How to make beer bottle tiki torches you can enjoy all summer.
This summer we have been enjoying the benefits of several beer bottle tiki torches burning citronella and cedar fuel. They are soooo easy to make, create such a pleasant ambiance in our outdoor space and keep the pesky mosquitoes away.
In this post I'm offering up two variations of how to reuse and re-purpose beer bottles (or other bottles for that matter) into tiki torches, but as you will instantly realize - there are plenty of possibilities. Just use your imagination and a few nifty, inexpensive accessories.
How to Make Beer Bottle Tiki Torches
Option One - Mounted Beer Bottle Tiki Torches
I favor this option because you can mount the bottles torches to a variety of 'columns' or directly to the fence around your patio or garden space and they will stay safe and secure (assuming the use of common sense in location selection of course).
If you have a pergola, its vertical pillars will work out perfectly. If you are very DIY inclined you can even construct your own wooden post(s) and attach them to it. I am planning a short tutorial on how to do that, said wooden post will have other purposes too:).
For this mounted option all you need is a beer bottle, a simple mounting kit with wick included, torch fuel and an electric drill. That's about it. I used this tiki fuel formulated to repel mosquitoes. We have a few of those here in Colorado.
Or you can simplify and make a tabletop arrangement of beer bottle tiki torches...
Option Two - Centerpiece Beer Bottle Tiki Torches
This option is even easier. The only concern I have is keeping the bottles torches away from small children and pets - while lit up and while not (glass...). Safety first. You might also want to weigh down the bottles with small decorative rocks or even a handful of fine gravel or sand. In case the wind makes an appearance to help with your anti-mosquitoes efforts.
Otherwise, all you need is your bottles, fuel and long enough wicks with bras rings. I used several of the beer bottles I spray painted a while back. Just dressed them up a little bit before filling them with fuel.
Assembly/Mounting Tips for Beer Bottle Tiki Torches
- Use a funnel when pouring the fuel into the bottles and do so outside.
- Let the wicks soak up the fuel for at least half an hour before lighting them.
- Make sure there is no more than an inch of wick sticking out from the bras rings.
- If mounting to a brick wall etc. using the kit be sure to utilize the provided anchors.
A Few Safety Tips for Using Beer Bottle Tiki Torches
I am sure that you don't need my preaching, but will do it anyway. Please forgive!
- Never use indoors.
- Place the torches in locations away from anything that may catch on fire.
- Keep the unmounted torches away from children, pets and direct sunlight during the daytime when not in use. Best store them in your garage or another weather safe space.
- Always put out the flame thoroughly. With the mounted option there is a hanging cap included that will help you put out the flame. For the table top/centerpiece option you can purchase wicks that come with a cap, or use my trick. Wrap a cocktail jigger really well with tin foil and use it in lieu of a cap, then throw away the foil. It works perfectly!
Beer Bottle Tiki Torches as a Gift
How cool would it be if you gifted a craft beer lover a bottle of their favorite beer and a mounting kit so they can reuse the bottle after enjoying the beer? Just think about how happy they'd be. I know I would:) The Crooked Stave Surette Cherry Sour, the bottle of which I used for this post, was a gift from Chris. I had wanted it so much. My mounting kit arrived the day after we shared the beer.
Beverly
This is such an awesome idea! They turned out great. Thanks for the detailed tutorial and thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle Party. I'll be featuring this at tomorrow's party. Hope to see you there!
CraftBeering
Thank you so much Beverly! Always enjoy seeing the other ideas at Snickerdoodle.
CraftBeering
They will be great at a fall party! Thank you Jodie!
Sarah
Prettiest beer bottles I've ever seen! I agree, these would make a lovely gift. I really like the mounted ones.
CraftBeering
Thank you so much Sarah!
Amber Harrop
Well I love to recycle and I have a few bottles so this is perfect for me
CraftBeering
Great! Thank you so much for stopping by, Amber!
Allison
Such a cute idea! Every once in a while I save a bottle that has some kind of personal significance, but I never know what to do with them.
CraftBeering
I totally relate Allison, in our case it has become a borderline bottle hording bottle:) We should work on not being so attached to our latest favorite beer bottles, lol.
Lina
I love the look of bottle torches but I've always wondered doesn't the bottleneck heat up more quickly than the rest of the bottle and the bottle might explode? I usually use thick glass or metal containers for DIY outdoor oil lamps but I love your painted bottle torches with the twine. Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It.
