My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/14/05, 1:21 PM #1

Ruth Niles
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My Turning Process for Stoppers

Ruth Niles

>As requested, I'm going to try to post a few pictures. Excuse the poor quality and the messy background, I didn't clean off my work area just took pictures. This stopper took about 10 min. to complete, not buffed, just oiled.

After rounding a blank, I drill a 3/8" hole then make a 1/16" indent on the bottom (1st pic). This indent allows the stopper to be "hugged" by the wood and more glue surface (a few drops in hole and at base of tenon). *note: this eliminates the need for ridges on the tenon as suggested here.

con't with 2nd picture..........

- - -

I live in the middle of Amish farmlands in south-central PA. I started turning in 1989 on a Craftsman monotube and learned from a book in our local library. After turning for a few years, I finally saw another person use the lathe! Then I attended the national symposium in RI (2004?) and that was my downfall.......new tools! bigger lathe! Since I had to support myself, I needed to do production turning, working with contractors, antique dealers and furniture repairmen. In 2005 I got an order for 12 bottle stoppers, I had never turned one, bought the only ones available, did not like them (chrome), put one on my son's metal lathe, shaped it to my liking, took it to a local machine shop and asked "can you make this out of stainless steel?".............. the rest is history! Check out my ss stoppers on my website: <a href="http://www.torne-lignum.com" target="_blank">www.torne-lignum.com</A>

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/14/05, 1:24 PM #2

Ruth Niles
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Re: My Turning Process #2

Ruth Niles

>Then I continue to shape the whole stopper. This allows me to slide the stainless steel cone inside and see how the proportions or shape will look when finished. If you reverse chuck sooner, you have to guess what the final top will look like on the base. (this pic is a little fuzzy, sorry)

- - -

I live in the middle of Amish farmlands in south-central PA. I started turning in 1989 on a Craftsman monotube and learned from a book in our local library. After turning for a few years, I finally saw another person use the lathe! Then I attended the national symposium in RI (2004?) and that was my downfall.......new tools! bigger lathe! Since I had to support myself, I needed to do production turning, working with contractors, antique dealers and furniture repairmen. In 2005 I got an order for 12 bottle stoppers, I had never turned one, bought the only ones available, did not like them (chrome), put one on my son's metal lathe, shaped it to my liking, took it to a local machine shop and asked "can you make this out of stainless steel?".............. the rest is history! Check out my ss stoppers on my website: <a href="http://www.torne-lignum.com" target="_blank">www.torne-lignum.com</A>

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/14/05, 1:25 PM #3

Ruth Niles
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Re: My Turning Process #3

Ruth Niles

>Just to show how far I finish before reverse chucking.

- - -

I live in the middle of Amish farmlands in south-central PA. I started turning in 1989 on a Craftsman monotube and learned from a book in our local library. After turning for a few years, I finally saw another person use the lathe! Then I attended the national symposium in RI (2004?) and that was my downfall.......new tools! bigger lathe! Since I had to support myself, I needed to do production turning, working with contractors, antique dealers and furniture repairmen. In 2005 I got an order for 12 bottle stoppers, I had never turned one, bought the only ones available, did not like them (chrome), put one on my son's metal lathe, shaped it to my liking, took it to a local machine shop and asked "can you make this out of stainless steel?".............. the rest is history! Check out my ss stoppers on my website: <a href="http://www.torne-lignum.com" target="_blank">www.torne-lignum.com</A>

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/14/05, 1:27 PM #4

Ruth Niles
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Re: My Turning Process The End!

Ruth Niles

>The bottle stopper ready to be buffed. With the stainless steel cone, naturally! : )

(and another lousy picture, sorry, I did this last night, it was hot, humid and I had a shirt full of itcy woodchips so I didn't bother with focusing anything.)

- - -

I live in the middle of Amish farmlands in south-central PA. I started turning in 1989 on a Craftsman monotube and learned from a book in our local library. After turning for a few years, I finally saw another person use the lathe! Then I attended the national symposium in RI (2004?) and that was my downfall.......new tools! bigger lathe! Since I had to support myself, I needed to do production turning, working with contractors, antique dealers and furniture repairmen. In 2005 I got an order for 12 bottle stoppers, I had never turned one, bought the only ones available, did not like them (chrome), put one on my son's metal lathe, shaped it to my liking, took it to a local machine shop and asked "can you make this out of stainless steel?".............. the rest is history! Check out my ss stoppers on my website: <a href="http://www.torne-lignum.com" target="_blank">www.torne-lignum.com</A>

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/14/05, 2:16 PM #5

Dave Peebles Lyons, Ohio!
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Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

Dave Peebles Lyons, Ohio!

