I enjoy looking for new ways to use plastic pop bottles in whatever way I can. Particularly because they appear to be an endless resource. One problem is that they often need to be braced somehow, especially when inverted. It is easy enough to drill holes in horizontal flat surfaces, but flat surfaces are not always available or practical. Four inch hole saws are also expensive.

This led me to come up with this handy little piece that I thought I would share. It is simple, versatile and can be adapted to a variety of bottles or situations as required.

This instructable will also allow me to refer to this in future instructables, rather than describe in detail on some off topic tangent each time I use one, thus preserving their linear progression.... hope that makes sense.

Ps...If rust would be an issue over time, use coated wire or something else.

Step 1: What You Need

1 ea Wire Coat Hanger
1 ea 2 Litre Pop Bottle
Pliers/Cutters
Fasteners as req'd
1 ea 4" Ring Clamp (optional)

Step 2: Straighten Hanger

Straighten hanger as straight as possible.
Cut twisty ends off if necessary.

Step 3:

Bend one end tightly around threaded area of bottle as shown. Remove bottle carefully.

Step 4:

Bend loop and straight piece at 90 degrees as shown.

Step 5:

Cut excess from loop to form a "C" shape semi-circle of just over 180 degrees. Reinsert bottle into the loop, but at the neck. If it does not grip the bottle aggressively, bend wire, tightening the loop until bottle "pops" in and out of loop or "locks" in place. Trim wire as req'd. It will LOCK into place if the loop is tight enough.

Step 6:

5. Bend straight piece of wire so that it hugs the side of the bottle as shown.

Step 7: Variations

It is at this point that your specific needs will dictate "the shape" of things to come. I will return to my specific model, but this is where you may wish to deviate for various reasons...as you will see.

You can build in variable height adjustment, which I did in my first model, which we will return to in the next step. In future work, I would pursue one piece construction which offers both strength and versatility.

Here's a couple of examples...

Step 8: Mounting

On a vertical surface (I used wood), draw a vertical line where the unit will go.

Determine the screw/washer/ring clamp height and mark.

Cut a groove, not deeper than the diameter of the wire, down the vertical line, a couple of inches above and below the screw mark. This provides vertical stability for the hanger as well as a groove to slide in for height adjustment.

Now, place the screw through the washer and the ring clamp and into it's marked hole, while pinning the straight length of wire into the groove as shown. Now, say that 5 times fast.

Insert inverted bottle through ring and lock into place by snapping the neck of the bottle into the wire "C"

Fill with whatever your little heart desires... and please ignore the fact that these ones ARE located in the bathroom while your little heart ponders the options......