Keep the bugs away in a classy fashion!
1 empty and cleaned wine bottle
1 Tiki Torch wick refill (thick)
Tiki Torch citronella lamp oil
3/8" metal washer (or adjust washer size if bottle opening is larger/smaller)
Decorative glass rocks or beads of your choice (optional) *small enough to fit in bottle opening
Place the decorative rocks/beads in the bottle. The more you have, the less oil you will need to use.
Feed the wick through the opening of the washer, leaving about a 1/4-inch of the wick sticking out of the top. Make sure the washer fits the opening of the bottle top (It will just sit on top of the bottle opening). If you have gaps between the washer and the wick it could allow air in, which may cause the bottle to fill up with smoke.
Pour the oil into a bottle, using a funnel, enough to cover half of the wick. Feed the longer side of wick into the bottle. If your wick is thick enough, you don't have to secure the washer down. Light the top wick and enjoy your new torch outdoors! Remember, burning citronella indoors is not recommend.
Reader, Amy G. of Topeka, KS passed along the idea of using old whiskey bottles too! She filled them with aquarium gravel, as it was cheaper than the glass rocks. Great job, Amy!
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| Whiskey Bottle Tiki Torches Photo Credit: Amy G. (Photo Rights Reserved) |
This is such a great idea! My sisters and I are having a wine party this weekend, will certainly try and get some of these ready!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I'm your newest follower!
Stacey
www.justsayitoldyouso.com
Great! It will bring a nice look to your party! I like the name of your website...I feel like I am always saying that :)
DeleteLove these! Def. making these for our 4th of July party!! :D Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think about using this inside for a wedding dance?
ReplyDeleteI think it would be gorgeous, especially if you use elegant looking wine bottles! My only concern would be the amount of smoke a tiki torch wick typically gives off, especially if it is indoors.
Deletetry using liquid paraffin....http://www.webstaurantstore.com/1-gallon-soft-light-l0001-bulk-lamp-fuel-smokeless-liquid-paraffin-wax/999221.html
DeleteJust use regular lamp oil instead of tiki torch (citronella) oil. Keep the wick trimmed low for low smoke.
DeleteI would suggest a NON-TOXIC, organic fuel... Firefly Safe & Green Fuel. It can be used indoors and outdoors.
DeleteHow does this keep the bugs away?
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking. You brought to my attention that I needed to clarify that more specifically on the supply list. Use citronella fuel (we call it Tiki Torch lamp oil), which drives bugs away.
DeleteThank you! That certainly clarifies it!
DeleteSuch a great idea!!! Definitely trying this one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Question though...do the bottles get hot?
ReplyDeleteIt may depend on the thickness of the bottle you use. For example: I just used a $10 Beringers White Zinfandel wine bottle and it was not hot to the touch.
DeleteGREAT idea, thank you so much for sharing! Are these supplies generally available at a Lowe's or Home Depot? Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteYes...all but the wine ;)
Deletewhat keeps the bottle from breaking from the heat?
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't know the answer to that, except that it doesn't break. The bottle itself doesn't get overly hot at all. The flame is contained at the top, where the wick sticks out of the bottle, so I assume most of the heat is burning off. I've never had a problem with any of mine breaking, cracking, or being too hot.
DeleteHeat goes up. The flame is above the bottle so the heat goes into the air, not into the bottle. The very top of the bottle might get warmer than air temperature due to contact with the washer and wick, but not hot enough to break.
DeleteThis may sound silly, but how do you keep the washer in place?
ReplyDeleteGreat question actually! The wick I use is thick enough that once you feed it through the washer it just kind of holds itself there. My washer is not secured down by anything in particular. Makes it easier to change the wick and refill the oil later.
DeleteIf you don't trust the washer to hold the wick and stay in place (it will, but if it weirds you out for some reason), look for something called a "bottle wick". It's a cork-shaped piece (usually ceramic or brass) that sits in the top of the bottle and the wick runs through it.
DeleteI used a couple of old whiskey bottles, and aquarium gravel. The gravel was cheaper (plus multicolor combinations available) and fit in the neck of the bottles easily. The oil, wicks and gravel were all picked up at Wal-Mart. Washers at a local Ace Hardware for 23 cents. Easy and I can't wait use them tonight!
ReplyDeleteOoohhh, I bet the whiskey bottles will look real neat! Great idea with the gravel!
