Upcycling Bottles to Lamps

Looking to make something of those old bottles? Want a fun DIY gift for any time of the year? Lets get creative!

What you will need:

Empty bottle
Dremel
Glass Cutting Bit
Screwdriver
Bottle Lamp Kit
Cord Switch
Grommet
Bulb
Shade
Filler
Funnel
Wrench

Drill Bottle

After selecting a bottle the first step is to decide where to drill a hole. It is important to choose a spot that is not too close to the bottom to avoid cracking it. I generally use a piece of tape but that is not required although highly recommended.

Mark where you plan on drilling and begin drilling. I also recommend using running water while drilling to prevent the bottle from cracking. I have cracked many bottles with or without water, however water helps significantly. Be sure to apply light pressure while removing the Dremel every few seconds and repeating the processes until through.

After you have drilled a clean hole, switch to a larger drill bit in order to widen the hole to fit the grommet.

Wire Bottle

This step varies depending on the size and the shape of the bottle:

Take the grommet and snake the wire through the hole until the grommet is more than the length of the bottle down the wire.

Take the cut end of the wire and snake it through the drilled hole and through the top of the bottle. Be creative with snaking it, remember gravity is your friend. However a coat hanger can be used to grab the wire if that is easier.

Take the grommet that is on the wire and place it in the hole until it is nice and snug.

Fill Bottle

It is very important that the wire is snaked through the bottle before filling it with stones (or whatever you choose) because there will be no way to snake the wire once filled.

In this example, I used a funnel to place the small stones but that is dependant on what you are filling the lamp with.

Once the lamp is filled up to the neck it is important to tap the bottle on the table in order to let the stones settle.

Refill what space is now there and repeat the process.

Prepare Cork

For this step you will need the threaded tube, two nuts, and cork piece.

Take one nut and place it a few rotations from the end of the tube.

Next take the cork and place it over the tube using the nut as a stopper.

Now take the second nut and screw it on the top of the cork until snug. Do not tighten too much otherwise it will expand the cork.

After preparing the cork piece thread the wire through the tube.

Insert cork into top of the bottle.

This is where tightening the top bolt is okay. The more you rotate the nut the tighter it will be on the cork forcing it to expand outward making am extremely snug fit

Prepare Socket

This step may vary depending on the socket kit you are using:

Take the wire and place it through the socket base

Attach the switch

Split the wire until you are able to wrap each comfortably around the two screws
Take a screwdriver and tighten until the screw is snug against the wire and its base

Split the wire until you are able to wrap each comfortably around the two screws

Take a screwdriver and tighten until the screw is snug against the wire and its base

Cover the switch with the sleeve

Cover the sleeve with the socket shell