This is my first instructable. I bought a pack of the 1899 style coke bottles from the store and decided to recycle the 6 bottles into better things instead of just putting them in the bin down the road.

My first bottle has become a lantern. This is how to make one too!

Step 1: Drink

The fist step is to buy and drink some cokes. I suggest soda bottles because they are thicker than beer bottles. Mason jars would work as well if you have some around. When you remove the top try not to warp the cap too much.

Step 2: Poke!

Punch holes in the cap with a finishing nail. When you do it use a soft surface to place the cap on. If you do it on something hard you will dent the cap in a lot. You have to put two holes in, one in the center for the wick and one on the edge to let air into the bottle.

Step 3: Smash

Angle the nail and turn it to widen the hole a bit. Use a flat edge to smooth out the punched in bits from the nail and to flatten any warping on the cap from opening the bottle. You only have to flatten the pointy bits on the center hole because thats the one the wick will go through.

Step 4: Add Oil and Wick

Fill your bottle with whatever you want to burn. I used lamp oil from Walmart. Its in the candle section. Liquid paraffin wax can also be used or denatured alcohol. The wick is from Hobby Lobby. It is a braided wick for pillar candles. I didn't want to have to buy a new wick for a while, so I bought an 18 ft one and stuck the whole thing in since I don't plan to make any candles.

Step 5: Knot and Cap

Stick the wick up through the center hole and tie a knot in the end. If you have even a little extra wick it will make a bunch of soot. Any wick sticking out of the end of the knot will burn off. Once thats done press the cap back onto the bottle and wait a while for the oil to soak up.

Step 6: Done!

Once the wick is saturated with oil, light it up! The flame will burn high and dirty for a little while but dont worry. Just hold a piece of scrap paper over it till it burns down to catch the soot. After a few seconds it will burn down to a small clean flame.

You can decorate the bottle before the filling it if you need to do anything to the inside. My girlfriend put this ribbon on after it was done and I think it adds something nice too it. Notice that my wick takes up a lot of space in the bottle. 18 ft may be a bit long, but it makes the lamp look neat.

DISCLAIMER:
Good for housholds without children. Like a candle this lantern has an open flame.