how do you melt glass(i.e. beer bottle, cup,
etc.) without it cracking or shattering
during the cooling down process?

Slowly heat and cool it. No real trick.

What type of glass, then?

i don't know? i heat it up then when i let it sit for a while to let it cool. it starts to shatter and crack. just a bottle

What type of drill bit should I be using to make a hole in say, a glass bottle.

You no-good drug users always using your drugs and such.

I think you're supposed to cool it quickly, actually. Reverse tempering or whatnot. Don't just let it sit out though. Very bad.

Just do a search.. theres bound to be a university for glass blowers somewhere in the world who have a webpage telling you all about it.. odds are that for sure you'll find whether it has to be fast or slow cooling..

Also, try smashing one of the bottles.. If it shatters it's reinforced glass (probably not, but you never know) if it cracks, it's regular glass. There's a difference how each behaves, so I think that'd be something you need to know before you start

your supposed to cool glass very slowly, as in, in a 200deg. (may need to be hotter) oven all day

i'll be sure to try it