We've had successes and failures in 

flattening and slumping bottles. 



Kilns fire differently and matching the coefficient (rate of expansion) of glass and the firing schedule is critical to success. I'm all in for recycling but the unknown coefficient of a bottle can deliver unexpected results.



I searched the web and found that a bottle’s composition is often dictated by the beverage manufacturer's desired results for thermal performance in warming and cooling environments. With this bit of info, I experimented with flattening a vinegar bottle that included print on the glass (not a label). A concern was if the bottle was flattened using our preferred schedule, what would happen to the print? Would it distort, lift or flake-off? What would the results be if the bottle was slumped in a mold?



I created a different bottle flattening schedule with reduced ramp, target temperatures, and hold times. The bottle's neck was positioned on a ceramic bar to form a handle with the remainder of the bottle lying flat on the kiln shelf. Next to the vinegar bottle rested a beer bottle. 



The end result was a pleasant surprise. The text impression on the beer bottle did not distort or lose clarity. The print on the vinegar bottle was crisp with no distortion or flaking. The bottle looked as if it had been semi-slumped; it had curves and a slope just as if it had been fired in a mold.



Each of the bottles can be used as a spoon rest or as a small dish. I find their gentle curves and valleys more attractive than the standard flattened bottle. 



I will try another run at fusing bottles using a slightly tweaked schedule with the hopes of getting a more defined handle with less bulk. 



Your thoughts ... preferences .... tips?  Please leave your comment below. Thanks!