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Jun 04, 2022 | Samuel Albert
How Do You Make A Homemade Beer Glass?
If buying expensive beer glasses hurts your wallet badly, consider making them DIY to go light on your wallet. Not only can you make beer glasses for yourself, but also you can gift these to close friends and family. These are incredible gift options as you can customize and add a personal touch to them. You can either make them from scratch or get the basic beer glass and decorate it to suit your style.
PHOTO BY engin akyurt / UNSPLASH
To make a homemade beer glass,
Even if you are not great at DIYing, you can create something that will suit your skill level, and you can end up making a unique, rare mug that you can be proud of. So, try your hand at handcrafting or hand decorating them. There is a niche for all of us - for a painter, a craftsman, a carpenter, a glassworker, or even a novice like me and you.
Let's start by probing a little further to find out which one will be easier for us to create while exploring all the other available options.
The answer is simple. Repurposing a beer bottle. If you are a beer buff, you would have more than one bottle in hand (in case of any failed attempts).
But first, choose your beer bottle. I would prefer to choose a beer bottle with the brand name engraved or painted on it, so you don't need to double work by etching or drawing on them later. Plus, it gives you an authentic beery feel.
Wear safety gloves while trying this. The thread burns and cuts the bottle neatly. Now, smoothen the jagged bottle edges using sandpaper at a 45-degree angle.
You can also use a sanding machine. If you are using one, wear a safety mask to cover your mouth and nose and wear protective eye gear to protect your eyes from the minute shards of glass.
Spray a little silicon carbide on a work surface and sprinkle little water on it (as this chemical can irritate your eyes and nose). Start by smoothening the glass edges with a circular motion and finish it in a figure-eight pattern.
Once the glass is smooth enough, wash it properly before pouring yourself a drink in it. You have officially now created your first DIY drinking glass/beer glass and deserve one.
PHOTO BY Thomas Despeyroux / UNSPLASH
III) The Candle Method: Another popular method to cut a bottle is to use a bottle cutter to neatly mark the score around the bottle. Once that is done, it is time for heat and cold treatment of the bottle.
Light up a candle. Hold the bottle away from the direct heat, and rotate the bottle at the score. After a few seconds, run an ice cube using your fingers around the score of the bottle. The bottle cuts open clean.
Some people use an ice bath. This can cause uneven edges at the score, or the bottle can even break. So, avoid it. You need a boatload of patience if you are a newbie to this process.
PHOTO BY Paolo Nicolello / UNSPLASH
You can try the same with wine bottles, but historically they are a bit thicker than beer bottles, so cutting them may be more challenging.
(DISClAIMER: If you are a kid reading this, you must try this method under adult supervision only)
PHOTO BY bluemorphos / PIXABAY
You need some carpentry tools and skills to make your own wooden beer mug. Careful and detailed planning and precision in cutting the wood are indispensable. Remember to impeccably follow a specific plan while making the wooden mug.
First, choose a wood that doesn't ooze out its flavor when soaked. Then, meticulously carve out a circular polygon and wood strips out of the wood. Crafting a wooden beer mug requires a lot of cutting, milling, chiseling, countless measuring and crosschecking measurements, gluing, and polishing.
Once the basic mug is put together, cut two identical metal belts and drill holes in them uniformly. Rivet them for an authentic finish. Now, make a steel handle and fix it to the metal rings. Next, secure the wooden mug and push in the belt-and-handle assembly. Finally, securely attach the rings to the mug by nailing a few nails into the wood.
Try adding a rugged look to your mug by opting for a wooden or a rope handle instead of a metal one.
Time to enjoy your chilled beverage in your DIY wooden mug. Indeed, beer drinking can't get better than this!
PHOTO BY Rachel Claire / PEXELS
The sky is the limit when it comes to decorating your beer glasses.
You will need a pair of scissors, painter's tape, glitter, mod podge, a foam brush for applying mod podge, rubbing alcohol, and some cotton for cleaning.
Tape the glass's lip and upper portion of the glass with the painter's tape (You definitely don't want your glitter here!) Rub the rest of the glass clean with rubbing alcohol for a better finish.
Choose your mod podge. If you are putting your glass in the dishwasher, use the dishwasher-safe one. Otherwise, go for the regular one.
Using the foam brush, apply mod podge generously. Sprinkle the glitter. Rest it for a couple of hours, then apply the second coat of mod podge and respray glitter. Rest it for two hours. Apply the final coat of mod podge and the glitter coat. Set aside for a month before using it.
PHOTO BY Michelle Riach / PEXELS
Picture suggestion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0ze1IqKOz0
To do that:
Suppose you would like to try with two colors - one on the outside and another on the inside. You can stick your stickers first, then paint with mod podge, spray first glitter color, seal with mod podge, then sprinkle the second glitter color and again seal with mod podge.
If you put quotes on the outside, fix the phrases using a transfer sheet. (Tip: Cut the sides of the transfer sheet so the vinyl holograms sit perfectly on the glass.) Then, finish it off with a smooth resin finish.
You can take pics from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dyPdu3VYxo
You can resort to the liquid chalkboard marker method. First, write your quote or draw your picture on plain paper. (You can ask your artist friend to help with the freehand drawing.) Next, tape it firmly inside the beer glass or mug so it doesn't move. Now use the chalkboard marker pen to write the lettering on the outside. Once it is done, remove the tape and the paper. This one has a more personal touch and appeal to it.
Get a basic beer glass from the dollar store. Choose your letters and create your stencil. Ensure your stencil has ample space around the letters, so the etching cream doesn't run over.
Clean the glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and transfer the stenciled words onto the glass surface using a transfer sheet. Use a weeding tool for help. While sticking the transfer sheet, paste the center of the sheet first and smoothen out the sides to avoid creases. Try to remove any wrinkles or bubbles the best you can and aim for a cleaner, smooth finish.
Get your etching cream from any craft supply store. Wear safety gloves and eyeglasses while handling the etching cream to avoid any skin contact with the cream as it can burn your skin.
Apply the etching cream liberally on the exposed glass portion in the stencil but be careful that it doesn't overflow and cross the stencil border. Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes.
After the required time,
Your beautifully etched beer glass is ready for pouring in your favorite chilled beer.
Handmade and self-decorated beer mugs add a nice touch to your home decor. It definitely is something you can be proud of making on your own. Creating it adds a personal touch to it. The minor manufacturing flaws are forgivable and make it unique and rare. And when we make something, we leave a part of us with it. So, go ahead and display them in your living room or gift wrap them and send it to near and dear ones who will cherish and keep them.