Inspired by the Recycled Wine Bottle Torch and annoyed by mosquitoes this week (how is it that they're already out and there's been less than a week of spring?), we hit up the hardware store and threw together a $3.48 recycled wine bottle torch filled with citronella. While it's not as classy as the real thing (nor as safe), it keeps the bugs at bay and looks pretty good.

And it was quick and cheap. Using the original How To as a guide, we assembled the materials:

What You Need

Materials

1/2" x 3/8" copper coupling ($0.97)
Tiki replacement wick ($1.54)
Nylon thread seal tape ($.97)
Recycled wine bottle or beer bottle (Free!)

Tools
Citronella torch fuel (price not included)

Instructions

The construction is pretty simple:

1. Wrap the pipe wrap around the copper reducer many times. The opening on our wine bottle required about 15 times around so that it would stick and we actually inserted the smaller 3/8" side into the bottle as the 1/2" side didn't fit (as compared to the original How-to). In the future, we'd also want to try it in beer bottles for smaller torches to place around the yard.

2. Insert the wick into the reducer.

3. Fill the bottle with Citronella and insert wick. Let the oil be absorbed into the wick before lighting.

4. Light and enjoy!

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