Create an eclectic and decorative water fountain using a wine barrel and wine bottles. With the help of soft copper tubing, you can shape fixtures for the bottles to hang over the wine barrel. When the water channels from the barrel, the wine bottles appear to be pouring white wine into the barrel. Add a submersible light inside the wine barrel to enhance the water feature at night. You can use one to five wine bottles to make the fountain. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the length of each of three wine bottles. Cut a length of 5/8-inch diameter soft copper tubing equal to the length of one wine bottle, plus 20 inches. Repeat this step for each wine bottle.
2. Fit one of the wine bottles upside down over one end of copper tubing. The end of the tubing should support the wine bottle. Bend the tubing at a slight angle, 30 to 45 degrees, as it exits the wine bottle. Bend the tubing again at a 30 to 45 degree angle six inches from the first bend. Remove the wine bottle. Repeat this step with the remaining two copper tubes and two wine bottles.
3. Attach one copper tube to the inside rim of the wine barrel with a copper strap and screws. The section of the copper tube that supports the wine bottle should be on top of the wine barrel.
4. Repeat Step 3 to attach the remaining two copper tubes to the wine barrel. Space the copper tubes apart evenly around the barrel.
5. Drill one 1-inch hole through the wine barrel directly beneath the copper tube, three inches from the bottom of the barrel. Repeat this step to drill two additional holes through the barrel directly beneath the remaining two copper tubes.
6. Cut a 2-inch diameter rubber disc to fit over each drilled hole. Cut slits halfway across each disc. Fit one disc over the power cords of each submersible pump, six inches from the base of the pump.
7. Place each pump inside the wine barrel, directly beneath the drilled hole. Fit the power cords through the holes. Seal the rubber discs to the wine barrel with silicone sealant to cover the holes. Seal each slit around the cords and seal around the perimeter of each rubber disc. Allow the sealant to dry.
8. Cut three lengths of 1/2-inch diameter flexible plastic tubing, one each to fit from the spout on the submersible pumps to the end of the copper pipe directly above the pumps, plus five inches.
9. Fit one end of each tube over the spout of each pump. Insert the other end of each tube into the copper tubing directly above it. Secure the tubing with duct tape around the base of the copper tubing.
10. Fit the wine bottles upside down on the ends of the tubing. Make sure that each bottle is near the center of the wine barrel. Fill the barrel with water, up to four inches of the top rim. Plug in the pumps to start the water flowing. Water will run from the wine barrel through the plastic tubes, into the copper tubes and into the inverted wine bottles. The water will flow out of the wine bottles, back down into the barrel.
Tags: wine bottles, wine barrel, wine bottle, copper tubes, copper tubing, wine barrel