CraftBeering
Hi Lina, thank you for stopping by! Also for the thoughtful comment - you bring up a great point. So the bottle neck and the bottle overall do not seem to heat up at all! Somehow the brass rings surrounding the wicks contain the heat. The fuel burns off the top of the wick, the wick itself burns super slowly. I can comfortably hold the bottles just under the necks as soon as I put out the flame. I was surprised myself. I wish I had better knowledge of physics to explain how this happens.
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
What an awesome idea!! i definitely need to try this! Thanks for sharing on the Friday Frenzy Link Party!
CraftBeering
Thank you Kelly!
Leanna
These are fabulous and eye catching. Great idea, thanks for all the safety tips.
CraftBeering
Thank you Leanna:)
Heidi
What a cute idea! I am going to have to have my husband drink up some beer so I can have some bottles.
I am sure he won't mind! 😀
CraftBeering
Lol, that will work:) Any bottles with a standard sized neck will work for the bras ring supporting the wick will work actually.
Mary
What a cool idea. You know I love anything that involves reusing things. Thanks for sharing and for all the tips so I won't burn down the house!
CraftBeering
You are definitely an expert when it comes to re-purposing things Mary. I'm quite often amazed by your creativity:)
STEPHANIE ABBOTT
That is really such a cool idea. I think I pinned it last week. But I'd better pin again, just to be sure. 🙂
CraftBeering
Thank you Stephanie:)
CraftBeering
Thank you so much for stopping by Mimi, glad you like them!
Carol
These are amazing. I am featuring when my link party opens up tonight. Thanks so much for linking up!
CraftBeering
So kind of you Carol! We are definitely going to come over and party with you and your guests:)
Elise Cohen Ho
Totally sending this to my son. He would love this. I can absolutely see it in his yard one day.
CraftBeering
LOL, the sooner the better, right? Thank you so much Elise:)
Kristina Rees
Visiting from Coffee and Conversation. Wow! what a cool idea! I love my tiki torches. These would make for a more elegant look. Thanks for sharing.
CraftBeering
We are of the same mind:) Thank you for the kind words and for stopping by Kristina!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
Wow Martha, you really outdid yourself with these beer tiki torches! lol! Actually, this idea is way too cool for Martha 😉 The good lord knows we have a ton of beer bottles around the house on any given weekend so I need to get my crafty on and make some torches ASAP! I love the painted ones with the twine. Beautiful!
CraftBeering
You simply must make some Karrie:) They are too easy not to and you get to sit outside longer each night (= an extra beer)!
Theresa Huse
Pretty and such a fun summer DIY. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight Pinned & sharing.
CraftBeering
Thank you so much Theresa!
Mary
I’m avid crafter, I’ve seen these and I’ve always wanted to make them. What a great tutorial! I can’t wait to try it out myself. I’ll send you pictures. They would look great on my Mother's Patio.
CraftBeering
I'm sure they will look great Mary when you make them. I think before the commercial kits with wicks and mounting hardware people used to make them with hardware parts used in sprinkler systems etc. So cool that now you can just buy a kit, definitely a convenience.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I love the ambiance that flame provides! We have been using our propane fire pit a lot lately (when it's not too windy) so this is definitely something for me! So creative and a great way to repurpose those bottles! Love that centrepiece one with the string around the bottles - gotta love that rustic look!
CraftBeering
Thank you, Dawn! We have similar tastes, not just in food:)
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
This is so awesome and creative! We never seem to have any shortage of beer bottles around, so I could totally do this 🙂
CraftBeering
Lol, yes, a project like this definitely gets a person to examine their empty beer bottle inventory:) Thank you, Jennifer!
annie@ciaochowbambina
This is an ambiance I can get behind!! I love the mood you've set with beer bottle tikis! So so creative!
CraftBeering
Thank you, Annie! We love being surrounded by these torches while sitting outside at the end of the day:)
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
That is such a creative idea! And I love it! They look so nice outside, I like both, the mounted bottle on the wall and the centerpiece one. You're right, so easy and original and useful! Thanks also for the tips, I appreciated them. Better safe than sorry 😉 .
CraftBeering
Thank you Nicoletta!
Debrashoppeno5
This is so ingenious. What a great way for mood lighting.
CraftBeering
Thank you Debra!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
These are so cute and fun! I always see pretty bottles of beer at the store and now I have an excuse to buy beer just for the bottle :). Happy Friday, Milena!
CraftBeering
OMG, lol! I have totally done that - buy a beer because the bottle and label looked really cool:)