Oil Lamps

Oil lamps not only look good they are easy to use and maintain. No wax mess, the wicks and oil are inexpensive and can easily be replaced.

Unlike wax candles, oil lamps are easy to light every time, no cutting wax away from the wick or excess wax from the sides.

Oil lamps are also easy to make from most any glass bottle. So take a second look before you throw away glass bottles, you may be able to recycle them into an oil lamp.

The oil lamps pictured above are Patron Tequila bottles. Working in the food and beverage business has it's advantages. The liquor companies are bottling their products in some very unique bottles.

The Patron bottles remind me of Mexican glass. The glass is thick, with imperfections such as tiny bubbles throughout the glass.

The oil lamps pictured were made for my enclosed porch. I painted some of the bottles with color and left some of them clear. I made some of them to hang and some to sit on tables.

The colored bottles that hang in the windows look great with the light shinning through during the day and just as good when all of them are lit at night.

The following items were used to make these Patron oil lamps; (1) glass bottles, (2) glass wick adapter with wick,(3) 12 or 14 gauge aluminum and natural vine wire, (4) transparent glass paint, (5) galvanized flat washers, and (6) lamp oil.

The following tools were used; (1) needle nose pliers, (2) wire cutters, and a (3) paint brush.

If you decide to paint your bottles use transparent glass paint so the light will shine though. I like Delta glass paints, you'll find them in an art and craft store.

When painting glass follow the 3 steps, (1) glass conditioner, (2) transparent paint and last, (3) clear gloss. The conditioner is an important step, it helps the paint adhere to the glass surface. The gloss will add shine and make the transparent paint look better.

I've had a lot of questions about achieving a smooth finish when painting clear glass bottles. If you paint thin coats until you have reached the desired color this will eliminate some of the streaks.

Also, bottles with imperfections such as the Patron bottles will disguise streaks. Using clear gloss will also improve the appearance of painted glass.

If the bottles you are using for the lamps have labels, soak them in water and dish soap. This will make it easier to remove the labels along with any glue left on the bootles from the labels.

If you decide to paint the bottles give the paint a couple days to dry before handling the bottles.

As shown in the first photo, cut the wire to the desired length for hanging the oil lamp.

In the second photo the wire is being secured on the bottom of the bottle by twisting the two ends together.

The other two photos show securing the wire in place by using wire at the neck as well as around the bottom of the bottle.

The flat washer is placed at the opening of the bottle and the glass wick adapter is placed on top of the flat washer. Put the oil in the lamp and they are ready to use.

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