DeleteMy only wish is I had bought the brass washers for 55 cents but they are still beautiful! Thank you for a great idea!
DeleteJust a thought for you.... don't use these in bad weather. If the air pressure changes suddenly, it can actually blow the wick out of the bottle and spread fire. A campsite I go to yearly had spectacular photos after such an event that happened very suddenly. Just be aware of your circumstances....
ReplyDeleteVery good tip Kim! Thanks!
DeleteAnd I'm thinking citronella is for outdoor use only. Not good for humans to be breathing. I love this idea and would use lamp oil inside.
DeleteI have one of these and smoke fills inside the bottle. I'm afraid the wick is going to catch on fire below the washer and burst the glass. Have you ever had smoke filling the bottle?
ReplyDeleteNo, I have never had smoke fill inside my bottles. That's so weird?! I wish I had a solution for you :)
DeleteMy husband thinks the washer may be too small or not tight enough around the opening of the bottle top, allowing air in.
DeleteSO much more simpler than my version - LOVE the idea of putting rocks, marbles, whatever will fit, in the bottom of the bottles! Would solve a lot of problems I encountered with tipping bottles!
ReplyDeleteTo solve the problem of the bottle accidentally getting knocked over or tipping try putting in old metal buckets. I have some leftover metal mosquito pots that I cleaned out. You can also do this with beer bottles. And there is another post on pinterest about hanging these to the side of a deck. This works great. I like the idea of putting the rocks or marbles in the bottle. I recently bought new wicks and they were the hardest thing to find by themselves.
ReplyDeleteI found mine at Lowes in packs of 2 next to the tiki torch oil
DeleteDo you think using beer bottles would work for a smaller version of this project?!
ReplyDeleteYes! You may have to adjust the washer size to fit your beer bottle opening. Just make sure they are not top heavy, where they might topple over.
DeleteI've been collecting Bud Light Platinum bottles for this project. They are a beautiful blue color. I can't wait to do it. I was just gonna reuse the bottle caps to put the wick through. I put some holes in the top using a drill and pulled a wick through. Seems to work okay. Now I need to buy some aquarium rocks or something and some citronella oil. Can't wait to do this.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the look of the Platinum bottles! Those are going to look great!
DeleteI just made the same thing...(check out my pinterest) but On advice from another pinterester I filled the bottom of the bottle with water and then topped it with the oil (saves on your oil bill) You just have to make sure that the wick never comes into contact with the water. Looks really cool in a clear bottle!
ReplyDeleteI was looking for a hostess gift for a party tomorrow, and this is it. I found mini (about the size of an M&M) gems in several colors in the floral department at walmart. Also they were selling clear lamp oil so I bought that instead of the yellow citronella to go with my clear bottle and sea glass-colored gems. Thanks for the instructions!
ReplyDeleteThat is going to look gorgeous!
DeleteHave you thought about maybe gluing the bottle to a heavy piece of tile to add weight so as to add a bit more security so it doesn't topple over in a gust of wind? Maybe even a large piece of marble tile with different heights of bottles for a spectacular center piece...just a thought :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
DeleteYou probably know this ... but, the E6000 glue? Would secure it beautifully!
DeleteJennifer, we just made these today & it's genius!!! Thanks so much. We have a gazillion empty wine bottles (is that bad?) so all we had to purchase was a 1/2 gallon of the oil and tiki torch wicks.. We bought them at WalMart for a total of less than $10 for the bottle of oil & 2pk. wicks. (FYI..I added a bunch of leftover beach stones that we collect each summer to the bottom of the bottle- approx. 3" worth, and it was so rustic and pretty.)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! And no, you can never have too many wine bottles ;)
DeleteWe're always surprised at just how many (and how quickly!) our empty wine bottles add up! = )
DeleteThis is a really great idea!!! I will have to start drinking plenty of wine ;-) Thanks for sharing Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI've made these years ago with my mother in law using colored lamp oil. (This was a cool craft back in the day, glad to see it still is. :) But I never thought about using citronella oil! We used white porcelain cabinet knobs to hold the wick in place. They're mushroom shape is perfect for this craft. The knobs have a hole in the middle for the wick. When you insert the stem of the knob into the bottle it sits on the top of the bottle just right. You can find the knobs in different sizes for the different sizes/types of bottles and they're pretty cheap. Well, now I'm gonna go buy me some wicks and citronella oil. Thank you for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteI just came in from lighting my torches. I burned great, but one just would not stay lit. Thinking I may not have enough oil in the bottle. I put the glass stones in the bottle and they a beautiful. It is 90 degrees here at 930 pm, so I couldn't enjoy them long. I have several friends wanting me to make some for them, a little extra $$$ for me! Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteWe had the same issue, and yes, it just needed more oil. I love them because the don't fall apart like the store-bought bamboo torches or the fancy copper bowl ones. Hope you make some good $$ selling them!