>Hi Ruth,

Great tutorial on the stoppers. Thanks for the pics.

Dave

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/14/05, 2:27 PM #6

Barry Irby
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The Artist VS the engineer

Barry Irby

>Thanks for the tutorial.

Either those are loose rings or you have a serious bend in the shaft of your lathe. Or maybe I've got my eyeballs in the wrong sockets again. My thought was "Won't they Break?" as the customer handles the stopper, putting it in and taking it out of the bottle.

The Pack Rat in me is trying to figure out who to save that little piece of wood you left in the chuck. (Between being Dad, Home Inspector, Engineer, Gardener, Pack Rat and Wood Worker, I'm never alone)

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/15/05, 1:16 AM #7

Ruth Niles
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Re: The Artist VS the engineer

Ruth Niles

>Barry, they are loose rings. At least I don't think the shaft on my lathe is broken!?! Once someone buys this I would like to think they would be a little careful. The stoppers don't stick in the bottle that tight (I don't think even re-corking has as tight a fit as a new bottle) and there's plenty of solid wood on the top to grab.

- - -

I live in the middle of Amish farmlands in south-central PA. I started turning in 1989 on a Craftsman monotube and learned from a book in our local library. After turning for a few years, I finally saw another person use the lathe! Then I attended the national symposium in RI (2004?) and that was my downfall.......new tools! bigger lathe! Since I had to support myself, I needed to do production turning, working with contractors, antique dealers and furniture repairmen. In 2005 I got an order for 12 bottle stoppers, I had never turned one, bought the only ones available, did not like them (chrome), put one on my son's metal lathe, shaped it to my liking, took it to a local machine shop and asked "can you make this out of stainless steel?".............. the rest is history! Check out my ss stoppers on my website: <a href="http://www.torne-lignum.com" target="_blank">www.torne-lignum.com</A>

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/15/05, 1:33 AM #8

Barry Irby
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Re: The Artist VS the engineer

Barry Irby

>Ruth, Do they sell? That might be the better question.

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/15/05, 2:26 AM #9

Mike in Fort Walton Beach, FL
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Re: My Turning Process The End!

Mike in Fort Walton Beach, FL

>No pics of it in a wine bottle? :-) I finally replied to your e-mail Ruth.

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/15/05, 5:32 AM #10

Ruth Niles
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Re: The Artist VS the engineer

Ruth Niles

>Yes, the stoppers with the loose rings out sell the rest. I only sell through galleries/shops and the owners request those and the apples the most.

- - -

I live in the middle of Amish farmlands in south-central PA. I started turning in 1989 on a Craftsman monotube and learned from a book in our local library. After turning for a few years, I finally saw another person use the lathe! Then I attended the national symposium in RI (2004?) and that was my downfall.......new tools! bigger lathe! Since I had to support myself, I needed to do production turning, working with contractors, antique dealers and furniture repairmen. In 2005 I got an order for 12 bottle stoppers, I had never turned one, bought the only ones available, did not like them (chrome), put one on my son's metal lathe, shaped it to my liking, took it to a local machine shop and asked "can you make this out of stainless steel?".............. the rest is history! Check out my ss stoppers on my website: <a href="http://www.torne-lignum.com" target="_blank">www.torne-lignum.com</A>

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/15/05, 2:29 PM #11

Arch
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Re: The Artist VS the engineer VS the Lawyer

Arch

>Ruth,

I see that you put a sharp finial that added much to your nicely done stopper. I haven't done that since being warned about the risk of someone with wine induced or genetic stupidity slamming his palm on a sharp finial to seat the stopper. Do you or any others consider this a valid worry or like 'food safe' more myth than fact?

Arch

Re: My Turning Process for Stoppers

6/15/05, 2:55 PM #12

Arch
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Re: The Artist VS the engineer VS the Lawyer

Arch

>Took a look at another pic and now see that your finial isn't really sharp, but I'll ask the question anyway. A.

My Turning Process for Stoppers

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