Introduction: Rustic Glass Bottle Chandelier
I made this chandelier because I have been collecting glass bottles and I needed some kind of lighting for the loft in my barn.
Read ALL instructions before getting supplies and starting project.
Step 1: Gather Materials and Tools
To start this project you need the right materials, I found most of these at home but you might need to buy a few of them.
Materials:
- 10-15 empty glass beer bottles
- Thick twine
- Corks
- Long branch or piece of wood
- Fairy lights (optional)
Tools:
- Bucket or large plastic container
- Baking soda
- Wool steel or sponge
- Large and deep pan or stove-proof bowl
- Large bowl
- Glass cutter (generation g is a good brand)
- Boiling water
- Icy cold water
- Sand paper
- Hot glue
- Miter saw
- Screw driver
- Thick drill bit
Step 2: Prepare and Cut Bottles.
- To start off we need to remove the labels and the residue off of the bottles. Fill your large plastic container with warm water and add a lot of baking soda.
- Let it soak for at least 20 minutes.
- Try to peel the labels and use your steel wool to scrub off the residue.
- Use your glass cutter to score your bottle near the bottom.*
- Dip your bottle into nearly boiling water and then into icy cold water (this will weaken the bottle to actually break it).
- If the hot and cold water does not completely break the bottle use something to tap the inside of the bottle and finish the breaking process.
- Use your sand paper to smooth the edges of the bottle so that the bottles don't break as easily or hurt people.
*Note: There are other ways of breaking glass bottles nicely, and there are clearer more precise instructions on other websites as well if you do not have a glass cutter.
Step 3: String Bottles With Corks.
- Tie the thick twine around a cork and cut a lot of excess twine (enough to be able to tie to the branch).
- Hot glue the knots. Also hot glue the sides of the knots so that they don't slip.
- String the twine with the cork tie on, into the cut bottles so that the cork holds the bottle.
- Tie the string to a horizontal bar, the back of a bench, or something like that, to test and see if the cork will hold the bottle.
Step 4: Prepare and Drill Through Branch.
- Get your branch.
- Cut off the ends with the Miter saw if you want to.
- Measure your branch and mark it at a constant interval, depending on how many bottles you want hanging from it.
- Test some drill bits and test to see which one works better with your twine.
- Using the best fit drill bit drill holes through the entire branch at the marks you made.
- Blow away any debris.
Step 5: String Bottles Through Branch.
- Tie the ends of the branch to two different chairs.
- String the bottles through the holes and tie big knots.
- Do this to all of the bottles, you can vary the length or keep them the same, it's really all up to you.
- Get a piece of twine that is longer than your branch and tie a knot under the knot of one of the bottles on the end.
- To make sure that the bottles can't fall wrap the long piece of twin under every knot and tie is at the last one.
Step 6: Decorate!
- Use hot glue and twine to wrap around the bottles for a unique decorative touch.
- Do this to all of the bottles if you want to.
- Wrap your lights around the entire thing.
- Hang it where you want to use it.