The Bottle-abra Accent Light

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Welcome! This instructable covers how to make a Bottle-abra Accent Light.
This is also entered in the "DIY 2007 Halloween Contest" and the "Mash It Contest".

The idea of this light came from marc_alain and his Small-eco-footprint-living-room-light . In particular it was how soft the light was in his pictures that gave me the idea.

It was my thought "The Bottle-abra Accent Light" would create an Old Italian restaurant style atmosphere and I think it does. The videos just don't capture it as well as seen in person. The flicker flame bulb turned out great. There are many versatile uses for this lamp. You can create a spooky atmosphere, and old world Italian or Spanish restaurant look, a pirate ship look, a romantic interlude, or many other styles.

The video below is a condensed version of the steps take to make and assemble the Bottleabra.

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Step 1: Materials and Tools List

Tools
Safety glasses or goggles
Glass cutter
Candle
Roll of tape
Sander
200 Grit sandpaper
80 grit sandpaper
Saw
Wood stain (Golden Oak)
Brush
Wood glue

1 frosted wine bottle (Arbor Mist) $3.47 @ Wal-Mart
1 flicker bulb
Some wood you can cut in to respective sizes
Wire and light receptacle

Total cost for this project about $10 I only had to buy the wine, the light bulb, and wire and receptacle. I had everything else on hand.

DangerBunnie says: Oct 10, 2010. 10:21 AM

Pleeezzeee!!! What music did you use for your video??? Skull Candy!

Mr. Rig It (author) says: Oct 10, 2010. 4:37 PM

I don't recall what the name of it was. Now I feel bad because I should have cited it. I think I got it off of some free music techno site but I don't know which one.

kedwa30 says: May 16, 2010. 6:58 PM

I think the name is the best part! Not saying anything bad about the rest either. I am gonna make one to be wall mounted. Here's an idea... so many people are throwing out their old tube based monitors and TV's. Why not cut off the face and use that part as the diffuser? I just love to turn trash into treasure. Don't know whether or not that would work though.

Blofish says: Jun 27, 2010. 6:46 PM

how about giving it a try and make an instrucable about it... that what this does inspires the mind

Mr. Rig It (author) says: May 16, 2010. 7:10 PM

That would be cool

umquenaoexista says: Feb 23, 2009. 10:59 PM

Where Can i find the tool to cut the glass?How much would that cost? Thanks

teh darkcloud says: Aug 29, 2008. 5:20 PM

Awesome. I was wondering how to cut the bottom off of a glass bottle just a few days ago.

Mr. Rig It (author) says: Aug 29, 2008. 9:18 PM

thank you

spark master says: Dec 5, 2007. 5:27 AM

Interesting, but what is the misic in backround of video, Tangerine Dream? tnx Spark Master

Ward_Nox says: Oct 18, 2007. 11:56 PM

poor gallery glass inside roll it around a bit and it will color it and give it a bit of a liquid texture

Mr. Rig It (author) says: Oct 20, 2007. 4:43 PM

That is a good idea. I will keep it in mind for future projects. Thank you.

jongscx says: Oct 16, 2007. 9:03 PM

Personally, I would've nixed the wax on the outside and made battery-powered and with LEDs... but those are just stylistic choices. Would it be possible to paint the inside of the bottle and frost the outside, so as to get diffuse patterns? or stick a transparency inside the bottle to show through?

Mr. Rig It (author) says: Oct 17, 2007. 4:36 PM

The outside is already frosted it came that way (Arbor Mist bottle). A transparency is a good idea. The LED version is coming soon, I just have to get to it. The wax gives it an old world charm. Thank you for the ideas and suggestions.

jongscx says: Oct 17, 2007. 8:33 PM

agreed, though personally, I'm more for utility than aesthetics... the wax just made it to messy for my tastes. Do you have any experience with sanding the outside of the bottle with sandpaper by any chance? I was thinking, maybe mini ones of these made with beer bottles...

Mr. Rig It (author) says: Oct 17, 2007. 9:30 PM

Well it does work just the way I wanted it to and it looks the way I wanted it to. So really I got the best of both utility and aesthetics. The wax makes it smell good also, next time I will use hot glue for the same effect and it shouldn't be as messy. I used 80 grit and 200 grit to sand down the sharp edges, but I would think you could use 200 grit and maybe get that effect. But I don't really know. I think there are some other instructables on how to frost the glass. you may have to do a search. I am gong to make a smaller one using and led and hot glue. ihave so many things going I am not sure when I will get the time to do it. Thry using the mini-bar liquor bottles that would be cool.

jongscx says: Oct 17, 2007. 10:55 PM

I was thinking even going up to 800 grit, or my 1500 grit rubbing compound and a buffer... Dunno, I'll try it over fall break, maybe. Yeah, I definitely never thought about scented oils being released by the bulbs heat, tho using hot glue appeals more to me than dripping wax.

zoxx says: Oct 15, 2007. 11:29 AM

Nice. When I first saw the title I read it "bottle bra" and was utterly confused/intrigued. But that's neither here nor there...

Mr. Rig It (author) says: Oct 15, 2007. 4:13 PM

LOL I see what you are saying, I didn't look at it that way :-) I really tried to come up with a better name but this was the best I could do.

zoxx says: Oct 15, 2007. 5:45 PM

wasn't hating on the name at all. I dig it.

Mr. Rig It (author) says: Oct 15, 2007. 6:23 PM

No problem, I didn't think you were. I just wish I could have had something better. Oh well it's named guess I will have to live with it. Thanks for the positive comments they are appreciated.