Recycling Glass Insulators Into Pendant Light

Recycling Glass Insulators Into Pendant Light 

Contributed by Girl In Air

 

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Oh how I wish I had all these fabulous colors!!

  

Ever wonder what you could do with those old glass insulators??

How about a pendant light!?

I am really into re-purposing  things right now....and I had a box full of glass insulators just calling my name.

Three of these beauties will soon be hanging above my eat at bar! 

  I will update with the after picture as soon as I

hang them this weekend.

I just couldn't wait to share how to make them.....

I am entering this project over at the DIY PROJECT PARTY

First, I looked up on the internet how to drill glass 

and found this helpful info below

HOW TO DRILL A HOLE IN GLASS...

You'll use these tips and techniques to drill glass, sea glass, wine bottles, glass block, tile, stone, granite and marble.

1. Use diamond bits to drill your glass, not carbide bits.
2. Use diamond hole saws to drill holes 1/4" and larger or to drill holes in thick glass like glass block or wine bottles.
3. Use plenty of lubrication/coolant to keep your drill tip cool and the hole clean.
4. Use less pressure! Let your drill bit drill at it's own pace.
5. Start diamond hole saws at 600-900 RPM
6. Start diamond drill bits at 2500-5000 RPM
    
   
   
   I used a 1/2" diamond bit I got at the home improvement store for $7.
    Now let me try and expand the difference between a bit and a hole saw....Cause this is where I got very confused and maybe you are too...
   They both are bits to use in a drill....
   The hole saw cuts a ring to make a hole and a bit drills a hole and works outward to 
   make a bigger hole.
   
    See?
   The bit I bought is considered a hole saw....
   Make sense???
   
    Then I got to know the hubby's drill press a little better... I used the larger one for this project.
   I've always been shy around power tools but this one is so easy to use and I've been using it for lots of other crafts too.
    
    See how you can set the speed for working with glass....the turtle for slow and rabbit for fast is how you change the setting on the R.P.M.
    
   Put in the diamond bit.
   Make sure you wear your safety glasses
   and don't apply too much pressure....let the drill do the work.
    
   We bought 2 socket kits($2 each) not sure which one to use...
   ended up using the smaller one without wires.
   
   There are a lot of different type pendant kits you can buy...like the one I bought to make a
   mason jar pendant light
   But I found this on sale for $40 with a $20 rebate at Mernard's
   My plan was to replace the globes with my glass insulators
   
    Here are the ends of the pendant light...
   One still attached and one taken apart
   You will need to use pliers to pull off the socket, wire strippers to remove the wires and then unscrew the other two pieces. 
   (I'm sure had I found a pendant kit with a smaller socket I could have skipped this step and simply changed out the globe with the glass insulator.But a lighting kit with a small socket could not be found in my small town.)
    
   So you will have these two pieces left....
   Thread the wires through the hole you cut
   and attach the socket
    
   There are instructions on the back of the 
   socket packaging.
   
   I used an LED energy efficient long life bulb
   There is also tons of helpful video's on the internet about how to wire a socket.
   
    Ready to install.....
    This pendant kit comes with assembly and installation instructions.
   Remember you can also turn a CAN light fixture into a pendant light with a $10 converter kit.
    
   Here's another single mini pendant kit you can purchase. I have seen these priced $10-$20 in White, Nickel and Black finishes.
   
   
   Don't have a place to hang a pendant???
   
   Then you could pick up on one of these 
   clip on socket cord sets for around $5 at your home improvement store and make a lamp!
    
   Check out what these lights are going for
   on NapaStyle.com 
   
   
   
    So for around $35 
   (light kit, diamond bit, sockets, LED lights)
   I made 3 charming pendant lights to hang in my kitchen