Asked on Jun 05, 2014

How Would YOU Use These? I Would Love to Hear Your Ideas!

Leslie Long
by Leslie Long
These are pool filters that I bought for $5. I have an idea of what I want to do but I'm not certain and I thought it would fun to get suggestions from all of you! I think they are fun and I really want to upcycle them in the best way :)
They are very heavy duty, thick poly tanks used as sand filters for a pool. That's all I know about them.
I have actually painted a food-grade drum like this before, when I made a rain barrel out of one so I know I can paint them.
  66 answers
  • Therese C Therese C on Jun 05, 2014
    If light will cause any kind of an inner glow effect, these would look fantastic flipped over a large garden or lawn ground light. Or depending on size..they look to be fairly large, you could epoxy glass table tops to them for garden sphere tables. (drill a bunch of pin sized holes in them and string lights inside).
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Therese C Great suggestion! Drilling the holes might work because it won't glow. It is thick polyvinyl and no light will come through without the holes. Thank you :)
  • Cindi Cindi on Jun 05, 2014
    @Leslie Long maybe do a marble effect with paint and add bases to them for outdoor garden globes.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Cindi Good idea. I had thought of this too, as a painted garden globe but had not thought of marbleizing it! Thanks for the great suggestion :)
  • Its Just Me Its Just Me on Jun 05, 2014
    Perhaps a Kids table with a type of clear plastic top so they can look into it, fun toys, objects and a $1.00 store glow stick so they can see stuff inside. Also change the objects inside it. Color the outside fun colors too.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Its Just Me A great idea I had not thought of. I don't have little kids but it's def worth it if I transform and sell it! Thank you :)
  • Betsy Bodrero Betsy Bodrero on Jun 05, 2014
    Home Depot has florescent paint in several colors ( glow in the dark ) & they would be awesome backyard florescent orbs ! They are to big to blow away
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Betsy Bodrero You are right....they are too big to blow away! Glow in the dark paint might light up the whole yard! Good suggestion...thanks :)
  • Lori J Lori J on Jun 05, 2014
    Not sure what the material is, I personally would spray the inside with cooking spray and fill with concrete hypertufa. I made garden globes with round glass light covers this way and have been aching to make a really big one. I used plain old cement for the little ones.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Lori J I had thought of using this as a mold also and hypertufa would be the way to go if I did because of the size. These are made of poly vinyl and are about 1/2 inch thick. I might use one as a mold and keep the other one intact...not sure yet! Thanks for the great idea :)
  • Peteysmom Peteysmom on Jun 05, 2014
    You could make a little top for them with a loop and paint them as giant Christmas ball ornaments for the front yard. Maybe not too practical if you don't have a lot of storage for the rest of the year, but fun and different.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Peteysmom LOL.....yes most def fun and different! I would need a great big branch to hang them on but I love the thought of giant ornaments! Thanks :)
  • KELLEY THOMPSON KELLEY THOMPSON on Jun 05, 2014
    You could paint place a round clear glass or Plexiglas and use them as an outdoor patio table
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @KELLEY THOMPSON Great minds think alike! This was one of my ideas too. Cut them in half and fill them with something interesting and put plexi on top! Thanks :)
  • Carole Carole on Jun 05, 2014
    If the base is round you could partially fill them with sand or something to weight them down, and add something to the top part that can be used as a punch bag or similar so that if they get knocked down - they should spring up again?? Would that work? Could make a fun game or exercise item.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Carole Not sure if that would work but it's very creative and sounds like fun! Thanks :)
  • Lorah Marquardt Lorah Marquardt on Jun 05, 2014
    Compost tumblers?
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Lorah Marquardt Great idea! I had not thought of this! Would have to build a rotating base but yes, I think that would work! Something to think about....thank you :)
  • Vetsy Vetsy on Jun 05, 2014
    If it could be possible I would paint it and make a globe water fountain?
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Vetsy I had not thought of a fountain but I'm sure it would work and it has a few connection openings already! Will have to consider it! Thanks :)
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jun 06, 2014
    If you are an artist, paint them...put faces on them, one like the sun and one like the moon, and put them in your garden! Set them on big rock!
    • See 1 previous
    • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jun 06, 2014
      @Leslie Long See if you can drill a hole just below that grey ring at 3 different locations...then loop a nut onto some sort of wire, thread it through a washer (to keep it from going through the hole) and you have a hanger!
