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How do you replace top on bottle?

 
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How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 10:24:57 AM   
oldcrownbock


Posts: 149
Joined: 3/22/2006
Status: offline 		I posted pic of my Excelsior bottle that needs top fixed I know nothing about this but I want to get it fixed.I looked on ebay and think I found some bottles that match but how can I tell? they are $30+ to buy.Are all tops same size if look same beer bottle wise? How is this done? money is no matter just want it fixed.Does anyone do this work still.

Thanks
Post #: 1
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 12:29:11 PM   
ombudsman

 

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/25/2009
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline 		This may be no help at all, but here is how I would do it if it were my bottle and it was very important to me.

I have repaired many chipped opals by using Epoxy 330 (water clear epoxy,) tinting the resin appropriately. You can buy special colorants for epoxy, but I have found that Testor's paint (in extremely small amounts) works just fine. After the resin cures, I sand and polish the repair just like a stone. The epoxy seems to "pull" the flashes of opal fire up into it (visually) and the repairs are essentially invisible.

As to your bottle, first I would lightly sand the broken surfaces (to provide "tooth" for the epoxy) then I would create a mold (on the bottle) and fill it with properly tinted epoxy. It would, of course, take a good deal of pre-pour experimentation to get the color right. Then I'd sand (and shape the very top) and polish the repair. Making the mold correct would, obviously, be the difficult part of the job. I can think of several possible ways to do this.

Another way to do this would be to plug the mouth of the bottle and simply mold big globs of tinted epoxy on the broken sections (again, after providing some tooth,) then, using thin sanding disks and wheels (Dremel maybe?) to "carve" the proper shape. Then fine sand and polish just like a soft stone. This might be the easier method, if the operator is skillful.

This is what I would do with my own bottle - and I'd have to very badly want it repaired to invest this much work. I would not take on this job for money.

Hope this is helpful.
Dave

EDIT: I just looked again at your bottle. I think the repair I described would definitely be manageable. Please do not ask me to do it. I have way too much on my plate to take it on.

< Message edited by ombudsman -- 1/28/2010 12:35:19 PM >

(in reply to oldcrownbock)
Post #: 2
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 1:45:55 PM   
oldcrownbock


Posts: 149
Joined: 3/22/2006
Status: offline 		Thanks  for info and that might do job I know people have talked about replacing tops and see where it could be done anyone do that or know of someone who does?

(in reply to ombudsman)
Post #: 3
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 3:36:32 PM   
suzanne

 

Posts: 689
Joined: 3/29/2009
Status: offline 		I've never done exactly such a repair but I wouldn't go with e-bay unless I could be absolutely assured of a perfect match;  especially if I had to spend 30.00 on it.    I would get as exact as possible DIAMETER of the base of the blob (because it might be tapered) and take the bottle with you when you go to auctions and stuff so you can get an exact COLOR match.   Can you tell if your blob has a MOLD SEAM that goes all the way to the top?  Those are the 3 things you would want to match.  I would not be in a hurry since it may take some time to stumble across the perfect candidate. 

You would have to have a way to shear the old top off completely right at the point of the top of the decorative ring so as to hide the repair> sort of like how a plastic surgeon would hide a surgery scar in a naturally occuring fold of  a persons skin.   I don't know the ins and outs of cutting glass but maybe someone on here could be of help.  Good luck. 




(in reply to oldcrownbock)
Post #: 4
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 3:50:07 PM   
suzanne

 

Posts: 689
Joined: 3/29/2009
Status: offline 		I forgot to mention, to get a blob with the same bottom diameter you would just have to get one with the same circumfrence.

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Post #: 5
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 4:34:10 PM   
ombudsman

 

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/25/2009
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: suzanne

You would have to have a way to shear the old top off completely right at the point of the top of the decorative ring so as to hide the repair> sort of like how a plastic surgeon would hide a surgery scar in a naturally occuring fold of  a persons skin.   I don't know the ins and outs of cutting glass but maybe someone on here could be of help.  Good luck. 



I have lapidary diamond blades that would certainly saw the top off, though if it were my bottle, I wouldn't choose to try to repair it that way. Most rock shops would have the equipment to cut the top off. The cost should be minimal.

