Spirit Bottle Chandelier

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Step 1: Cutting the Bottle Shades

To remove the bottle bottoms I started off using the scored line and thermal shock method. I made alittle jig to attain the bottles then tortured them with my kettle and cold tap. I did five bottles and every one went pear shaped. As you’ll see within the second photo on this page a alittle section always tapered off towards some unseen flaw. Perhaps because the spirit bottles are thicker than beer/wine bottles?

So i made a decision to undertake a diamond disc in my dremel, wearing my riot gear (mask and goggles), I slowly cut out a line one all sides rotating the bottle in order that I didn’t go all the way through one side before I had made my way into the others. It worked quite well, I found that a strip of masking paper helped guide my cuts and also reduced the chipping.

After I had cut way the bottoms I clamped down some abrasive and using water began to sand down the bottoms using a good circular motion. I used 60, 100 and 200 grits, I could have gone further but I liked the frosted edge the 200 grit left.

The sanding was the simplest definitely the simplest smelling a part of this project, the rhubarb gin bottle smelt really nice!

Step 2: Light Fittings

We had recently taken down a ceiling light in our dining room, so I stripped it down and stole the light fittings, the ceiling mount and took inspiration from its wiring loom. I also noticed a way for me to hang the lamp from the ceiling mount using some threaded bar.

Step 3: Balancing the Wheel

I has and old rear 700c wheel behind my shed, I removed the axle, polished the rim and spokes up with a bit of Scotch Brite and cleaned the grease from the cassette. I also removed the protective tape that covers the spoke screws and cleaned it up with the scotch brite.

The circumference of the wheel is 198cm/78″, I positioned the bottles at equal distances tied to the wheel with string to ascertain how it balanced. It didn’t. the Bombay bottle may be a chunky bugger and also taller than the others. So I devised a way of calculating the load of the bottle relative to its height. I call it the Bottle Mass Index or B.M.I., i feel it’s going to catch on……. I figured that I needed to require off about 50mm/2″ from the Bombay to bring back an identical weight of the others.

I got hold of a bit of threaded bar and reusing a cool looking ball nut from the old lamp I fixed the rewired ceiling fitting to the wheel. I stuck it abreast of my shed roof for a sneak peek.

Step 4: Accidents Will Happen

While grinding down the the Dalmore bottle with the wet emery cloth I slipped and chipped a chunk of the flared edge off. I tried a spot of stupid glue and polishing it up and telling my self it added character to the bottle but I had to admit that it was messed up and sacrificed the nice flare in the bottle for the sake of linear satisfaction.
Then it got worse, the lovely Haig Club bottle picked a fight with the Slingsby gin and lost big time. There was no rescue plan. So I took one for the team and spent an evening knocking back the remainder of a bottle of Bruadar.

Step 5: Assembley

I gave the ultimate line up a check , there was still a difference in a number of the weights but nothing massive. I also wired up one among the pendants to form sure that it worked. I’ve need to admit i did half expect to urge zapped by 240 of the national grids finest volts at this point! I’m still here.

I drilled equidistant holes within the wheels rim for the wiring to undergo then fed the lamp fitting wiring up the bottle necks, through the rim and positioned it over the hub to ascertain how long the pendant cords needed to be with the ceiling fitting in situ .

I was still grumbling at myself about the smashed Haig Club bottle, so I took precautions and shredded one among lady shed freaks fluffiest bath towels. After feeding the all pendant wiring through the wheel and into the disc which retained the arms within the old lamp I joined and soldered them. Then I finished wiring it to the ceiling fitting and secured the wires to the spokes with plastic tie wraps and it had been able to hang!!

Step 6: The End!!

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