane. And maybe some gloves and tools wouldn't hurt, either!!!

Answer 10

try a kiln