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Jun 06, 2014
    I'd cast my handmade paper over them for fine art sculpture.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @White Oak Studio Designs I had thought of paper mache myself.....thinking it would make a great mold for something! You should try to find some in your area and mold your paper! Thanks :)
  • Maribeth Bastian Maribeth Bastian on Jun 06, 2014
    I would suggest giving them a mercury glass paint effect and using them as garden orbs.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Maribeth Bastian I agree and that was one of my thoughts....an orb! Thanks for your suggestion, it's a great one! :)
  • Tammy Horner Tammy Horner on Jun 06, 2014
    I've seen on Pinterest large globes painted with glow in dark paint. They looked awesome
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Tammy Horner Another great suggestion! I agree....glow in the dark paint would be great! Thanks :)
  • Mabeline Mabeline on Jun 06, 2014
    Paint them to look like red and white fishing bobbers, add them to landscape decoration and use them to catch rain water
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Mabeline Wow! I had not thought of using them as rain barrels. I have a few poly ones already but they are so big. I could incorporate these into the landscape a little easier with a pretty paint job and just put a screen top on them! Thank you :)
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on Jun 06, 2014
    Could you make a rain barrel out of them? Or just put them in a child's playground, open side down and see what they would do with them. try to climb on them. my guess is that they are 2 or 3 foot high.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Elizabeth Yes ma'am. They are about 4 ft. diameter so pretty big. Kids would love them! Thanks for the good idea :)
  • Ang Ang on Jun 06, 2014
    id gluehalf round marbles all over them for giant gazing balls . or can mozaic glass and grout them . very cool !
    • See 2 previous
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 10, 2014
      @Angela Hartzell Maybe a water garden with lilies! I like it! Thanks :)
  • Cheryl Martin Cheryl Martin on Jun 06, 2014
    They could double as large gazing balls & Christmas ornaments adding garland and a bow for outside. Covering them with paper, or painting them set on carved columns or wood would a interesting way.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Cheryl Martin Yes, on a wood pedestal is a good idea I had not considered! Thank you :)
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Therese Ryan-Haas Wow! I wish I could use them that way but they are very opaque and will not glow....unless I paint them with glow in the dark paint! Thanks...great idea :)
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jun 06, 2014
    my first thought when I saw them was, hanging lanterns! you could punch out a design on them, or drill one if they are thick. then hang them up around the pool or in the yard with a light inside them. it would be a great party decoration, or back yard BBQ area item!
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Tuzwoo I had the same thought....to cut out a design and then illuminate it somehow! Great idea thanks! :)
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jun 06, 2014
    you could also paint them as a jack a lantern and hang outside at Halloween, adding the holes for lights or glow sticks.............or as an alien head for a costume...........you can have so much fun with this!
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jun 06, 2014
    why not make a planter out of it for a patio garden?
  • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
    Thanks everyone for all the great ideas. I'm still mulling it over but I know what I'm going to do with one of them: I'm going to drill holes all over one (like a colander) and glue in colored marbles with E-6000 and add a light source at the top and stick lg christmas lights thru the holes - then hang it in the patio area like a giant orb! I'm still not sure what to do with number two, now that I have so many great ideas! Keep them coming and I will post pics when I get it done :)
  • Kolleen Kolleen on Jun 06, 2014
    They look pretty big. Water barrels. Save rain.
  • Christopher Sigle Christopher Sigle on Jun 06, 2014
    A filter or resivour is still a pritty good use for them since that is their intended purpose. You could paint or dress them up with mosaics or whatever and try to re-purpose them into a drinking water filter, a hydroponic chamber, or pond planter thingie. Either way, I think reuse should be water related. Ooooo, how-about a fountain by 1/2ing them and stacking, maybe use some PVC as support and to move the water between them?
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 06, 2014
      @Christopher Sigle A fountain is a good idea too....since one is slightly smaller than the other it might work! Thanks for the great idea! :)
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jun 06, 2014
    I'd use them outside or in with some bamboo sticks or artificials. Would look good as a lawn or patio ornaments
  • Diane Woods Diane Woods on Jun 06, 2014
    They have 'stone' spray paint that stands up pretty well. I've covered vases and statues that stayed outside a few years. You could drill holes in the bottom for water to pass downward, and spray with stone spray paint. Use just one, or stack the small one on top of the bigger. Put the bottom one in some type of basin (or pond liner - they are black and relatively cheap) and fill with stones, put the smaller on top and do the same. Then get a pond filter and position it spraying or just laying inside for a bubbling effect inside the top one. Fill with water, plug in, and you have a really cool water feature!
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 07, 2014
      @Diane Woods Someone else also suggested a fountain and I think it's a good idea. It is definitely a consideration at this point! Thanks for the input :)
  • Pat S Pat S on Jun 06, 2014
    my first thought was as large decorative buoys, drape thick rope around and from one to the other....
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 07, 2014
      @Pat S Great thought.....even as decorative in a tree might be cool! Thanks. :)
  • Eileen B. Eileen B. on Jun 06, 2014
    You could paint them with metallic paint and use them as gazing balls in your garden
  • Bodiedk Bodiedk on Jun 06, 2014
    I LIKE THE GAZING BALL IDEA.
  • Kathi Wilson Kathi Wilson on Jun 06, 2014
    I see lighted gazing ball!
