Legal: Woodworking can be dangerous. Always refer to all owners manuals and always follow safety tips in the manuals. These are only recommendations and it is advisable that you ask a trained professional before using any hand or power tool. Remember, safety always comes first.

Parts list: 

  Large sheet of glass (free), 2x4's (3 or 4 total $7.00 ), 4x8 sheet of plywood ($8.00), aluminum cans (free), adhesive caulk ($3.00), 1 sheet of 4x8 insulation ($8.00), wood screws ($4.00), Wood glue ($3.00), high heat flat black paint ($6.00)

Step 1:  How to get your free glass.

  Here are just a few ways to get some free glass. Go to a local window or vinyl installer and ask them if they have any sliding glass doors for free. You can ask friends or co-workers if they know anyone who has recently had their windows replaced. You may also want to try some free internet sites. Some sites like craigslist or freecycle have listing of people in your area who want to give this stuff away.

Step 2: Making a frame from your 2x4's.

  Take a tape measure and get your measurements from your glass. The window we will be using is 27&1/2 inches wide by 71&1/2 inches tall. After getting your correct measurements, take your 2x4's and mark off where you will be making your cuts. Now cut your 2x4's on the mark that you have made. Always be sure to measure at least 2 times. As the saying goes "measure twice and only cut once". It is now time to put your 2x4's together to make a frame. Take your wood glue and apply it to the ends up your 2x4's, this will be the top and the bottom of your frame. Have a friend hold the 2x4's together as you screw the ends to secure them. You now have your main frame for your heater.

Step 3: Attaching the back of your heater.

  Take your 2x4 frame and place it on top of your 4x8 sheet of plywood. Trace along the outside of the frame with a marker or pencil. Make sure you are leaving a dark enough line so that you can see it later when you are making your cuts. Remove the frame and cut out where you have made your lines. After you have made all of your cuts, apply a line of glue along the back of your 2x4 frame. Place your backing on to the frame and fasten it down with your wood screws. Now, measure the inside of your frame for your insulation backing. Take those measurements and cut out your piece and insert in into the frame. Make sure it is a snug fit. If it is not a tight fit, you might need to glue the insulation down. After you are finished with that, place your sheet of glass on the frame to make sure you will have a good fit. 

Step 4: Getting all of your cans ready.

  First, you need to figure out how many cans it will take to fill your heater. Lay 1 row of cans vertically and lay 1 row of cans horizontally in your frame. Take those 2 numbers and multiply them together, that is the total number of cans you will need. Wash all of your cans with soap and water, then let them dry. We have found that the easiest way to open the top of the cans is with a can opener. After removing all of the tops of your cans, it is time to drill out the bottoms. There are so many ways to make a hole in the bottom  of a can. You may find an easier way, but we feel this was one of the fastest. Using a step drill bit, drill 3 holes in the bottom of the can. That is it, real simple and very quick.

Step 6: Attaching the cans.

   Take your high heat silicone adhesive and apply a ring of caulk to the top of your can. After applying the caulk, set the bottom of your next can on top of that. Repeat as many times as needed to make your full column. You may find this to be time consuming because of all of the drying time. There is another way to attach your cans together.  Please refer to video for demonstration of other technique.