Another stopper question

[Herb G]

What is the minimum size of block you use for making stoppers?
Can I use a 1.5" square X 2" thick block to make them?

Or do you have to use something bigger than that?

The reason I ask is I see stopper blanks for sale online that are all over the place size wise.

Do different stoppers require different blank sizes?

 

[monophoto]

I think 1 1/2" square by 2" tall is probably ideal, but you can go larger or smaller. It all comes down to what you want the finished stopper to look like.

A cross section smaller than 1" square is impractical because the top of a wine bottle is about 1" in diameter.

BTW - one of the more interesting stopper designs actually fits around the top of the bottle, with the stopper mechanism (cork, cone, etc) recessed inside the turning. This design is intended for white wines that need to be refrigerated; when the stopper is in place on the bottle, it extends the height of the bottle no more than 3/8 - 1/2" inch so that it fits more easily into the door rack in a refrigerator. The interior hole in the stopper (that fits around the top of the bottle) needs to be 1 3/8 to 1 1/2" in diameter, which means that the blank has to have a larger cross section that would be the case for a turning that simplhy sits on top of the bottle.

 

[Edgar]

There's no set size - it just needs to be large enough to fit the stopper shoulder when turned.

1.5" square is generally large enough for full size stoppers, but you can certainly go larger. I've used up to 2" square. Mini stopper blanks can be even smaller.

There's also no set length. About 2" is typical, but I've used blanks anywhere from 1.5" to 3" long.

One fun thing about stoppers is that there are no rules on size & shape - they just need to look good & be functional.

 

[lorbay]

We (my wife) drinks white wine so she keeps it in the fridge so she always says check the fridge door height. As some of my early stoppers were too high to to fit in the door or shelf.
Lin

 

[TellicoTurning]

BTW - one of the more interesting stopper designs actually fits around the top of the bottle, with the stopper mechanism (cork, cone, etc) recessed inside the turning. This design is intended for white wines that need to be refrigerated; when the stopper is in place on the bottle, it extends the height of the bottle no more than 3/8 - 1/2" inch so that it fits more easily into the door rack in a refrigerator. The interior hole in the stopper (that fits around the top of the bottle) needs to be 1 3/8 to 1 1/2" in diameter, which means that the blank has to have a larger cross section that would be the case for a turning that simplhy sits on top of the bottle.

You mean like this:

These always seemed to sell well... guess I need to do a few more.

 

[KenV]

Herb, you can get a decent stoppers with 1 1/4 round.

Ruth Niles is now selling a stainless cork that will seal a bottle of still wine laying horizontal on the shelf. Flat bottom on the cork will stand up and not roll all over the counter.