Here's a relatively easy project that you can do with basic tools that most diy-ers will have in their garage. The finished product will give you a great and unique way to show off that special bottle, (or anything else) with a showy backlight. Makes an amazing addition to most bars.

Supplies

Old Fire Extinguisher

Battery-Powered lights

1x6 plank, one foot long

Fabric

Construction Glue

Hole Saw

Drill

Jig saw or grinder

Metal file

80 grit sandpaper

Painters tape

Black and White spray paint

Step 1: Find the Extinguisher

Find a local company that tests and inspects fire extinguishers, quite often they will be happy to give you extinguishers that they have failed and removed from service. As a bonus, if you ask them nicely, they may even empty the canisters for you, saving you the hassle of disposing of the insides. There are many different sizes and shapes of fire extinguishers, so check what size you would like when collecting the bottles.

Step 2: Empty the Extinguisher!

Very Important Step!! Make sure that there is no pressure in the extinguisher before trying to cut or drill into the canister. Find out what type of extinguisher you have by reading the label. Carbon Monoxide extinguishers can be expelled in a well-ventilated area. If you have a dry-chemical (ABC) extinguisher, I was draining them into a garbage bag to be thrown out. (Double check with local by-laws about disposing of the chemicals. Most of them are non-toxic, but better to be safe than sorry.) To empty the extinguisher, simply pull the pin and press down on the top of the handle.

Fire Extinguisher Bottle Display - Step #2
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Step 3: Remove the Handle

Once the bottle has been emptied, mark out where the front of the bottle is. This will be important for when you put the handle back on towards the end. If the handle is off to the side, it won't look great when the project is completed.

Remove the top of the extinguisher by clamping the base and spinning the handle counter-clockwise. While this is off, clean the handle and the hose so it's ready to be replaced later.

With the handle removed, you will have to detach the stem that runs down into the middle of the extinguisher, or it will be in the way of the bottle when finished. Most of the stems will just spin off, but you may have to cut it with either tube cutters or a simple hacksaw.

Step 4: Mark Out the Side

Mark out the side of the extinguisher where you want to cut it out. Typically just under half way across the front of the extinguisher will be cut to have enough space to properly display the bottle inside. I was making quite a few of these and so I made a template for the size I liked so I could mark them out easier.

The top of the circle should be at least two inches from where the bottle starts to curve in to allow for enough room to hide the lights going in later, as well as having room for the decal going on the front.

The bottom cut should be about an inch from where the inside bottom of the extinguisher is. Double check the style of the extinguisher, some have a flat bottom, while others have a lifted piece inside. You don't want to cut it too low and not have room for the base to go in later.

Step 5: Cut the Hole

Brace the extinguisher solidly. Cutting the bottle will cause it to move around, so make sure it is firm in either a chain vise or bracketed in a flat vice.

Always use proper safety equipment. At the very least, safety glasses should be worn during any cutting. If using a grinder, a face shield is highly recommended, as well as gloves to protect yourself from any cuts.

Using a hole saw, (I used a 3" for the bottle I made) cut the top line of the bottle. Next, using a jig saw with a metal blade or a grinder with a zip cut blade, cut the sides and the bottom of the bottle along the lines that were marked out in the last step.

Once the hole is cut, use the metal file to remove any large burrs, and the sandpaper to smooth the edges. Remember the purpose for this display will have people sticking their hand inside, so the edges need to be very smooth.

Step 6: Painting

This step takes the longest, as you need to be patient to wait in between coats to let the paint dry.

Make sure the inside of the canister is cleaned of all the powder, otherwise the paint will not stick properly. If you're using water to clean the inside, make sure it is completely dry before spraying it.

Paint the inside first, otherwise you'll end up with a big mess. Spray the entire inside with white spray paint. You'll probably need two coats to get a nice even finish.

Once the second coat is on, it's best to wait overnight before taping of the inside otherwise the tape may pull the paint off.

Tape the entire opening from the inside, sealing it off so none of the black paint can get in. Spray the entire outside with the black spray paint. I used a glossy paint for most of mine, but I did a couple with a matte paint and it still looked pretty good.

Step 7: Glue in the Light

I bought little battery powered lights from the local dollar store. I left the light string tied together so it wouldn't hang down inside the bottle.

Using a generous dab of construction glue, stick the light box to the top of the extinguisher. Make sure that the battery access panel is on the bottom so it will be accessible if you ever want to change the batteries. Also watch that the switch is accessible so you'll be able to turn them on or off!

Glue the light string to the back of the extinguisher or to the light pack itself. If you're really creative, you can glue them in a circle at the top of the extinguisher so that the light shines from all directions.

While the glue dries, hang or balance the bottle upside-down to keep everything in place.

Step 8: Make the Base

Using a hole saw, cut a round piece of 1" thick lumber. (It doesn't have to be exactly 1", just so that it fits in the bottom of the bottle without sticking up over the lip that you cut earlier.)

Cut a piece of fabric to cover the wood. Be creative with the fabric, patterns and colours look better than solid black, and add a nice pop to the display. (if you're using any kind of pattern, try to make sure it doesn't line up exactly with the front of the extinguisher. Put the lines at an angle from the front for a more aesthetic look.)

Glue the fabric in place with the construction glue and let it dry.

Once the glue dries for the fabric, glue it into the base of the extinguisher.

Step 9: Re-install the Handle

Now that the base is in and the lights are glued in place, the handle can be threaded back in place. Make sure it's tight so that it doesn't end up loosening up over time.

Step 10: Add the Decal

This may be the tricky part. If you have a machine that cuts decals, or know someone who does, you can easily download an svg file and have it cut out. A Silhouette machine or Cricket will do the trick.

If you don't have access to one of those machines, you can usually find someone online who will cut the decals for you for a few dollars. I usually keep it simple with just the brand of the bottle I'm displaying, but you can get creative and have any type of label you'd like, as well as symbols.

When putting the decal on, make sure you center it above the opening.