How to Build Fences out of Unusual Material

Collect an assortment of glass bottles and glass jars to create the vertical and horizontal rails of a fence. If the bottles are 12-inches tall, which is the height of an average wine bottle, you’ll need 54 bottles to build a 4-foot tall by 10-feet long fence with vertical posts spaced 12-inches apart. This calculation is based on placing one 12-inch tall bottle horizontally along the top rail between each vertical post. The amount of bottles/jars needed to construct the fence will vary based on the size of the fence and on the size of the bottles.

Attach a ½-inch diameter diamond drill bit to a drill press. Clamp the glass bottle/jar securely to the drill press platform with the bottom of the bottle/jar facing up. Lubricate the bottom of the glass bottle/jar with vegetable oil or water.

Wear safety glasses and work gloves. Drill ½-inch diameter holes through the center of the bottom of the glass bottle/jar slowly, with little to no pressure. Follow the process to drill holes through the bottoms of each glass bottle/jar.

Paint the inside of clear glass bottles/jars with glass paint or stained glass paint, if you prefer a colorful fence line. Follow the glass paint manufacturer’s instructions for setting the paint; some paints require baking in a warm oven while some others air-set.

Insert a #3 rebar pole 15 inches into the ground at each vertical fence post location. Space the posts to accommodate the length of the bottles that will line the top horizontal rails. For example, if the bottles are 12-inches long, space the posts 14-inches apart to accommodate fitting the ends of the pipe into the T fittings.

Cut lengths of ½-inch diameter copper pipe equal to the desired height of the vertical fence posts. Cut one pipe for each vertical fence post. Cut a length of ½-inch diameter copper pipe equal to the distance between each vertical fence post.

Insert the copper pipes cut for height over the rebar poles. Fit and stack the glass bottles/jars over each pipe. Glue a ½-inch diameter copper T fitting to the top of each interior fence post using waterproof construction adhesive. The open ends of the T fittings should face the adjacent fence posts. Glue a ½-inch diameter copper elbow fitting to each end pipe. The open end of the fittings should face the interior section of the fence.

Slide a glass bottle over a section of pipe cut to fit horizontally on the top of the fence line. Glue the ends of the horizontal pipes into the fitting openings between each vertical copper pipe.