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 07, 2014
      @Kathi Wilson I'm thinking of drilling holes and sticking light strings thru :)
  • Judy H Judy H on Jun 06, 2014
    I have 4 balls very much like these and I painted them orange and made a stackes pumpkin like a santa clause halloween. You could make a santa also.
  • Belinda Collins Belinda Collins on Jun 06, 2014
    I'd make outdoor tables out of them.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 07, 2014
      @Belinda Collins Yes, thought of cutting them in half and filling them with sand, adding beach stuff and shells and a glass top! Might be interesting :) Thanks!
  • Mabeline Mabeline on Jun 06, 2014
    Please Update us when you decided what to do. Love to see the pictures.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 07, 2014
      @Mabeline I will do that. It will take me while because I work a full time job and Saturday at Home Depot but I'm excited and will find the time soon! Thanks :)
  • Mistie Mistie on Jun 06, 2014
    I would paint them a neutral color and buy the spigot attachment at lowes as well as a rain gutter attachment and make them into rain barrel.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 07, 2014
      @Mistie Great idea! Other's suggested this and I like the idea better than a huge barrel! These look pretty in the garden and they already have a threaded opening for the spigot...I would just have to find a top for them! Thanks :)
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jun 07, 2014
    if you add the glass nuggets to the design be sure to check out the adhesive to see if you should lightly sand the spot before gluing, and I can't stress this enough ...........make sure that the glue can get wet. if you hang it outside and it can't ,all the nuggets will fall off ! if you have a dollar tree they have nuggets for $1.00 a bag. please post a finished pic for us!
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 07, 2014
      @Tuzwoo Thanks for the caution. I use E-6000 silicone adhesive for all my outdoor craft projects. It holds up even with the Florida humidity! You should try it if you haven't. Thanks :)
  • Julie Dunkin Julie Dunkin on Jun 07, 2014
    Why not making them a fountain, put a pump inside, its for water, could be really cool. Maybe you could do some mosaic around them, just have fun, what ever it is.
  • Mistie Mistie on Jun 07, 2014
    @leslie sure! I would to have some myself! I don't think a top will be to hard to find. You could probably check with some pool stores or even on amazon or eBay.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 10, 2014
      @Mistie Thanks Mistie...I hadn't thought of that! I will see about getting a top :)
  • Ginger R Ginger R on Jun 07, 2014
    I think Orb Fountans!
  • Wanda Wanda on Jun 08, 2014
    Drill holes in them, buy some outside battery operated lights, insert them into the holes and use them outside.
  • Faith R Georges Faith R Georges on Jun 08, 2014
    these could be so fun paint with glow in the dark paint and make HUGE eye balls for holloween.. so many possibilites!
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 10, 2014
      @Faith R Georges Hahaha....had NOT thought of giant eyeballs! My grandaughter would be scared....LOL :)
  • Brenda Smith Brenda Smith on Jun 08, 2014
    Cut them in half and make cool round freestanding gardens
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 10, 2014
      @Brenda Smith Yep....I thought of this too. Thanks for the great suggestion. Would be good for succulents :)
  • Lynn Bentley Lynn Bentley on Jun 08, 2014
    could make them into christmas balls for the yard make sure they are anchored down
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 10, 2014
      @Lynn Bentley I would have the biggest balls in the neighborhood, for sure! LOL Thanks for the suggestion :)
  • Dee Dee on Jun 09, 2014
    im with Ginger R i was thinking orb,s but the fountain is great idea. Orb,s get,s my vote.
  • Vivian Parrish Vivian Parrish on Jun 10, 2014
    You could paint them with metallic paint them for garden decorations and maybe add a light inside.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 10, 2014
      @Vivian Parrish I agree....they would make great yard decor! Thanks for the suggestion :)
  • Vickie Treece Vickie Treece on Jun 10, 2014
    I would cut the in half leaving the design, paint them, turn them upside down hole side up, fill it with potting soil in the yard and plant a mix of bright flowers in them.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 11, 2014
      @Vickie Treece That's always a great choice! I might do that with one of them and make the other a lighted fixture to hang in a tree :) Thanks!
  • Sue Peet Sue Peet on Jun 12, 2014
    I wouldn't change them at all, turn each one upside down so the hole is on the ground and use them as yard decorations. You would be the only person in the neighborhood with colorful yard balls.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 12, 2014
      @Sue Peet I would certainly have the biggest balls in the neighborhood...LOL! Thanks :)
  • Mike Demchik Mike Demchik on Jun 12, 2014
    use them for compost
    • See 2 previous
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jul 30, 2014
      @White Oak Studio Designs Agreed and thank you. If I use it for compost I would definitely have to create a larger opening :)
  • Mike Demchik Mike Demchik on Jun 12, 2014
    that is what i would use them for because i have a garden & i use compost a lot .
