Apparatus provides transformation of bottles into cups from thermal shock separation
Invention allows you to reuse glass bottles with style and creativity
Glass can be recycled unlimitedly. Its recycling process requires less heat to carry out the casting and ends up saving approximately 70% energy and 50% water compared to production with "virgin" raw material. Even with all these advantages, glass is only the fourth most recycled material in the country - this is due to the requirements necessary to recycle it, which is not very convenient for interested companies. Another good option is to reuse the material, a process that reduces the cost of natural resources and energy. And that's exactly what Englishman Paul Kerry thought when creating the HLA Bottle Jig.
The strangely named item is nothing more than a support tool created to assist in cutting bottles in a safe, easy and practical way. The cutter allows you to reuse and transform glass bottles into cups. It is made of laser cut MDF to ensure better balance. The cutter blade, in turn, is made of nickel.
How it works
Cutting the bottle is relatively easy and with practice you can create your own style on how to make the perfect separation. There are four steps: preparation, marking, separation and finishing.
Preparation
Keeping in mind how you want your bottle, place it in the holder and adjust it to fit your project. When everything is right, attach the holder and adjust the cutting blade so that it touches the bottle.
Marking
Once the support is prepared, the appointment can be made. It takes place from the rotation of the bottle towards the blade in a continuous marking line that appears on the bottle.
Separation (thermal shock)
Over a sink, boiling water is applied along the line, as soon as the hot water runs along the line, the application of cold water is applied. This will cause a thermal shock that will separate the bottle.
Finishing
Once the bottle is separated, its edges will be sharp and therefore dangerous. To soften them, the creator suggests sanding the area until the bottle is soft and safe (see a product that facilitates this process).
There are different methods for cutting bottles, many of them dangerous. According to its creators, the HLA Bottle Jig provides minimal contact with sharp objects and is designed to pose no danger to the user.
To better understand how it works, take a look at the video below:
