Liquor Lamp

an easy way to turn an empty liquor bottle into a cool lamp.

Step 1: Materials

you will need...

-empty bottle
-glass drill bit
-drill
-lampshade
-cord (with switch)
-light socket
-light bulb
-electrical tape

Step 2: Drill the hole

wash the empty bottle with warm soapy water so mould doesnt grow when the lamp is done.

drill a hole into the side of the bottle near the bottom. this is where the lamp cord will enter.

only use a drill bit that is meant for cutting glass, a typical bit wont work. if you dont have a glass bit you can pick one up at any hardware store for about $5.

Step 3: Clean the hole

its a good idea to take a file to the edges of the drilled hole. the glass is sharp and could cut the cord which wouldnt be fun.

Step 4: Feed the wire

feed the wire through the drilled hole and pull it out through the top.

Step 5: Connect the socket

strip the ends of the wires and connect them to the screws on the socket

Step 6: Electrical tape

put some electrical tape around the contact points to cover them. you can also keep the tape going and use it to hold the socket tight to the bottle.

Step 7: Screw in the bulb

once the socket is firmly in place screw in the bulb.

Step 8: Put on the shade

youre done!

Comments

[Hoaxinmi]

Great Instructable. I used an old lamp from a 2nd hand store. I'm having a little trouble finding a lampshade though. The best part is emptying the bottle. This is one of those 1.5 liters. I just kept the cork and drilled a whole in it.

[Heywasup]

dude seriously everyone knows you can get a lampshade at Ikea!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hoaxinmi]

The only Ikea in MI is 2 hours away

[Heywasup]

Oh lol. Than i suggest you get a lamp and use the shade. Or if you find a goo d one on a lamp in a store u an take it. >:v)

[GitarGr8]

I did the exact same thing because I didn't feel that electrical tape was going to be very secure. I just drilled a hole in the cork and used a threaded nipple to attach the harp and socket.

I ended up spending a bunch on parts at Home Depot, but I found that this kit has most of what you need for cheap:
http://www.lampshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=R8001&Category_Code=10_02d_PARTS_ELECTRIC_KITS

Great instructable, thanks for sharing.

[cm4bleenmb64]

Walmart, K-Mart, Meijer, Dollar General, Family Dollar, thrift shops, etc. Lamp shades are not that hard to find. I wouldn't even be surprised if there are some instructables for making your own!

[frenzy]

have great news!

This posting has won today's "I Made It" Challenge. For winning you will receive a 3 month pro membership!

Thanks for using instructables!

http://www.instructables.com/community/June-is-I-Made-It-Challenge-Month-Win-a-Pro-Mem/

[buzzedupplenty]

such a great idea, should start a business boozelamps.com.
I was going to, but no time, so im offering my domain 2 whoever
is interested...

[farflungfloyd]

I've made about 6 of these (they make great gifts). I suggest filling the bottle with something to weigh it down. Otherwise you run the risk of the lamp being top heavy. You can use marbles, nuts and bolts or coloured beads for the filling...

[tjpsurman]

I got the idea to take my 1.75 Jagermeister and do this project. I assumed I would need all of the parts listed above, but I was trying to figure out how I could instead of a traditional switch, get a rheostat to control the lighting. The big idea is to utilize the cap of the bottle as the rheostat, any suggestions on the best place to find one that small? Radioshack was a dive so far.

[chucksfc]

if you make the hole a just a little bigger, you can use a rubber grommet or bushing here and do a little less filing - the rubber also protects and secures the wire nicely. These grommets are usually in the small specialty bins or drawers at most hardware stores.

[senatorrosewater]

This is super cheap and super fast. took me about an hour, and that included the trip to home depot. this is an awesome product, and if you haven't made it yet, what are you waiting for?

[senatorrosewater]

I got a plug at home depot that comes apart with a screw, then used wire strippers to clear the ends of my lamp wire, and bolted them into the new plug. Its easy and clean, and the plug was only $1.99, about the same price as electrical tape.

[senatorrosewater]

Since my socket was already hardwired, I found it much easier to run a string up through the drilled hole to the bottle mouth, tie it to the cord, and pull the (plugless) cord through).

[senatorrosewater]

Wrap a towel around the bottle (except where you're drilling) if you're holding the bottle in a vise. I stained my label.

[senatorrosewater]

I did not need any electrical tape, but used super glue instead. I also used parts from an old lamp, and a brand new plug, although without the new plug, the electrical tape would have been necessary to splice the wires.

[Heywasup]

seriously what are the chances of cracking the bottle on a scale of 1-10

[nickfarnell]

if you buy the right drill bit and have a little patience your chances of being successful are probably more than 90%. you can get a glass bit from any decent sized hardware store - it looks like a spade (i think there is a pic here somewhere). just go slow and dont apply too much pressure if you use a normal drill bit...your chance of breaking the bottle is pretty close to 100% good luck!

[Heywasup]

Thanks!

[XDben]

ok, i'm all but done. really cool project! i might be making one for one of my friends too! just a tip to anyone out there, do what i did to keep this cheap- go to goodwill and pick up an old lamp with a cord with a switch. i bought a black one for about $4 and cut the cord off and stripped the wires. i also took the black lampshade off and the small lightbulb out. so i got probably 15 bucks worth of stuff from one 4 dollar lamp. pretty cool! i'll try and post some pictures of mine some time this week. =]
thanks for the awesome instructable.

[nickfarnell]

good stuff! cant wait to see the pics

[Heywasup]

excuse me nickfarnell what are the chances of breaking the bottle on a scale of 1-10 i want to use my sisters favorite liquor bottle but i dont want to crack it shell kill me

[Doctor What]

My sister collects liquor bottles for some reason. This'll be a good gift for her. (+)

[Heywasup]

my sister collects bottles too. im making one for her too.

[XDben]

cool! i'm making one today for my room wiith a jones soda bottle, i'll be the only one on the block with a GreenApple lamp! ;)

[Yerboogieman]

yeah, im using a citronge (orange Patron) for mine

[jdpadilla]

hey koolaid, what did you use as cap for the patron bottles? I have a few i'd like to turn into oil lamps.]

[Yerboogieman]

i didnt make it yet, but it wasnt a regular patron bottle, it was a square one with a regular cap, i still didnt finish the bottle

[XDben]

nice!

[sickdog74]

Cool! You inspired me, I'm gonna make one!

[Heywasup]

Sorry i meant sisters

[Heywasup]

im making it for my iters 23 birthday

[incorrigible packrat]

Yeeaahh! Let's git Tanq'd.

[extrememtbr69]

instead of a glass bit you can use a dremel with a grinding stone to make the hole

[mrblusky]

A small hand switch somewhere between the wall socket and bottle end would make it a bit more user friendly too me thinks.

[mrblusky]

Me like!,great instructable,pretty much idiot proof.

[Shifrin]

Great Instructable!

[nickfarnell]

i agree, there could be a better way...but i was shooting for the 15/15 rule. under $15 and under 15 minutes.

[SWV1787]

another thought this would make a great gift for my friend who is turning 21 (legal drinking age here in the states)

[SWV1787]

I think there must be another way to hold the socket in place rather than eectrical tape it looks so... unprofessional. I have a lamp made from an old stoneware whisky jug and it has a larger socket that was hooked to a coller that went through a hole drilled in the cork for the jug. it looks nice but the cork is only press-fit in the jug and it pulls out easy.