Bottle Stopper Bouquet

[Edgar]

Alvin Lutheran Church will hold its Oktoberfest on Oct 7. I finally finished this Stopper Bouquet for our auction.

There are 12 stoppers in the bouquet: Mushroom from Spalted Hackberry, Hot Air Balloon from a Maple & Padauk laminate, Goblet from Bethlehem Olive Wood, Beehive from African Avoidre, Bottle from Purple Heart, Snowman from American Holly, Lutheran Stopper from Cedar, Texas Stopper from Pecan, Bell from Hawaiian Kia, Random Shape from Spectraply, Whiskey Barrel from Black Palm & a World Globe from Flaming Box Elder.

I realize that some of these shapes leave a little to be desired, but this was my first attempt at turning most of these shapes. It was a fun project.

Edgar

 

[J_B]

I think they are just fine Edgar. Great job! What did you use for the Texas flag insert? I like that.

 

[Edgar]

I think they are just fine Edgar. Great job! What did you use for the Texas flag insert? I like that.

Thanks, those are 1-1/4" lapel buttons that I order from Zazzle. I use needle nose pliers to straighten the stick pin & remove it from the button. Zazzle has a big selection & they are pretty cheap.

After rounding the blank, I square off the top face then use a 1-1/4" forstner bit to drill a recess for the button to sit in, then I finish turning the stopper.

The diameters of the buttons varies a little. Most will fit into the drilled recess just fine, but sometimes they are a little oversized so I just use a turning tool to enlarge the recess a little.

 

[MillerTurnings]

Edgar, I must have got the wrong site- it shows $18-$20 a piece. Is this right?

 

[MDWine]

I gotta ask, where did you get the Luther Seal ?

 

[TonyL]

Very nice. Gave me some ideas! Thanks for posting.

 

[RKB]

Those are wonderful. I think they will be a big hit for your fundraiser. I really like the "toadstool" style stopper. :biggrin:

Rod

 

[eharri446]

Here is something that I was thinking when I saw Edgar's bottle stoppers.

Create a frame that will raise your small NEJE laser by the height of bottle stopper and a 1/2 or 3/4 inch plywood.

The cut a piece of 1/2 or 3/4 inch plywood to fit inside the frame

Drill a hole centered in the back with a 1/2 inch Forstner bit just deep enough to allow the head of a 3/8 x 16 sheet metal screw or bolt to fit flush with the bottom.

Then drill a 3/8 inch hole in the center all the way through.

Screw your 3/8x16 screw or bolt through the piece of plywood.

Screw your bottle stopper onto the screw sticking through the piece of plywood.

Set the plywood into the frame and set your laser engraver on the frame.

Now you are ready to engrave your custom image or logo.

You could also use this idea to allow for engraving with a small CNC machine.

 

[JimB]

Very nice group of Stoppers.

 

[Edgar]

Edgar, I must have got the wrong site- it shows $18-$20 a piece. Is this right?

Here's a link to the Texas Flag button. They are $2.50 in unit qty or $1.80 ea for 10. They have thousands of buttons available & will also make custom designs.

Some are a little higher, but most are in the $2.50 - $3.50 range for the 1-1/4" round style.

https://www.zazzle.com/texas_state_flag_design_button-145647546302593312

 

[Edgar]

I gotta ask, where did you get the Luther Seal ?

Also from Zazzle. They have several versions of the Luther Rose as well as some with Martin Luther's portrait. I believe this is the one that I used. Just do a search on "Martin Luther" when you go to their site to find all their available Luther-themed buttons.

https://www.zazzle.com/the_original_luther_rose_symbol_button-145365668489132644

 

[Edgar]

Those are wonderful. I think they will be a big hit for your fundraiser. I really like the "toadstool" style stopper. :biggrin:

Rod

Thanks, Rod. I especially enjoyed making that one. When I picked up that spalted hackberry blank, it just seemed perfect for a mushroom. I deliberately stopped rounding it while it still had a slight flat spot so I could leave that little irregular edge on the cap of the mushroom. I kinda like the way that turned out. I didn't want it to be too shiny, so after sanding, I just finished it with beeswax to seal it & give it a fairly natural look.

 

[TattooedTurner]

Nice bunch of stoppers, and that spalted mushroom is fantastic!