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http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
Step 4: Assembling
These solar lights simply unscrew from their plastic bulb. The entire solar unit is self-contained and can be used without further disassembly. Be sure to remove the plastic covering from the solar cell, add your silicone adhesive if necessary, and fit the unit into the lid. Note: it's a good idea to test the fit before using adhesive. After putting the first unit in, I realized this particular unit fits so snugly into the SLOM jar, no adhesive is necessary. This was a nice coincidence that allowed future sun jars to have a clean look without any adhesive showing through the top of the glass.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
Image Notes 1. this area in particular would benefit from smoothing with a finger
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
Related Instructables
Comments
41 comments Add Comment
Pink&BlueDesigns says:
Feb 18, 2011. 12:55 PM REPLY This is the best sun jar instructable I have seen! I made a few and it was quick and easy! I had a few small round mirror tiles lying around, so I glued 1 to the bottom to reflect more light out of the sides. They are great little conversation starters. I use them for outdoor tables for evening events like BBQs. Thanksnagain for the great instuctable!
sylrig says:
Thanks! I'm planning to hang some outside this summer, as well.
fretted says:
Jan 10, 2011. 7:30 PM REPLY Instead of Painting why couldn't you actually etch the glass with liquid etching found in craft stores like hobby lobby or such then you could color the glass with glass stain no runs or globs Just a thought Great instructable anyway !
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
Pink&BlueDesigns says:
I etched mine the old fashion way! (Sandblasting) I guess whatever way you want to get the etched effect will work.
sylrig says:
Jan 10, 2011. 7:37 PM REPLY I've never used liquid etching--sounds like an interesting idea. And I really like the idea of glass stain. I'll have to look into both--thanks!
jrickclark says:
Feb 8, 2011. 11:14 PM REPLY Hey, on that Westinghouse unit, there's also a little mirror piece that you can unscrew from the clear enclosure piece. If you glue it to the bottom center of the jar, it'll reflect a little more light away from the bottom of the jar and back out the sides. Great instructible. I really like your trick for frosting the inside of the jars, and not disassembling the solar unit. Thanks!
sylrig says:
Feb 9, 2011. 8:17 AM REPLY That's a really great idea--thanks! I would definitely use it on any future sun jars, as it would be a big improvement and is otherwise a wasted piece.
skimmo says:
mine came out grand, i use it to find the way to my tent in the middle of the night
sylrig says:
Great use--I'll have to remember that!
skimmo says:
Jan 28, 2011. 3:14 PM REPLY i find they i have to leave it in full sun light all day, in Australia atm they are very hot days, within a glass jar is there a chance that it will melt, or are they built for that?
sylrig says:
Jan 29, 2011. 10:40 AM REPLY We have long, hot summer days here, too, and I've never had a problem with anything melting. I imagine everything in the solar light is meant to withstand extended sun exposure. Jan 10, 2011. 6:12 PM REPLY
lucianaliacs says:
Hum ey where did you bought that solar light? because i don't know where they sell that! (:
sylrig says:
Jan 28, 2011. 9:01 AM REPLY Yes, I got mine at Orchard Supply Hardware, but I've seen them at other hardware stores in the garden section. They've been very inexpensive lately-just under $2 around here.
omgflyingbanana says:
Garden store :P
impecaby says:
The main drawback of such lights is that accumulator runs too little. http://rabotynet.ru
Browncoat says:
I'm wondering if white paint & clear nail polish could be mixed to imitate the frosted glass paint. Anyone have any ideas?
sylrig says:
Oct 10, 2010. 1:27 PM REPLY I'm not much of a materials expert, so I'm not sure. My first thought, though, is that nail polish has a lot of toxic substances and I'm not sure how they would interact with the paint. Would anyone else know this? If you don't want to mess with the spray paint, I've seen instructables in which the inside of the jar is sanded with much the same effect as frosting.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
jomac_uk says:
Dec 22, 2010. 7:07 AM REPLY Without starting a chemistry lesson,yes nail varnish does contain some nasty things,some of which are petroleum based and are NOT soluable in water. Assuming you wanted to use a water based paint, mixing nail polish and a water based paint would be like mixing water and oil, it just wont mix properly, if you mix nail polish and a solvent based paint, the nail polish and the paints solvents will just mix, and you wont see any results. At the end of the day, the result you are aiming for is a "Frosted" look inside the glass jar, without having to resort to setting up a Dr Frankenstein's laboratory to do so. The emulsion look above is quite effective, try mixing some silver sand with the emulsion, this will give the effect of stars as the light hits the sand, sugar may also work as it doesnt dissolove very well in cold mixtures. Another thing to try is white LIME powder used as a fertiliser in some cases. The advantage of using chemicals like these, is they are relatively harmless,and if you dont get the effect you want...wash it out!! At the end of the day, its all about playing.