DeleteI came across this idea on Pinterest and knew I had to make these. The mosquitoes have been horrible where we live. Everytime I buy a citronella candle, I forget to bring it inside. The candle ends up melting and the wick disappears! Well, I made them for the July 4th holiday and they were a hit! Not only did the bugs stay away, but they looked beautiful on my patio. Now, everyone wants them! I have people saving unique bottles for me in different colors. I also etched some flowers on one bottle I made to give to a friend when we went to her house for a picnic. It was subtle, but turned out well.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to find this. My daughter got married last weekend and we used blue wine bottles as vases on the tables for the center pieces. I now know what to do with those bottles ! What nice gifts for the new in-laws too! Thanks for the wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteLove the washers and knobs idea. I made mine with purchased wicks and holders...a small fortune!! But I solved the tipping bottle issue by spray painting an old wine rack and turning it on its side. No more worries of bottles tipping over. However the wicks burn down practically instantly so really cute but not yet functional. Any suggestions??
ReplyDeleteNot sure what kind of wick you are using, if it is burning down quickly. I use the thick wicks made specifically for Tiki Torches, and they seem to last for weeks, even months. Also, if you place the decorative stones inside the bottle, that will give it enough wait, to not tip over, as well.
DeleteI love this, I was just talking to my sister in law aftering seeing pic's of their new home with in ground pool and I was saying she was so gonna need some awesome lighting and I said I would come up with something, I knew I could do this in my head but didnt know exactly what or how to use the bottles and here you had it already figured out for me, THANK YOU!!! I am gonna start working on this I have a zillion bottles ;) ummmm not ALL wine bottles hehe
ReplyDeleteYay! It's going to look so good, I'm sure :)
DeleteOMG!! those are so great! can't wait to get started on my own! thanks for the tutorial... - Rebecca
ReplyDeleteThese are such a wonderful idea! Much nicer than the citronella candles I currently have :)
ReplyDeleteI made something like this, but I used pint size mason jars. We drilled a hole in the middle on the canning lid and put the wick through. I do get smoke in the jar so may have to look for a washer to use. Love the rocks in the bottom, it did take alot of oil.
ReplyDeleteThis would work great with those fancy flip top beer bottles. A good excuse to drink the really good stuff. Though I'll probably just use IBC root beer bottles cause I already have them.
ReplyDeleteDo you continue to pull the wick out further as it burns down and add oil?
ReplyDeleteYes, until it is too short to do so.
DeleteDoes the washer fit inside the opening of the wine bottle or just sit on the top?
ReplyDeleteThe washer just sits on top of the bottle. I'll make that clarification in the tutorial :) Thanks!
ReplyDeletethis looks like a neat idea I am going to have to share with my mother and some of my friends who'd appreciate this. Thank you for the idea and how to
ReplyDeleteI made these as a gift but for some reason the flame won't stay lit for very long. Did anyone else have that problem?
ReplyDeleteAnytime ours goes out it is because the bottles needed more fluid than we had in there. Make sure the whole wick is very well saturated with the citronella oil, inside the bottle. Also, make sure you have atleast a 1/4" of wick pulled through the washer, to light.
DeleteIf your allergic to citronella like me, you can use lemongrass or eucalyptus essential oil with regular lamp oil.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for next summer - can't wait for the warmer weather already!
ReplyDeleteHi I found this on Pinterest and just had to try! I used a limited edition Jim Beam bottle to start with and it looks great but when the wick burns down it falls through the washer and into the oil and is not the easiest to get out again lol. Any thoughts on how I can get around this?
ReplyDeleteThanks
I've never experienced the wick falling through the washer. My guess would be that you need a smaller washer, for a tighter fit. Also, make sure you are using the thick wick, made for Tiki Torches, not the regular size ones (which would cause it to slip through the washer). Always have 1/4 to 1/2-inch of the wick pulled out of the washer, prior to re-lighting. Hope that works!
