While browsing the interwebs, I got lost in the addictive vortex they call Pinterest. If you want to see where I’ve been wasting my time you can check out my Pins. Anyhow, I saw a very beautiful wine bottle that was turned into a torch and I thought it was enchanting. Since my brother has been visiting me, and since he is the most handy person I know, we did this craft project together. And now at night I relish the beautiful flames swaying in the pitch black of my deck.
Here is how you make ‘em, you just will not regret this.
You will need the following for 1 bottle, multiply by the number of torches you want to make:
- A wine bottle (I got mine from West Elm which were a little thinner than a wine bottle)
- Threaded 3/8-16 inch threaded rod (I got mine from Home Depot)
- Nylon thread seal tape (I got mine from Home Depot)
- 1-inch split ring hanger threaded for 3/8-16 inch rod (I got mine from Grainger online)
- Plate flange connector threaded for 3/8-16 inch rod (I got mine from MSC Industrial Supply online)
- 3/8-inch copper coupling (I got mine from Home Depot)
- 3/8-inch hex nuts (I got mine from Home Depot)
- #10 wood screws (I got mine from Home Depot)
- Tiki replacement wick (I got mine from Home Depot)
- Tiki torch fluid (I got mine from Home Depot)
- Useful: a hacksaw, tiki wick caps (I got mine from Pex Supply online), electric or manual screw driver, hammer, nail, a funnel
I chose to use these colored bottles from West Elm because they were elegant looking, but there’s no reason not to use an empty wine bottle. Simply put it in the dishwasher to help remove all of the labeling and glue and you’re also set. It would also work with some of those colored sparkling water bottles out there in the nice blue and green colors.
Here’s a close up of your hardware. It’s serious stuff folks. Say flange 10 times fast. That’s the square with three holes.
This is the split ring hanger.
And this is the copper coupling being wrapped in threaded tape so that is fits into the wine bottle opening snugly. I like that word — copper coupling, copper coupling, copper coupling.
Okay, I’ll stop.
Once it’s wrapped with several layers this is where it will go.
Give it a good press to make sure it is in snugly. We don’t need any loose copper couplings.
Now, slide in the wick and tighten the ring around the top of the bottle.
If you want to have shorter distance from the torch to where you are fastening it, you’ll probably need to cut your threaded rods. I couldn’t find them in 6-inch lengths so I bought 12-inch rods and cut them with a hacksaw. This requires serious elbow grease.
But eventually, after you hack, you will have shorter pieces which looks nicer I think.
We decided to have ours attached to some trees on the deck so we chipped away some of the bark to create a smooth surface.
My brother used a large nail to create a starer hole for the wood screw.
Then he twisted in the wood screws with a manual screw driver. You may be able to skip the nail with an electric screw driver.
Next, screw the hex nut onto one side of the rod…
And tighten it into the threaded base. Make sure the nut is tight.
Then you’ll do the same with the base of the ring. You’ll turn the bottle around and around until it is tight.
Then you’ll pour in your tiki fluid.
I highly recommend using a funnel. But I didn’t have one so we did our best.
You’ll let the wick soak for an hour or so before testing it.
And then light it and give it a try. It’s just magical.
I love lighting them at night. I feel like I’m in a tropical jungle. It’s a nice way to escape winter in your own mind.
Give it a try! It’s a fun family project.
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So lovely, I think I will try it.
Wow, Georgia!
You make stuff, hunt, fish, know how to clean the game and fish you bag, and then know how to cook it. You might be the perfect woman, assuming that you are willing to mow the yard and step on your own bugs.
We have a pond that is a ways from our house and you have to walk the tractor trail (which is lined with trees) to get there. This would be great to light the way when we have parties.
Maybe tie a strip of cloth to the bottom of the wick so you can reach the oil at the bottom of the bottle???
Yea, my wicks are a little short. I would recommend finding some longer ones…
“I like that word — copper coupling, copper coupling, copper coupling.
Okay, I’ll stop.”
Me thinks you “emptied” the wine bottles just to do this article. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
You are so crafty, woman! And I mean, crafty-skillful not crafty-devious. But who knows…
Wine bottles are so elegant and versatile – and they’re plenty easy to get ahold of in my household
This is such a great idea – very crafty!
Wow! This is a great idea.. Wine bottle torch is perfect for my garden… Staying there at night will be perfect having the light from this bottle torch. Thank you for sharing the steps…
Love this !!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this.
Running out tomorrow to buy everything to make some of these. Tip – Package stores will often give empty wine bottles away for free if your not a wine drinker. The bottles used here are prettier then wine bottles.
Thanks for the info…
That’s a great tip! I don’t drink enough wine to have the bottles around often.
So unique!!! it looks damn good. I have to make at least one for our graden, too…ok I mean my housband
now if you would distill the liquid going in,, then i would be impressed.
Good job so far though.
Georgia,
This is a really cool idea and my girls and I will give it a try. I’ve hunted my whole life and my two little beauties (Tina 5 & Angela 7) have already been out Turkey and Deer hunting. They have seen “it all” and are not grossed out. They never waste any meat at the dinner table. They understand how our lives benefit from animals. This was one of their first lessons as young girls, even before they began going into the woods with their Daddy. Best always! Michael J.
That’s so lovely. They’re lucky to have you as their dad.
Such a COOL idea!!! You made it look so simple and easy to make. Love it! Thanks for sharing… Love your Pioneer Skills !
This is a really neat idea! It looks lovely, too, although have you considered how this harms the trees? Maybe a note on that in your posting? I know directly beneath the bark is where they transmit nutrients/water, so drilling in and possibly creating a path for bacterial infections is a concern of mine.
What a great post! I make my own mead so I have tons and tons and tons of extra wine bottles around. (I learned real quick that 2 liters of mead is trouble and having 40+ regular wine bottles is a bit much)
Oh how cool that you do that!
I wonder if you could use the oil that shoos away misquitoes? wouldn’t that be great…..
Oh definitely! Citronella… I think that is in the tiki torch fluid, isn’t it?
just wanted to say i enjoyed your humor as you told how to make this. especially the say the word over and
how it sounds when said over and over. made me laugh. i haven’t checked anything else yet but looking forward to seeing it all.
poor trees. there’s got to be a better way to hang them, or at least DON”T put them in trees just put them on a table.
very good idea, just sad for trees.