Personally, I would consider a bottle repaired with a replacement lip as assembled rather than repaired.

< Message edited by ombudsman -- 1/28/2010 4:37:14 PM >

(in reply to suzanne)
Post #: 6
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 7:03:38 PM   
oldcrownbock


Posts: 149
Joined: 3/22/2006
Status: offline 		Thanks to both of you for input very much to think of far as matching up.What ya mean by rock shops? also do you split the top off by cutting or just cut across? Seams like ya take new top and get extra glass out(with demeral?) and slip it over old bottle? all new to me

(in reply to ombudsman)
Post #: 7
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 7:18:20 PM   
ombudsman

 

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/25/2009
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline 		I think what Suzanne was referring to is to: cut off the broken top and glue on an appropriate top from the "donor" bottle.

BTW, an advantage of the repair strategy I described is that if your first attempt(s) fail, you can just remove your work by soaking it in acetone for a day or three.

A rock shop is a business that sells rocks, minerals, fossils, lapidary equipment (including rock tumblers and grit) and other things pertinent to amateur earth science. Correct me if I'm wrong, but since you had not heard the term "rock shop", I'm guessing that you don't live "around here"

(in reply to oldcrownbock)
Post #: 8
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 7:20:45 PM   
JOETHECROW


Posts: 9804
Joined: 9/3/2005
From: Northwestern Pa. (Near scenic Lake Perfidy)
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: oldcrownbock

I posted pic of my Excelsior bottle that needs top fixed I know nothing about this but I want to get it fixed.I looked on ebay and think I found some bottles that match but how can I tell? they are $30+ to buy.Are all tops same size if look same beer bottle wise? How is this done? money is no matter just want it fixed.Does anyone do this work still.

Thanks



This probably occured to you, but couldn't you go to your local dump and gather up some broken blobtops to experiment with? ....Just a thought...(or perhaps you don't have such an area to go to?)....bummer if you don't...                                     Joe

_____________________________

Joe

```````````````````````````````````
In the woods we return to reason and faith.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooTyuRd9zSg&feature=related




(in reply to oldcrownbock)
Post #: 9
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 7:35:28 PM   
ombudsman

 

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/25/2009
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JOETHECROW

quote:

ORIGINAL: oldcrownbock

I posted pic of my Excelsior bottle that needs top fixed I know nothing about this but I want to get it fixed.I looked on ebay and think I found some bottles that match but how can I tell? they are $30+ to buy.Are all tops same size if look same beer bottle wise? How is this done? money is no matter just want it fixed.Does anyone do this work still.

Thanks



This probably occured to you, but couldn't you go to your local dump and gather up some broken blobtops to experiment with? ....Just a thought...(or perhaps you don't have such an area to go to?)....bummer if you don't...                                     Joe



That's a good idea.

(in reply to JOETHECROW)
Post #: 10
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 8:24:35 PM   
oldcrownbock


Posts: 149
Joined: 3/22/2006
Status: offline 		Lol I looked around for "rock shop" but only found drums and guitars just kidding but will look into it.Hi Joe that is nice bottle and it is only $20? sorry was gonna ask ya thanks  for pic.I dont have any area to find bottles but these are oldies are 1880 blobs applied as well?

(in reply to ombudsman)
Post #: 11
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 8:58:13 PM   
JOETHECROW


Posts: 9804
Joined: 9/3/2005
From: Northwestern Pa. (Near scenic Lake Perfidy)
Status: offline 		Hmmmm,....I suppose I should never take our old dumps up in the woods as a given,...Someday they'll be gone too,....(sigh!) Anyhow, It shouldn't take too much effort to find your new top....It's not a weird color or anything>???Someone in your area might be able to give you some broken blobs, or take you to a 'dug out' dump for frags.... Also,..yes that Golden hill bottle...19.00 + shipping to a good home...  Thanks for asking...                Joe                       

_____________________________

Joe

```````````````````````````````````
In the woods we return to reason and faith.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooTyuRd9zSg&feature=related




(in reply to oldcrownbock)
Post #: 12
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 10:04:36 PM   
oldcrownbock


Posts: 149
Joined: 3/22/2006
Status: offline 		Joe you know anyone who can do a better job then me? I never done it before lol so if someone hasdoneit they got one on me.

