Replies

1. 
   jigsawjohn | Oct 26, 2005 06:08am | #1

   First I must admit I have never made bottle stoppers, that said my thoughts would be to make the blank long enough to turn the stopper cork end out and finish the whole project in one chucking, leaving only the least amount of wood attached, stop the lathe and pare off when finished

   JigSawJohn
2. 
   PlaneWood | Oct 26, 2005 06:43am | #2

   Well, let's see, how would I do this?

   Make the square piece about 1/2" longer than needed.  Drill the cork hole into the square first using your drill press.   Make a dowell that is tight fitting and put it in the cork hole.  Then insert the other end of the dowel into a self-centering chuck on the headstock of your lathe (assuming you have one).  Tighten the chuck up then center the live center on your tailstock into the other end of the square.  Tighten up your tail stock and turn away.  You will use a parting tool to cut the stopper to length.  While the stopper is still on the lathe, use sandpaper to clean up the top end. 

   If you don't have a self-centering chuck, then just use a star taper with the pin centered into the end of the dowel.  Then you'll have to sand the top by hand.

   I'm not sure of all my terminology here, but maybe you get the drift.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

1. 
   MichaelPB | Oct 26, 2005 08:24am | #3

   Arggg.

   I wasn't using a live center!  The drag must have slowly splintered the dowels...

   Stupid thing is, I have a live center too, my metal lathe has the same morse taper!

   Sometimes it is the simplest things!

1. 
   MichaelPB | Oct 26, 2005 09:05am | #4

   Bingo...

   I am in the bottle stopper business!  Now I won't have to give coal to everyone...

   Thanks all!