Kilns in Toronto?
June 28, 2011 1:17 AM

Where in Toronto can I harness the power of a kiln to slump a bottle?

So my best friend in the whole world is skipping town at the end of the summer to do a post-graduate degree. I have a few things in mind for her going-away care package, but the pièce de résistance is this: I still have the empty tequila bottle that we split on the dark winter night that cemented our friendship (long, crazy story). I heard about bottle slumping and thought "Hey! This is the perfect thing." She's the best cook I know, and a slumped cutting board made out of That Bottle Of Shitty Tequila would be the perfect thing to send her away with.

The problem: I do not have a kiln. I do not know where kilns are found. I probably would not know a kiln to see one. Is there anywhere in Toronto (or near Toronto, even. Anywhere I could bike to in a day) that would either allow use of their kiln or say "Silly child, this is a grownup toy. Let me melt your swill bottle for a fair price"?

Alternatively, if anybody has a better idea of how to turn an empty 40 into a cool piece of art, I am all ears.
posted by Schlimmbesserung to Home & Garden (6 answers total)
Your gift idea sounds awesome, except for the part where you give her a glass cutting board. Speaking from experience, they're slippery to cut on, and dull good knives real fast, and make a horrible nails-on-chalk sound. All of which adds up to danger in the kitchen. Better you should make a slightly concave hors d'oeuvre tray as pictured in your link, or a big spoon rest.

In Toronto, I would try contacting Fantasy in Glass — they don't seem to have any slumping seminars scheduled near-term, but they might be able to help you on the premises. If nothing else, maybe they'd be able to hook you up with someone who would slump it for you.
posted by mumkin at 1:51 AM on June 28, 2011


Mumkin may already have the best answer. Good artists and their kin (and kiln) deserve everyone's support.

But if you have a blowtorch and a microwave...

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/02/beer-bottle-melted-in-a-m.html

...you can melt a glass bottle on your own!
posted by L'oeuvre Child at 2:10 AM on June 28, 2011


An hors d'oeuvre tray it is, then! Advice noted gratefully.

I will give Fantasy in Glass a call and see what they suggest. Thanks!
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 2:14 AM on June 28, 2011


If Fantasy in Glass doesn't work out, maybe try ArtZone; they used to offer slumping/other glasswork workshops and they might be able to help you out.
posted by thisjax at 6:11 AM on June 28, 2011


Harbourfront will do it i bet
posted by PinkMoose at 6:44 AM on June 28, 2011


You could also turn it into a vase.
posted by peagood at 7:37 AM on June 28, 2011


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