  • Karol Karol on Jun 14, 2014
    I would use them to make outdoor tables decorated by winding rope around them in different levels and make the table top out of something durable for the outdoors.. You could maybe alternate shells with rope for a design. I would paint them a more earthy color first and make a base of course.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 20, 2014
      @Karol Great idea, thank you! I haven't decided yet but I will think about it :)
  • Colleen Colleen on Jun 14, 2014
    I like Mike's idea. Compost bins, easy to fill easy to roll. This could give the kids something to do (if you have children).
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jun 20, 2014
      @Colleen Yes, I will have to find the lid that screws on so they can roll it around easily. I'm going to check some pool suppliers. :)
  • Sue Peet Sue Peet on Jul 03, 2014
    Have you received many ideas on how to use these colorful balls? Just think if you used my suggestion you would have unique yard decorations. I would love to know what you decided.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jul 11, 2014
      @Sue Peet Yes Sue, I have received so many ideas but have yet to decide. I promise to come back to this post with photos of what I do :)
  • Thelma H Thelma H on Jul 03, 2014
    I want to know how I can get some? I have an ornament business and they would be awesome to put out by the curb of my painting studio, painted up like one of my ornaments.
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jul 11, 2014
      @Thelma H Well Thelma, I got them from a junk sale. I am told they are sand filters for pool systems....so I would go to a pool store first to see if they can help you find some :)
  • Charles L Marshall Charles L Marshall on Jul 04, 2014
    Make a poolside table adding a round top. If the base is strong enough, add an umbrella. They have good colors and are round like beach balls!
    • Leslie Long Leslie Long on Jul 11, 2014
      @Charles L Marshall Thanks for the idea Charles. Perhaps a small side table would work :)
  • Kathi Kindelspire Kathi Kindelspire on Jul 19, 2014
    Cut them on a diagonal trim the edges, put cushioning in them and use the for yard chairs.
  • Birgit Koning Birgit Koning on Jul 25, 2014
    Hi, I would use them as rain water tank. Because rain water is for free and way better for your plants. These pool filters are not ugly, so you don´t need to hide them. Just place them somewhere to collect rain water directly or from a gutter or a downpipe (e. g. from a garden/ tool shed). And you need is kind of an faucet, one for each tank or one for both, if you connect the water outlet.
  • Lori Jackson Lori Jackson on Jul 30, 2014
    Leslie, what did you do with them>
  • Mary Jo-Bragg Mary Jo-Bragg on Jul 30, 2014
    I need some light fixtures around my gardens. Then it hit me that I had some old ceiling fan globes in the out to go box. After thinking , why can't I use them. I decided to use them as light fixtures in my gardens around the house. I used an old bird bath pedestal and found some rubber rings from where I do not know. ( I save or collect everything I see on the ground ) from my fathers habits. I inserted a flood light on bottom in the dirt ,pointing up the bird stand, Add the globe and glue it on, Plug in to an outlet and now I have light These would be perfect for around the back of our pool to add accent light I cannot wait to find some for myself I also an the old disguarded whit porch columns they use for houses, Cut to the size I need and either add a planter at entrance or use as a light fixture...
  • Vicki Piper Vicki Piper on Jul 30, 2014
    I would paint them up as LARGE Christmas ornaments for my yard/ garden. I a sure there are a lot of other great ideas, but as soon as I saw the shape, this was my heartfelt first impression.
  • Dee Dee on Jul 31, 2014
    These are so neat! I would paint them with glow in the dark paint which does actually absorb light during the day and glows at nite, these would be beautiful accent pieces in your yard/ add a flat top and you could also put potted plants on top.
  • Terry Smith Terry Smith on Jul 31, 2014
    i would paint them with a glow in the dark paint and have them sit at the corners of my porch and fill they with perennial flowers. or maybe on my back patio.
  • Beverly Smith Beverly Smith on Jul 31, 2014
    I would cut one, not in half but above the middle a bit. This part would be turned on it's closed side down and used as a small pond with fish and aquatic plants. Next to it would be the shorter side with the hole turned towards the earth. This would be a planter. The next ball would be cut again somewhere between the other two in hight giving you a three part garden decoration with some small plants around the bottom to make them stand out. (ajuga, moss, little ferns...) You would need to decide if you wanted two planters or two water features. The fourth piece could be used as a lamp, hanging from a near by tree or... put on a PVC? pedestal near your guests and filled with ice to chill drinks. Paint as desired. Have fun! Thanks for letting me imagine what I would do!
  • Tonya Tonya on Nov 11, 2014
    Plain a Bird of Paradise I one of them for a true show_stopper. They are great. LUCKY YOU!!!
  • Steph Steph on Apr 20, 2019

    Make Christmas Ornaments out of them: decorating as an ornament or by painting a couple stripes around them and adding foil or metallic tops.