Introduction: How to Turn a Funnel Into a Cocktail Glass
Would you like to have an original, handmade cocktail glass? No, you don't need another cocktail glass to make it. All you need is a funnel, wire and a cork plug. I used copper wire from discarded transformer. This is my idea and it was born thanks to the contest Modify It https://www.instructables.com/contest/modifyit/ It is really very interesting to think of how to rework function of an existing object.
As a result, you will get a cocktail glass that consists of a glass cup - wide part of the glass funnel. The cup is supported on a stem/foot - narrow part of the funnel weaved around with wire, resting on a base made of wire (weaved).
In this instructable I show you how I made cocktail glasses with the following dimensions:
- Volume of the cup: 90-100 mL (small funnel) or 140-150 mL (larger funnel) - it depends on the diameter of the funnel
- Diameter of the rim: 80 or 90 mm - it depends on the diameter of the funnel
- Calyx height: 60 or 75 mm - it depends on the height of the wide part of the funnel
- Height of the foot: 90 mm
- Foot diameter: 17 mm - it depends on the diameter of the narrow part of the funnel
- Diameter of the base: 55-60 mm
P.S. I'm tired of fighting with sites that steal my instructables regardless of the license (which is indicated in the upper left corner). Sorry but I decided to add attribution to my photos. I know it looks a little annoying, but it annoys me even more to see my works under someone else's authorship or for sale.
Step 1: Gathering the Necessary Material and Tools
You need:
a glass funnel 80 or 90 mm diameter (at the top),
a cork plug,
wire 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm (I used discarded transformer),
wire cutters,
pliers,
a knife,
a ruler,
thread,
an awl,
a hot glue,
a pen,
sandpaper,
compass or circle stencil equal to the diameter of the narrow tube of the funnel,
a pot with water (where you can boil water),
a spoon.
Step 2: Making the Spokes for the Base of Cocktail Glass
To make the base and the foot of this cocktail glass, I decided to use basket weaving. First you have to make "static" pieces of the work like in a round basket, they are referred to as "spokes".
Cut 6 pieces of 1.5 mm wire 10 cm long (see photo).
Put 3 wires on top of the other 3 wires to form a cross (see photo).
Fix the wires by tying them in the center with thread (see photo).
Bend the wires so that their ends are at the same distance from each other (see photo).
Step 3: Weaving the Base
Now you need the "weavers" to fill in the sides of the base.
Fold a long piece of 0.8 mm wire in half around one spoke - you will get two weavers.
Using pliers fix the center of the base. Weave with two weavers/wires around the spokes: bring the weaver from the back up and over the next spoke, and the top weaver down behind. Do the same again around the next spoke (see photos). Pull on the weavers firmly with every move. At the end of each round, swap the weaves.
You have to weave a circle with a diameter of 4-4,5 cm.
Cut the edges of the weavers (wires) and stick it into the weaved part.
Step 4: Finishing the Base
Using pliers bend the ends of the spokes like on photos.
Bend the base to make it a little spherical.
Check that all folded edges are in the same plane (in contact with a table).
Step 5: Making the Stakes for the Foot of Cocktail Glass
You have to make "static" pieces of the work - "stakes".
Cut 4 pieces of 1.5 mm wire 23 cm long and fold in half (see photo). It will be stakes.
You have to fix stakes on four opposite sides. Using an awl, enlarge the holes between the wires and thread the stakes around wires like on photos. Check that the narrow part of the funnel will fit between these stakes.
Step 6: Weaving the Foot
Fold a long piece of 0.8 mm wire in half and fix like stakes (thread around wires like on photo).
Weave like on photo, periodically checking that the narrow part of the funnel can fit inside the weaved foot. I decided to make a leg with a diameter of 10 mm, so that it would also fit a large funnel with a volume of 150 ml. Do not swap the weaves at the end of each round.
You have to weave the foot with a height equal to the length of the narrow part of the funnel - 90 mm.
Cut the edges of the wires and stick it into the weaved part.
Step 7: Finishing the Foot
Using pliers bend the ends of the stakes like on photos.
Cut and remove the thread in the center of the base.
Insert glass funnels and check if everything is ok.
On the photos you can see that the weaved foot is suitable for both the small funnel and a larger funnel.
Step 8: Preparing the Plugs for the Calyx
Cut a piece from the cork 4-5 mm thick (see photo).
Measure the diameter inside the narrow part of the funnel and draw two circles of the corresponding diameter on the piece of cork.
Cut out the circles a little larger (see photo). It will be the plugs for the calix (the narrow part of the funnel).
Sand the sides of the plugs (see photo).
Step 9: Installation of the Plugs in the Funnel
Dip the plugs in boiling water and wait a few minutes (see photo).
Use a spoon to remove the plugs (the plugs will become soft).
Carefully insert the plugs on both sides of the narrow part of the funnel like on photos. I used a pen refill to push the plug inside the narrow part of the funnel.
Let the plugs dry well.
Step 10: Assembling
In the process of weaving, the coating at the 0.8 mm wire began to move away (the transformer from which I used the wire was very damaged). So at the end of weaving, I washed it using a brush and removed the coating. Then I left it to dry well.
I advise you to varnish the weaved part of the foot.
Now you need to fix the narrow part of the glass funnel inside the weaved foot. Fill the cavity up to the plug with hot glue, then add hot glue on the end of the narrow part of the funnel and gently insert it into the weaved foot.
Check that the glass funnel is fixed perpendicularly and firmly.
Step 11: Enjoying
Wash the cocktail glass well and let it dry.
Prepare a cocktail and enjoy the work done.
If you want to increase the volume of the cocktail glass, or if you break the glass part of it, then you can replace the funnel. Just remove the old funnel and repeat steps 8, 9 and 10 with new glass funnel. In the last photo you can see the same glass, but with a larger volume.