Browncoat says:
Perfect timing! Menard's has solar lights similar to these on sale for 49 cents after rebate! Can't wait to find a jar & try this!! :)
sylrig says:
Oct 8, 2010. 3:14 PM REPLY That's an amazing price--you can load up. There's got to be a great Halloween jack-o-lantern project that can be done with these, too, huh?
Browncoat says:
Oct 14, 2010. 4:57 PM REPLY I went to Goodwill & found 3 jars that I think will be PERFECT for this! 49 cents each! Onlyl "real" expense is gonna be the frost paint! :D
sylrig says:
That's great! And the frosting spray really goes a long way.
Browncoat says:
Oct 16, 2010. 8:37 PM REPLY How kickass is THIS??? I got frosting spray at Hobby Lobby today. It was marked as $7.99 & was 25% off!!! Got my first jar taped & excited to spray it tomorrow! :D
sylrig says:
Oct 17, 2010. 12:57 PM REPLY You definitely have a genius for finding great prices! Post your jars, and if I can figure out this patch thing, I'll send you one.
Browncoat says:
Oct 17, 2010. 2:16 PM REPLY I've TOTALLY gotten lucky! I'm actually having a problem with the paint though. It's almost like it's "crackling" paint... It's not giving full coverage on the sides. Any tips? Maybe the jars just have to be shorter than mine, but the spray just seems to shoot OUT of them when I'm trying to spray it in...
sylrig says:
Oct 18, 2010. 2:52 PM REPLY Did you figure out the problem? I'm not sure what it would be. The Krylon I got worked well, but it was hard to see the paint coverage until it had dried a little. Maybe it is the depth? Hope you can get it working somehow.
Browncoat says:
Nov 5, 2010. 8:26 PM REPLY Maybe it was just a different paint brand. Anywhere, here are 2 pics. One in the light & one where it's lit up. (I still need to center & "glue" the light.)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/
jomac_uk says:
Dec 16, 2010. 5:51 PM REPLY If its of any interest, i used white emulsion paint diluted with water, pour a little into the jar, swirl it around until all the glass is covered, and lay the jar, opening down onto newspaper for the excess to drain out.
sylrig says:
Dec 21, 2010. 9:00 PM REPLY That's really helpful--thanks. Seems like a great option, especially for those who may already have paint on hand.
Earths_hope says:
I thoght photoresistors were illegal!
tstark1970 says:
Make A Home Chandaler out of it. using solar power to power it at night.
sylrig says:
Oct 8, 2010. 3:11 PM REPLY I did think of hanging this from a tree branch to have some hanging outdoor lighting. I guess you could string several together for a chandelier--would love to see it.
NHquilter says:
I really like these! I'm thinking of maybe doing a tissue paper decoupage instead of the frosting, to add a little color....
sylrig says:
That's a great idea--I'd love to see what you come up with. Would make a great instructables, too!
Whales says:
small futuristic shot glasses?
sylrig says:
Great idea--thanks!
depotdevoid says:
Oct 2, 2010. 5:44 PM REPLY "Now the only problem is what to do with the remaining solar light parts. Anyone know of a project which uses stakes, stainless steel tubes and plastic bulbs?"
I save them all. They come in handy after a while, I've used my sun jar leftovers for all sorts of random projects! Very clear and well written, thanks for sharing your build.
quantumkittty says:
random projects such as impaling zombies so they drain out?
depotdevoid says:
Good thinking, maybe I should add that to my Zombie Survival Kit!
sylrig says:
Thanks for your encouragement. I'd love to try your Creepy UV LED Sun Jar sometime, too!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fast-Easy-Sun-Jar/