Three-Minute Thermos
Like hot drinks and recycling? Make a tea cozy from rubbish in the time it takes to boil a kettle!
This is a pretty quick and simple instructable, so let's dive right into it.
You will need:
-A glass bottle with a screw on top, such as IBC rootbeer.
-A plastic 2L soda bottle
-Paper towels
-A knife and/or a sharp pair of scissors (If you are a young Do-It-Yourselfer, ask a parent or someone else who is responsible with sharp objects to do the cutting for you)
Optional: Aluminum Foil
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Disclaim-o-Rama:
-Knives and scissors are sharp! Do not cut toward self. Do not lick blades. Do not ingest plastic trimmings.
-Hot beverages are hot. Wait till it is not scalding before drinking it. Do not spill hot drinks on your legs/arms/torso/crotch/etc.
-Use common sense! If some part of the back of your brain is saying "That's a bad idea," it probably is! Don't do it!
This is a pretty quick and simple instructable, so let's dive right into it.
You will need:
-A glass bottle with a screw on top, such as IBC rootbeer.
-A plastic 2L soda bottle
-Paper towels
-A knife and/or a sharp pair of scissors (If you are a young Do-It-Yourselfer, ask a parent or someone else who is responsible with sharp objects to do the cutting for you)
Optional: Aluminum Foil
If you like it, show your appreciation and vote!
Disclaim-o-Rama:
-Knives and scissors are sharp! Do not cut toward self. Do not lick blades. Do not ingest plastic trimmings.
-Hot beverages are hot. Wait till it is not scalding before drinking it. Do not spill hot drinks on your legs/arms/torso/crotch/etc.
-Use common sense! If some part of the back of your brain is saying "That's a bad idea," it probably is! Don't do it!
Wash the Glass Bottle
You know what they say, cleanliness is next to godliness. If you are an atheist or a college student, you may skip this step.
Wash out the glass bottle with hot soapy water.
Wash out the glass bottle with hot soapy water.
Off With Its Head!
CAREFULLY remove the top section of the plastic bottle, just below the neck. This is one of the thickest parts of the bottle, so be careful when you're trying to cut through it. I like to take my trusty knife and poke it into the plastic and use short, sawing strokes to cut a circle out.
You want a hole big enough for the neck of the glass bottle to just fit through.
You want a hole big enough for the neck of the glass bottle to just fit through.
Short Division
Cut the bottle in half along its equator. Not the hot dog way.
You want the bottom half slightly bigger than the top half.
You want the bottom half slightly bigger than the top half.
Stuff It
Wrap the glass bottle in paper towel/insulating product of your choice.
Put the glass bottle in the bottom half of the plastic one. Stuff around the outside of the glass until it's snug in place.
*Also, you may want to wrap the glass bottle in aluminum foil before you wrap it in the paper towel. This will serve to reflect some of the heat energy back into the bottle. However, I would limit the wrapping to the thick part of the bottle, only, because Aluminum has a low heat capacity (it's a thermal conductor) and if it comes in contact with the cold air, it will only serve to channel heat out of the thermos.
Thanks to rimar2000 for this tip!
Put the glass bottle in the bottom half of the plastic one. Stuff around the outside of the glass until it's snug in place.
*Also, you may want to wrap the glass bottle in aluminum foil before you wrap it in the paper towel. This will serve to reflect some of the heat energy back into the bottle. However, I would limit the wrapping to the thick part of the bottle, only, because Aluminum has a low heat capacity (it's a thermal conductor) and if it comes in contact with the cold air, it will only serve to channel heat out of the thermos.
Thanks to rimar2000 for this tip!
Nip/Tuck
Make a centimeter-long vertical incision in the top half of the bottle, starting at the equatorial cut.
Make an inch long vertical cut in the bottom half in a similar manner.
Make an inch long vertical cut in the bottom half in a similar manner.
All Together Now
Slide the top half over the bottom half. Since both parts are of the same diameter, this will likely take some wrangling to get it to fit.
Fill 'er Up
Obtain boiling water and make 12 fl. oz. of the hot drink of your choice. I highly recommend doing this
in a Pyrex measuring cup or something with a spout, so you don't spill your precious tea everywhere.
Cap it, take it with you, and enjoy the occasional puzzled looks. However, once they realize how clever you are, those looks will change to awe and jealously.
in a Pyrex measuring cup or something with a spout, so you don't spill your precious tea everywhere.
Cap it, take it with you, and enjoy the occasional puzzled looks. However, once they realize how clever you are, those looks will change to awe and jealously.