We’ve featured Ephrem’s Bottle Cutter in MAKE:Vol 28, Matt Richardson’s Video (shown below) and in Make:Projects, so it’s about time we made it available in the Maker Shed! Re-purposing bottles into drinking glasses, vases, and decorations was originally popular in the 1960’s and 1970’s but it’s making a comeback. Early bottle cutting kits were complicated and often yielded unsatisfactory results which lead a man named Ephrem to develop his own bottle cutter. His adjustable steel jig greatly simplified scoring glass cylinders making it possible for anyone, with a little practice, to cut a bottle. Ephrem has made improvements over the years but what makes his cutter work hasn’t changed; Simply adjust the cutting jig, apply gentle pressure and rotate the bottle to make a complete score, heat it over the included candle, then cool the score with an ice cube. After some practice to learn the proper technique you’ll have bottles breaking cleanly, almost like magic! This deluxe kit includes the bottle cutting jig, carbide polishing compound, a candle, instructions, and a special adapter to allow cutting on the neck of the bottle. Perfect for making everything from drinking vessels to bottleneck guitar slides.
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