Eco-Friendly Lightbulb Planter: From Filament to Foliage

One day a few weeks ago, I was doing chores when I saw this bucket of broken lightbulbs in the laundry room. Every time we change out a lightbulb, we put the old or broken ones in the bucket in case they can be reused or until they can be properly disposed of. It was at that moment I realized that lightbulbs would be the perfect thing to give a new life to. Everyone has replaced a lightbulb, but after installing a new one, the old bulb is always thrown away. It seems like such a shame. After studying the unique shape of some of the old glass bulbs, I knew they would make awesome planters. The round bulb provides an aesthetic potting vessel, and the clear glass allows you to watch the roots of the plant as it grows. By recycling the lightbulbs instead of throwing them away, we can cut down on waste and give them a new life. I quickly realized that the bulbs would not stand on their own, and so fitting the eco-friendly theme of the project, I recycled a piece of discarded wood I found in my garage to create a base for the bulbs to sit on. I love the way this project turned out, and I can't wait to share it with the community.

Materials:

• 3 Round Lighbulbs
• 2x1 ft Board of Wood
• Wood Glue
• Wood Stain (optional)

Tools:

• Drill and X Inch Hole Saw Bit
• Electric or Handheld Saw
• Screwdriver
• Measuring Tape
• Pencil
• Clamps
• Safety Goggle and Gloves
• 1 Tablespoon of Table Salt (if using frosted light bulbs)
• Sand Paper (optional)

The first half of this project is hollowing out the lightbulbs. Put on your safety goggles and gloves, and make sure to work on a solid and clean surface. If you are working on a rough or hard surface, place the lightbulb on a clean dishtowel while working to make sure that the bulb does not get scratched.

Gently run your razor blade along the edge of the metal contact on the top end of the lightbulb. Work your way around the metal contact, turning the blade to lift it up from the base of the bulb. Once it it sufficiently loosened, use needlenose pliers to remove it from the bulb.

Hold the light bulb securely in one hand, and ensure that you have a firm grip on the bulb. With your other hand, use the needle-nose pliers to carefully grip the black connecting glass at the base of the bulb. While gripping the glass tightly, use a twisting motion to slowly break off pieces of the black connecting glass. Slowly work your way around, breaking off small sections of glass at a time. After successfully removing the black connecting glass, carefully inspect the base of the bulb and the surrounding area, and remove any remaining fragments or sharp edges.

Hold the light bulb securely in one hand, taking care to maintain a firm grip without putting excessive pressure on the bulb to avoid breaking it. Take your screwdriver and insert it into the opening at the base of the bulb. Using the screwdriver, apply pressure to the glass seal using a prying motion until it cracks and breaks. Work your way around the bulb to make sure that all of the seal is broken off, and then turn the bulb upside down and shake out the broken glass.

Using your needle-nose pliers, reach into the bulb and remove the filament assembly. For some bulbs, the filament assembly is larger than the bulb opening. If that is the case with your bulb, use your needle nose pliers to break the filament assembly, and then turn the bulb upside down and shake out the broken glass and filament. Be careful not to scratch the inside of the bulb when using the pliers.

If you are using a lightbulb with a frosted or opaque coating on the inside of the bulb and would like it to be clear, take about one tablespoon of salt, and pour it into the bulb. When you swirl the salt around the bulb, it will remove the thin coating and leave the class clear and transparent. Make sure to tilt the bulb when swirling the salt around so that the salt runs across all of the glass, and there are no spots of coating left.

To make sure that there are no fragments of glass, dust, or salt left in the bulb, rinse the inside with water. If you would like to remove the information marking on the bottom of the bulb, use isopropyl alcohol or acetone on a clean towel.

Since the bottom of the bulbs are round, we need a stand to hold them upright and prevent them from tipping over and spilling dirt all over the place. I chose to make the base out of recycled natural wood, but you can use any material that can be easily cut and glued such as foam, cardboard, or composite wood. Alternatively, if you have access to a 3D printer, you could print the base entirely.

Exercise caution when working with any power tools or sharp hand tools. Wear safety gloves and glasses, and if possible, work in a well-ventilated location when performing any steps that could create sawdust or fumes.

To create the base, I started by hopping into Fusion and getting a basic idea of what I wanted it to look like. As I took measurements of the bulbs and materials, I refined the model and sized it to match bulbs I had. If your bulbs are larger or smaller, you might want to adjust the size of the holes to make sure that they fit securely. Additionally, the model can easily be scaled to accommodate more or fewer bulbs, so feel free to customize your planter. After, modeling the base, I created a diagram using the Fusion Drawing Studio to serve as the template for the build. If you would like to 3D print or CNC machine the base, check out the CAD files below.

Using a measuring tape or a ruler, sketch the guidelines. The included diagram above is for a 3-bulb planter, but the dimensions could easily be adjusted for larger or smaller bases. If you would like to machine or 3D print the base, check out the included CAD file of the base in Step 11.

The dimensions for your base do not have to exactly the same, but keep in mind the proportions as you go. Using an electric or hand-operated saw and a measuring tape, cut out one piece of wood for the base about 3.5 inches wide and 12 inches long. The thickness of the base will be determined by the piece of wood that you are using, but make sure that the thickness does not exceed 3/4 of an inch. Now to create the legs, cut out 2 identical pieces measuring 0.75 inches wide and 3.5 inches long. See the above diagram for a better idea of the dimensions.

First, take your measuring tape and with a pencil make marks along the base to indicate where the holes will be. Using a drill with a hole saw or spade bit, make the holes. Be sure to keep the drill perpendicular to the board so that the holes are straight and the bulbs will sit evenly.

Place the base on a table or firm surface, and then carefully apply wood glue to one side of each leg piece and attach them to the sides of the base. Make any slight adjustments if necessary, and then let glue dry overnight.

If you want to give your bulb stand a more refined and professional appearance, here are a few tips.

• Take a medium-grit sandpaper, and sand the sides of your bulb stand. Work your way around, and after one pass, switch to a higher grit and repeat.
• Apply a wood stain or lacquer to your bulb stand using a clean, dry towel. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application, and after applying an even coating, let it dry overnight. Apply additional coatings if necessary.
• If you want to give your bulb stand that perfect finishing touch, attach to the feet adhesive non-slip rubber pads. These will prevent the bulb stand from sliding around and can be found at any hardware store.

Congrats on finishing your awesome new bulb planter! You can use it for anything you can think of, but here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Air Plant Terrariums: Transform these glass bulbs into terrariums. Fill them with small plants, delicate moss, and polished pebbles, gravel, or sand. Place these miniature ecosystems on your windowsill or tabletop where they can take in plenty of sun.
• Countertop Herb Garden: This planter can make an awesome herb garden. Plant common herbs used in everyday cooking such as basil, mint, chives, thyme, and parsley. Not only will it look great on a countertop, but will also remain a functional piece of your kitchen.
• Elegant Floral Centerpieces: Place cut flowers or dried blooms within the glass bulbs. Make it the centerpiece of a table, or use it as an elegant shelf decoration.