topic Solar LED light for a Mason Jar in Home

Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

Nana5 — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:25:32 GMT

Have any of you seen this yet? It's a solar LED light lid for a Mason jar. You just put the lid on the jar and sit it in the sun. I tried one on a VPH mercury glass jar but the coating on the jar was too heavy/dark it didn't let the light shine through. But it works beautifully on a clear jar. Since Mason jars (except for the wide mouth jars) use the same size lid, it works on pint jars and quart jars. Or the little "quilted" glass jelly jars which make a lovely pattern when the light shines though the "quilting."

I can see all kinds of ways I'll use these and no batteries required. Actually there is a rechargeable battery in it somewhere but the sun does most of the work.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

DREAMON — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 17:47:54 GMT

Where did you find them?

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

SHOPR — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 22:52:28 GMT

I haven't seen one except online, but I like the concept very much. I have plenty of old jars, and I see that the premade solar lids are for sale on etsy and ebay, but what do you do for the hanger? Make one?

I could really get into this if anyone ever makes them with the amber colored LEDs. I'm not finding any called amber on ebay or etsy. Anyone aware of any?

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

GCR18 — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:33:03 GMT

I stumbled across these on eBay. Someone is selling them in eaches, so I ordered one. I'm hoping it will be here by the w/e, but you can never tell with the mail.

SHOPR, you could always paint the mason jar amber.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

Nana5 — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:34:44 GMT

On 4/17/2014 SHOPR said:
I haven't seen one except online, but I like the concept very much. I have plenty of old jars, and I see that the premade solar lids are for sale on etsy and ebay, but what do you do for the hanger? Make one?

I could really get into this if anyone ever makes them with the amber colored LEDs. I'm not finding any called amber on ebay or etsy. Anyone aware of any?

I found them on several on-line sites and on Ebay. Mine came from Ebay. There are many sellers and the prices are all over the place. I bought from one of the least expensive sellers. They cost $3.25 each and free shipping.

Interesting that you should ask about the hanger. They are available on Ebay also and don't cost a lot. But when I told DH about the hangers, he said, "I can make them out of coat hangers." Knowing that he wouldn't get around to doing it, I tried my hand at it and almost ruined my hands/fingers/wrists. The coat hanger wire I have was much too heavy to bend easily. DH gave me a roll of something he calls "mechanic's wire." It much easier to bend and with a bit of experimentation, I quickly made three sturdy hangers for my three lids.

I haven't seen any of the lids with amber LED lights. I'm guessing they wouldn't be as bright but would provide more ambience and class.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

Nana5 — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:37:09 GMT

On 4/17/2014 graycatsrule said:
I stumbled across these on eBay. Someone is selling them in eaches, so I ordered one. I'm hoping it will be here by the w/e, but you can never tell with the mail.

SHOPR, you could always paint the mason jar amber.

I'm not sure how much light would show if we painted the jars. As I mentioned earlier, I put one of my lids on one of VPH mercury glass mason jars and the light did not show through very much because of the paint on the jar.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

GCR18 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:13:34 GMT

On 4/17/2014 Nana5 said:
On 4/17/2014 graycatsrule said:
I stumbled across these on eBay. Someone is selling them in eaches, so I ordered one. I'm hoping it will be here by the w/e, but you can never tell with the mail.

SHOPR, you could always paint the mason jar amber.

I'm not sure how much light would show if we painted the jars. As I mentioned earlier, I put one of my lids on one of VPH mercury glass mason jars and the light did not show through very much because of the paint on the jar.

Sorry, I meant with glass paint. It's translucent. I saw some colored mason jars at walmart too, but they were blue.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

Nana5 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:17:15 GMT

On 4/17/2014 graycatsrule said:
On 4/17/2014 Nana5 said:
On 4/17/2014 graycatsrule said:
I stumbled across these on eBay. Someone is selling them in eaches, so I ordered one. I'm hoping it will be here by the w/e, but you can never tell with the mail.

SHOPR, you could always paint the mason jar amber.

I'm not sure how much light would show if we painted the jars. As I mentioned earlier, I put one of my lids on one of VPH mercury glass mason jars and the light did not show through very much because of the paint on the jar.

Sorry, I meant with glass paint. It's translucent. I saw some colored mason jars at walmart too, but they were blue.

Oh that could be beautiful. I never heard of translucent glass paint but I'm going to look for it. I have lots of Mason jars that I used to fill with fruits but DH and I don't eat that much so I have lots of empty ones.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

mallemo — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:56:41 GMT

Along with the blue jars Ball is now making a light green color too.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

Nana5 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 13:49:18 GMT

On 4/17/2014 mallemo said:
Along with the blue jars Ball is now making a light green color too.

They're beautiful. I was just in my basement looking for vintage green jars. I thought I had several but I only came up with one pint jar. But I also found two 2-quart mason jars. I can't wait to play around with them this spring/summer. I just ordered a lamp kit from Ebay. The lamp/bulb is part of the lid. You just fill the jar with something (I'm going to use a bird nest/eggs/bird and put the lid on. The only other thing it needs is a clip-on shade. I can see all kinds of possibilities.

I'm like someone else on this forum. I need a bigger house! And more storage.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

SHOPR — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 16:21:29 GMT

Here is another possible idea to change the color of the glow up a bit. A long time ago, someone here suggested painting the LED bulbs on a light strand with nail polish, to soften their whiteness or brightness, etc. It might work. I've never tried it.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

SHOPR — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 16:23:35 GMT

Nana5, Thanks for the tip on the mechanic's wire. I'm thinking we have some in the shop.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

Nana5 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 16:35:08 GMT

On 4/18/2014 SHOPR said:
Nana5, Thanks for the tip on the mechanic's wire. I'm thinking we have some in the shop.

Shopr, that's where I got mine. DH took it out of the tow truck toolbox.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

GCR18 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 23:15:40 GMT

I stopped at joanns and while waiting in line, saw an end cap with mason jars. I asked the cashier about them. They are promotional and what they have us all they are getting. They had the ball brand in blue and green, like the pictures above. The cashier said they come in amber, but they didn't get any. They were $2.99 each, but the standard 40 or 50% coupons would work.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

GCR18 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 23:17:52 GMT

Forgot to mention, pinterest has mason jar painting ideas.

Re: Solar LED light for a Mason Jar

anniebear — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 00:15:21 GMT

I've made several of these to use on our patio this year, and making them was really simple. I found plastic versions of Mason jars in the section at Walmart where they sell plastic drinkware. They came in a set of 4 and were either blue or clear (I bought the clear ones). You could certainly use real glass jars, but our patio is made of stones and I was worried about breaking one if it ever got knocked to the ground. I got 4 individual solar lights there too (the sort you put by walkways outside) and am using them as a combination light source and lid. All I had to do was remove the post on each of them, slip out the orange strip that keeps the battery from working in the store, and then put the light portion on top of the jar. I will probably use some silicone sealant to secure them to the jars, but they stay on pretty well without it. They come on faithfully every evening and they are lovely! I'm going to see if I can make wire hangers as described above so I can have the option of hanging them!