I have a box full of these insulators. Any ideas on ways to reuse

Dar10327719
by Dar10327719
  18 answers
  • GMS GMS on Apr 14, 2017

    if you get any ideas, let me know. We have some of these also

  • Shirley A. Duermeyer Shirley A. Duermeyer on Apr 14, 2017

    flip over. great centerpiece, We also put many on an old railway wood plank and hung the plank. We have a room full of trains, so it looks perfect. Don't get rid of your insulators - they are a part of history!! Good luck!

  • Jani Robinson Mendenhall Jani Robinson Mendenhall on Apr 14, 2017

    Turn over and use for candle holders a cluster with different size and height candles makes a wonderful centerpiece. Or take a board, mount heavy dowels at an angle (22.5 degrees works well) then place the insulators over the dowels and use it for as an entry coat rack.

  • Nicole Nicole on Apr 14, 2017

    I have a bunch of these two , flip them over, I made haning macrame holders and put some airplants and cactus in them , they catch the light in the the window and the double rims catch any water overflow :)

    • See 1 previous
    • Nicole Nicole on May 08, 2017

      Hi Glenda, I only have Green and White ones, sorry, we found ours walking old train tracks that are no longer running, good luck on your search!


  • Thelma Thelma on Apr 14, 2017

    I use mine to hold the small string lights to decorate shelves, etc. First, place the insulators in a desired arrangement, then just tie a piece of 'invisible thread' around each insulator and the string of lights. The insulators pick up the reflections from the lights.

  • Christy Christy on Apr 14, 2017

    I had a friend make them into bells. He had drilled a hole in top in inserted a bell handle. A pretty little bell hung inside. I wish I had a picture. My friend passed away so I gave them to his son.


    Makes a a unique gift for teachers

  • Johnnie Ferguson Johnnie Ferguson on Apr 14, 2017

    Attach mini lights to 2x4. Or 2 x6. Either clear. or colored . Lay the board wherever you want the lighting then set insulators over the lights

  • Candy Walsh Candy Walsh on Apr 14, 2017

    I painted some with Modge Podge with a little blue food coloring mixed in to make a really pretty aqua and flipped it over, put some pretty glass rocks in it and a few sprigs of faux succulents! I love it sitting in my kitchen window!

  • Glenna connor Glenna connor on Apr 14, 2017

    I am looking for Purple or Blue ones . Please let me know if you like to sell some $$

  • Me Me on Apr 14, 2017

    Please don't make them into candle holders. There are way too many candle holders quoted as "new super idea" and it's another candle. The insulators are beautiful and I know they are worth some money. Look online as I did and make yourself some money. Use a candle holder for candles. Or keep them in tact and if you must light them try timed little lights and place them so the light shows. Pieces of power history you have. Enjoy.

  • Me Me on Apr 14, 2017

    Sell them to a place that wants to preserve the history. Ms Conner wants to buy them and I bet she's going to turn them into candle holders. Blasaaah

  • Linda Kay Walters Walker Linda Kay Walters Walker on Apr 14, 2017

    I saw some made into a beautiful rain chain for the birds. I bet you could google how to make a rain chain out of insulators and get directions.

  • EDWINA AVERY EDWINA AVERY on Apr 15, 2017

    MY HUSBAND [A LINEMAN] HEATED THEM IN THE OVEN THEN PUT THEM IN COLD WATER TO MAKE A CRACKLE EFFECT AND MADE CANDLE HOLDERS.

  • Holly Hasegawa Holly Hasegawa on Apr 16, 2017

    My mother collected these insulators, all different shapes and sizes, all different colors, after she passed away I inherited them, I have a shelf that they are lined up on, I love them all and hope when I am gone my children will appreciate them as much as their grandmother did and me also.

  • Dfm Dfm on Apr 19, 2017

    I use mine for holding fabric in place when cutting pieces for quilts. I have one being used as a tea light holder.... filled a cut glass bowel with glass pebbles and nested the insulator in upside down used battery operated tea light.

  • Dorothy McHail Dorothy McHail on Apr 19, 2017

    my uncle made wood planks and when finished he drilled holes thru and put in lights....the tear drop shaped ones then set the insulators on top of each bulb......different colors or the same depending on decor. The lights were set so when the covers were on they were abt 4 to 5 inches apart. Awesome on top of pianos, desks, tables. My mother had ours on top of a roll top desk. A beautiful accent to any room.

  • John Biermacher John Biermacher on Nov 21, 2018

    Maybe I am fortunate to live in a unique area of the country, but these are available at every flea market, antique store, and salvage shop I visit. Don't get me wrong- they are very cool but don't hesitate to use them in a way that make them more visible and or useful. I have attached a photo where I used them as a foot of a coffee table.