DeleteHas anyone used beach sand instead of rocks? Wondering if that would work?
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen it yet. If you do decide to give it a go, let us know how it turns out!
DeleteYou can use a 3/8-1/2 inch copper coupling in place of the washer. Simply wrap the larger side with some teflon tape so it fits snugly into the bottle top. The Tiki wick will fit snugly in the fitting .This will eliminate any air getting under the washer causing smoke, it will prevent the wick from falling into the bottle and the fitting will act as a heat sink to keep the bottle from even getting warm.For larger bottles, simply use a larger coupling.You can even use brass fittings for aluminum water bottles if youd like.
ReplyDeleteThese look great!! I'm making some for my dad for Christmas - I'm so excited! Thank you for the tutorial. Also, I was wondering if anyone ever got back to you about using sand in the bottle instead of rocks? I'm curious if it would mix with the oil and make it murky/affect the ability of the wick to burn??
ReplyDelete-Amber
No Amber, I haven't heard results using sand instead of rocks yet. I personally like the effect of the glass rocks, as the citronella oil shimmers off of them. I'm sure your dad will love it!
DeleteHow about taking off the label and decorating the outside of bottle, with epson salt or something pretty?
ReplyDeleteI've made some without the label and it does look nice. If you have a hard time getting the sticky label off the bottle, try soaking it in warm water first (before filling with rocks and oil) and then rub Goo-Gone on the sticky area left on the bottle. It should clean right up.
DeleteIf the lid is metal screw on, can't you poke a hole and put the wick in that and screw the lid back on? Obviously if the wine bottle had a cork you would have to use a washer. But if not you could try this. Small plastic bottles have thin metal screw -on lids and I make salt and pepper shakers out of them. I use a tiny screw driver (phillips head) and poke 5 holes in each one and fill them up with salt and pepper. They are great for outdoor use, they won't break if dropped. I use them all the time.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine you could use the metal caps, as long as they will hold up to the heat.
DeleteOK - here's a different twist -
ReplyDeleteI need to add co2 to my greenhouse, can anyone estimate the amount of oil burned in an eight hour period?
Burning too much oil could damage the plants, need to make shure it's no more than 2 oz, so if the Tiki wicks burn more I will have to use a smaller wick.
Wow, I wouldn't even know where to begin with that. My guess is that it will vary depending on the size bottle used, amount of oil added, and wick size. Hmmm.
DeleteYou can also buy wicks to make these on-line at www.winebottlewicks.com or www.beerbottlewicks.com. I've been making these for years
ReplyDeletePatron bottles also make beautiful oil lamps.
ReplyDeleteThe square bottom makes for a stable container.
Fill with seashells, glass gems and silk flowers to dress up.
Clear parafin lamp oil can be used for inside the house lamps.
See image at www.seasidesouvenirs.com
I'm so doing this thank you so much!! WE have a Christmas craft every year and I'm no Martha Stewart, lol. I love every idea that I've heard so far and I'm going to make these for Christmas and also for myself!! We had no power for 13 days last year I wish I knew about this then it sure would of helped because it was in the summer.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason my wick won't stay lit... It looks like the oil isn't traveling up the wick very well... Any ideas or help???
ReplyDeleteMake sure you have enough oil in the bottle. The bottle should be at least half way full of oil. Are you using the wicks rated for Tiki Torches?
DeleteIt must be a coincidense. Our local barbecue house chain called ABRAMS has the exact same picture you use with the flying pig. They have just recently made it there own little funny addition. Their barbecue sucks however and they are way over priced so its just funny to see the flying pig!! lol
ReplyDeleteThat's neat! The photo is a print by artist Michael Sowa, called Koeler's Pig. It's pretty famous.
DeleteHow do u snuff the flame
ReplyDeleteI use the metal cap from an old Tiki Torch set I owned.
DeleteMy wine bottle torches will not stay lit. I used the copper couplings with tape and the bottle are over half full of oil. The wick lights great and then goes out after about 20 seconds. Please help!!!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. The only other thing I could recommend you check is-- make sure you have a couple of inches of wick sticking out the top of the bottle and make sure the wick fits very snug in the coupling, with no gaps. All mine stay lit for hours, based on the directions in the post.
DeleteI sell Uppercase Living vinyl designs and plan to decorate the wine bottles with various designs ~ great for the patio!
ReplyDelete