John Landis
12-27-2008, 1:00 PM
I used to think woodturners were a pertty frugal bunch. After all, most of our wood we get for free. That's why I can't see buying a bunch of fancy kits, mandrals, etc. just to make a bottle stopper
I make stoppers very simply. I start with a blank a little longer than normal, abut 2.5 to 3". Then I cut a tenon on the base, at 3/8" diameter. I run a 3/8" open end wrench along the tenon to get the diameter exact. The top part is turned as the stopper to your pleasure. I then use a common #7 cork, which I buy at the local hardware store for 30 cents each. Locally the supplier is Midwest Supply and the quality is excellent. (my local True Value store even gives me a 10% discount on a box of 25).
I drill a 3/8" hole in the middle of the cork (this take a bit of practice to get it exactly centered), finish the stopper, add a couple drops of glue in the cork, insert tenon, and that's all there is to it.
Simple and cheap
104899
I make stoppers very simply. I start with a blank a little longer than normal, abut 2.5 to 3". Then I cut a tenon on the base, at 3/8" diameter. I run a 3/8" open end wrench along the tenon to get the diameter exact. The top part is turned as the stopper to your pleasure. I then use a common #7 cork, which I buy at the local hardware store for 30 cents each. Locally the supplier is Midwest Supply and the quality is excellent. (my local True Value store even gives me a 10% discount on a box of 25).
I drill a 3/8" hole in the middle of the cork (this take a bit of practice to get it exactly centered), finish the stopper, add a couple drops of glue in the cork, insert tenon, and that's all there is to it.
Simple and cheap
104899