(in reply to JOETHECROW)
Post #: 13
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/28/2010 10:32:51 PM   
JOETHECROW


Posts: 9804
Joined: 9/3/2005
From: Northwestern Pa. (Near scenic Lake Perfidy)
Status: offline 		There was someone on here that cut down a broken top torpedo style bottle for someone (into a vase/pencil cup style thing) and did a nice job,...but I'm not sure about actual repairing/replacing......I'll keep my ears and eyes open for someone. Have you tried the search function on here?.......                                            J.B.

_____________________________

Joe

```````````````````````````````````
In the woods we return to reason and faith.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooTyuRd9zSg&feature=related




(in reply to oldcrownbock)
Post #: 14
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/29/2010 9:21:40 AM   
suzanne

 

Posts: 689
Joined: 3/29/2009
Status: offline 		Or maybe you could contact a local glass shop or windshield replacement shop.  Ace hardware stores do glass cutting also.  The 2 tops would have to be cut off at a pretty accurate right angle.  Then you could take the new top and set it on the bottle to see if it lines up well before actually gluing it on.  I use windshield repair kit from autozone.  The only part of the kit you really need is the resin and the clear plastic curing strips.  The sun does the rest.  It's easy.

(in reply to oldcrownbock)
Post #: 15
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/29/2010 11:26:11 AM   
BarbaraInCalif

 

Posts: 327
Joined: 9/21/2009
Status: offline 		Hey Rick...look up "lapidary" in the yellow pages or online..that will get you to the kind of rock shop you want!

Found this picture on eBay today and thought of you...and how NOT to do the repair. My apologies (geez I miss spellcheck here) if this bottles belongs to a forum member:




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by BarbaraInCalif -- 1/29/2010 11:27:09 AM >

(in reply to suzanne)
Post #: 16
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/29/2010 11:40:18 AM   
ombudsman

 

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/25/2009
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline 		I realize that this is an issue of personal attitudes, and we can all do what we are comfortable with, but...

If you "repair" this bottle by cutting off the damaged top and replacing it with an undamaged similar top you will be discarding part of the original object and turning the bottle into a "fake." The word "fake" is strong and wouldn't really apply unless the bottle were offered for sale as original, but still, what you would have is a facsimile of the original bottle.

Even if the results of the method I have proposed does not produce an invisible repair, at least you have recreated the pre-damaged bottle without destroying part of the original. I'm sure you have seen, in museums, ancient objects repaired with very obvious fills. This is the same deal. No museum would cut off the damaged top of an ancient amphora and replace it with an undamaged one.

The resin method I have proposed has, as I have pointed out, the advantage of retreat - the craftsman can easily remove an failed attempt with no loss of anything but time.

There are certainly businesses that specialize in the restoration of porcelain and glass objects. A professional could certainly produce an invisible (or nearly so) restoration. No one here, myself included, seems to be familiar with specific companies. You can find these businesses if you try. You might check with larger museums as to the best company. I believe I can assure you that none of these businesses would suggest that you cut off original glass to put on a "fake" top.
Dave

(in reply to suzanne)
Post #: 17
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/29/2010 11:59:42 AM   
ombudsman

 

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/25/2009
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline 		A Google search for "antique glass restoration" (without the quotes) produced over a million hits. Try it.

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Post #: 18
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/29/2010 2:08:21 PM   
suzanne

 

Posts: 689
Joined: 3/29/2009
Status: offline 		Messing around with a broken bottle frequently results in a more broken bottle.  Maybe it is sometimes better to do something "fake" that looks real than to end up with a pile of broken glass.

(in reply to ombudsman)
Post #: 19
RE: How do you replace top on bottle? - 1/29/2010 2:20:57 PM   
ombudsman

 

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/25/2009
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: suzanne

Messing around with a broken bottle frequently results in a more broken bottle.  Maybe it is sometimes better to do something "fake" that looks real than to end up with a pile of broken glass.


One is more likely to break a bottle cutting the top off than by adding and shaping a resin filet. In any case, and this is strictly my preference, I would prefer real to "looks real."

(in reply to suzanne)
Post #: 20
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