Wine/Bottle stopper questions

[Ricc Havens]

I have been asked to make some wine stoppers and the person has asked for them to be made out of the acrylic that Woodcraft sells - https://www.woodcraft.com/products/acrylic-turning-stock-rose-water-1-1-2-x-1-1-2-x-6

I will be using Ruth Niles stainless stoppers.

Do you guys just tap the acrylic? If so, do you just use the niles mandrel for the tapping or do you use a regular tap?
Do you use brass inserts? If so, which one?

Thanks
Ricc

[Maria Alvarado]

Hi Ricc,
Although the mandrel is supposed to tap, I have had less success with it and bought a standard tap to do the initial threading of my blanks. Bear in mind, depending on your blank, the acrylic may be translucent when turned thin so you might want to take that into account if you don't want your inserts or the stopper threaded post to be visible. Ruth sells inserts (brass and stainless) on her site. Haven't used them so I can't help you with a recommendation there. Good luck with your stoppers!

[Walter Mooney]

Ricc, you can either tap the blank with a standard 3/8-16 tap, or tap the hole with Ruth's mandrel, as hers has a notch in the threaded portion that facilitates tapping. Start with an 11/32" or 23/64" hole, then tap slowly, reversing the tap after every half-turn or so to clear the chips. Depending on the size of your turning near the bottom of it and the opacity (or lack thereof) of the acrylic, you may want to paint the inside of the hole a color similar to your blank before assembly to keep the threads from showing through the finished piece. A Q-tip works well for this!

Sharp tools are are an absolute must for turning acrylic! Best of luck, and be sure to post some photos of the finished piece(s).

[John K Jordan]

I use a separate bottom tap. I like a real tap in a tap handle, on the lathe with a spring-loaded tap guide, or in my tapping machine. I made the bottom tap by grinding the end off a standard tap.

Tap guide: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005317ZMC
Bought this when it was less than 1/2 the current price:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DCZ9V

JKJ

[Ricc Havens]

Thanks Guys for all the advice.

JKJ - the tapping machine isn't an option as little as I do but the tap guide is on my list to buy along with a regular tap as suggested .

Anyone else have anything to add?

Thanks
Ricc

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I have used my self tapping mandrel and I have used a regular tap. One thing I have found helpful is to reverse the tap regularly to help clear the cuttings.

[Ricc Havens]

I have used my self tapping mandrel and I have used a regular tap. One thing I have found helpful is to reverse the tap regularly to help clear the cuttings.


Thanks Ken!

[Clint Baxter]

Thanks Guys for all the advice.

JKJ - the tapping machine isn't an option as little as I do but the tap guide is on my list to buy along with a regular tap as suggested .

Anyone else have anything to add?

Thanks
Ricc

Another aide for tapping is the tapping guide from Big Gator, https://www.amazon.com/GATOR-TOOLS-V-Tap-Guide-Standard/dp/B000ZN30U4/ref=sr_1_2?crid=T9B3T1XOJW16&dchild=1&keywords=big+gator+tap+guide&qid=1629846818&sprefix=Big+gator+%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-2. Can be used with bot regular and bottoming taps.