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Set the mood of your next dinner party with these glowing wine bottle table lamps. They are easy to build with with parts from your local hardware store and art supply shop. Plus, since they run on batteries they will last much longer than any candle. Show off your inner eco-geek by explaining to your guests how these LED based lamps are more environmentally friendly than regular candles since most candles are made from paraffin wax which is derived from petroleum! Eeek! Burning petroleum based candles is not my idea of fun. Also, since there is no flame, there's no risk of one of your inebriated dinner guests knocking it over and setting fire to your nice table runner.
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Signing UpStep 1The ingredients
To build the table lamp you'll need the following items:
- One 6 inch piece of 1/2inch copper pipe
- One 3/4 inch to 3/4 inch copper pipe coupler
- One 3/4 inch to 1/2 inch copper pipe reducer
- One 1/2 inch copper end cap
- One hot glue stick (the more transparent the better)
- One wine bottle cork
- One as-bright-as-you-can-find White LED (Note: Most white LED's like this one http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/LEDlamps/C513A-WSS&WSN.pdf Require 3.2V and 20mA to drive them. In this project we're gonna use 3AA batteries which should give us 4.5V and 40mA of current. So you have a couple options: find an LED that can handle this current and voltage, use one that can't handle the current and voltage but know that you'll be cutting the life of the LED significantly, solder a resistor in-line with the LED leads to limit the current, put two LED's in parallel to split the ~40mA giving each one ~20ma a piece.)
- Three AA batteries (Or two, depending on the LED you use)
- One empty wine bottle (not pictured)
Also needed... Crisco (or some other brand) vegetable shortening. You'll see why in a few steps,
- One 6 inch piece of 1/2inch copper pipe
- One 3/4 inch to 3/4 inch copper pipe coupler
- One 3/4 inch to 1/2 inch copper pipe reducer
- One 1/2 inch copper end cap
- One hot glue stick (the more transparent the better)
- One wine bottle cork
- One as-bright-as-you-can-find White LED (Note: Most white LED's like this one http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/LEDlamps/C513A-WSS&WSN.pdf Require 3.2V and 20mA to drive them. In this project we're gonna use 3AA batteries which should give us 4.5V and 40mA of current. So you have a couple options: find an LED that can handle this current and voltage, use one that can't handle the current and voltage but know that you'll be cutting the life of the LED significantly, solder a resistor in-line with the LED leads to limit the current, put two LED's in parallel to split the ~40mA giving each one ~20ma a piece.)
- Three AA batteries (Or two, depending on the LED you use)
- One empty wine bottle (not pictured)
Also needed... Crisco (or some other brand) vegetable shortening. You'll see why in a few steps,
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-byvkYEUP9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd8p7LQFD7k
All super easy to build for an crafty person like yourself.
Second, when I tried to go up to the 3/4 inch diameter, that does not fit through the neck of the wine bottle.
These are supposed to be my centerpieces in my wedding in two months - any one who can provide asistance will be greatly appreciated!
Sorry you are having this issue. I'm excited that you've decided to use this project as a centerpiece for your wedding.
I've built a number of these from copper components purchased at different hardware stores. What I've come to realize that copper pipes and fittings are not all exactly the same!
What it sounds like is that you've purchased some copper pipe which has thicker walls than what I used in the project. Since pipes are measure by their outer diameter its possible that between different pipe suppliers this inner diameter could change.
I realize this does not help all that much in your case since you've already purchased the pipe. All I can recommend is to return the pipe you've purchased and try buying the pipe somewhere else. When you go to buy the pipe bring a AA battery with you to see if it will fit inside the pipe. It should slide in easily and not scrape against the battery.
One other thing you might try with your current pipe is to use a AAA battery instead of a AA battery. The AAA batteries might not last as long so you'll have to test it out to see if it will work for your wedding. But that way you can use the stuff you've purchased all ready. You may have to wrap the batteries in paper or cardboard so they fit in the tube better and the ends of the batteries touch.
Also, if your LED has three prongs on it then it's probably a two color LED. You'll have to look at the data sheet for the LED to see how to wire it up and what voltage/current it requires. If I were to make a wild guess based on the information you've provided I'd say you probably have a 20mA Red/Green LED which requires around 2V. So you'll only use two batteries instead of three. Also, the LED probably won't produce enough light for this project so you might want to find a brighter one. Again, you'll have to find the specs for the LED to find out if yours will work and how to hook it up. For example: Here is an LED like the one I used in this project:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=C513A-WSN-CV0Y0151-ND
Here is the datasheet: http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/LEDlamps/C513A-WSS&WSN.pdf
What I ended up doing was just squeezing the 3/4" to 1/2" reducer just a little bit with some pliers to make it a very slight oval. That way it grips a bit better and the batteries don't fall out into the wine bottle! Hope this helps...