How to Create an Inexpensive Patio Light

Today the trend to conserve on utilities is catching fire. Most find that watering the lawn is a luxury and walkway lights unnecessary. You can create unique outdoor lights that can be used for camping, walkways or the patio for just pennies. It requires that you eat a few cans of beans, but that is a small price to pay for the beautiful luminescent ornaments. Read on to learn how to create an inexpensive patio light.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large tin can
• Large nail such as a #2 (60d)
• Hammer
• Water
• Freezer
• Eye screw
• 2X2 scrap wood
• Power drill
• 14 or 16 gauge metal wire or two heavy coat hangers, one that opens to 36 inches when cut at the twist
• Wire cutters

1. Fill a large can to the brim with water and freeze. Remove the can from the freezer and use a hammer and nail to make holes evenly spaced, about 1 inch apart and 1/2 inch from the open-end lip of the can. Wiggle the nail a bit to make certain that two of the wires that you are using fit.

2. Allow the ice to melt before you continue to make the inexpensive patio light. While you wait cut a 36-inch piece of wire and 2- to 4-inch pieces of wire.

3. Thread the wire through an eye screw. Once you have, locate the middle of the wire, bend and put 2 inches of the two loose ends in a vise. Clamp the end of the eye screw into a power drill chuck. Begin to tighten. Start with a few loops and pause. Insert a piece of wood in the loop and butt it next to the eye screw. The wood leaves a spot to cut the wire free. Turn on the drill until the wire is totally entwined.

4. Remove the scrap wood. Clip the wire open at the eye screw. This is the handle for the inexpensive patio light. Use pliers to twist each end in a J shape with the base curled in deeply. Spread the ends.

5. Insert the uncurled end into one of the holes on the can from the outside. Insert it again into the hole directly opposite the first, from the inside to the outside. Curl the ends of the wire in the same fashion. You have completed the hanger for the patio light.

6. Curl the two remaining 4-inch pieces of wire on one end and make a hook on the other end. You will put one in each hole containing the wire hanger by placing the hooked end into the hole from the outside.

7. Fill the can half way with sand and insert a candle. You now only need to decorate the outside of the can to complete the inexpensive patio light. Decorate it with ribbon, bows, shells and stars.

Tips & Warnings

• The two extra wires are for decoration and to secures the wire tightly. If you don’t have enough room they can be omitted.

[julz49221]

on 8/5/2009 Im actually going to try this. I need something like this on my patio!