DIY Network

Light Bulb Oil Lamp Get light from a dead light bulb. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-405

Turn a burned-out bulb into a beautiful oil lamp.

Michele Beschen continues her campaign to rescue burned-out light bulbs, this time by converting them into custom oil lamps. The B. Original host shows how to gently drill out the innards of a burned-out bulb, then paints it up and converts it into an oil lamp you'll be proud to display. If you'd rather sweeten the air, simply fill the bulbs with liquid potpourri and add a few reed diffusers for a fresh alternative to using scent in the bottle.

Scroll down for Michele Beschen's how-to, and start converting light bulbs today!

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You'll never throw out a light bulb again!

Light Bulb Oil Lamp

Materials:

burned-out light bulbs
drill press or hand drill
1/4" glass-and-tile drill bit
rags
leather gloves
safety glasses
needle-nose pliers
tweezers
glass paints
lamp wick
lamp oil or liquid potpourri
soda bottle caps
candle holder
Tacky Wax

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Collect all of your used light bulbs in any shape or size.

• Drill through the bottom of the bulb using a 1/4" drill bit designed for glass and tile. If using a drill press, pile rags under the bulb to cushion it and drill straight down through the base of the bulb. If using a hand drill, Michele Beschen recommends turning the bulb on its side instead of drilling from the top.

  Safety Alert: Always wear leather gloves and eye protection when drilling the bulbs to protect you from flying debris and broken glass. If the bulb breaks, make sure to clean up all the small shards from the workspace. Keep kids and pets out of the room when drilling the bulbs.

• The drill isn't drilling a hole in the bottom of the bulb so much as gently breaking through the bottom of the base. If drilling straight down with a drill press, drill into the metal disk at the bottom until it comes loose (figure A). Then back off the drill and remove the disk. Begin drilling again until the base breaks, then gently back out the drill.

• Remove the rest of the base with a pair of needle nose pliers (figure B). Use the pliers to gently break away the small glass stem in the base of the bulb. It may be necessary to gently drill some more to break away more of the base (figure C).

• Remove all of the debris from the bulb, shaking out as much as possible and using tweezers if needed (figure D).

• Once the bulb is completely emptied, paint it with glass paints. Use either oven-cure or air-dry paints.

• Choose an appropriate stand for the bulb. Michele Beschen likes to use wide candle holders. Since the bulb is delicate, use a small bit of Tacky Wax to keep it from tipping over.

• To use the bulb as a room freshener, fill it with liquid potpourri and add a few reed diffusers.

• To create an oil lamp, first make the wick holder. Use a metal drill bit the same diameter as the wick and drill a hole through a metal bottle cap. Feed a length of wick through the hole, fill the bulb with oil and position the wick and holder.
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Light Bulb Centerpiece
  	Light Bulb Sculpture
  	Light Bulb Oil Lamp
  	Light Sculpture