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Bottle stoppers are a fun and inexpensive project for the wood lathe and are a great way to use up those fancy scraps of wood you’ve been saving. Precut bottle stopper blanks can also be purchased for very little money and are a great way to get a variety of different turning woods.
BOTTLE STOPPERS - Various Exotic Woods
For this project you can use any type of hardwood, but in my opinion, figured wood, burls and highly detailed woods look the best. We have highly figured curly maple bottle stopper blanks available for $2.00 each Contact Christina if you would like to purchase some for your bottle stopper project.
Each stopper consists of three parts. A turning blank which is normally 1 1/2″x1 1/2″x2 1/2″, a 3/8″ piece of hardwood dowel and a stoppers cork with a 3/8″ hole in the center for attaching it to the turned top.
The tools and equipment needed for turning bottle stoppers are minimal. Here’s what you’ll need:
One you have all your materials, you can begin by cutting your blank to just a hair longer than the size of your finished bottle stopper. Next you can mark the center of your blank on each end. Then you’ll need to drill a 3/8″hole in one end 3/4″deep. Insert some glue into the hole and tap the dowel into the blank with a hammer or mallet. Don’t worry about the dowel being to long… once the bottle stopper is finished, you’ll trim it to the right length to apply the cork.
Insert the dowel end of the blank into the chuck leaving 3/4″ of the dowel exposed (the 3/4″ is the part of the dowel that will be glued into the cork and you want to avoid damaging it in the chuck). Then bring the tailstock up and tighten it into place.
You can also turn these bottle stoppers between centers. Tap the spur center into the marked end of turning blank using a mallet and insert it into the headstock. Then bring the tailstock up and center it on the tip of the dowel and tighten it into place.
Next you start turning just as you would with any other project. Be sure and keep your tools good and sharp while turning your bottle stopper and take your time … if you have a tool catch it may ruin your blank by snapping the dowel.
After you’ve finishing turning your piece, you can start your sanding. I recommend sanding up to 800 grit for a nice glossy finish. Now you’re ready to apply your finish. I like Crystal Caot friction polish as it’s easy to apply on the lathe and dries very quickly. Another great finish is tung oil, but you’ll need to apply several coats to get a really glossy finish.
You can now remove your bottle stopper from the lathe. Measure the length of your cork to the dowel and make a mark. Trim off the extra dowel. Once you’ve done this apply a small amount of glue to the wide end of the cork base and inside the hole in the cork. Quickly slide the cork over the dowel until it’s snug against the bottom of the bottle stopper. When the glue has completely dried you can clean up the end of the dowel by touching it gently on a belt sander until it’s nice and even with the cork.
Bottle stoppers make wonderful unique gifts for Christmas or any occasion. They’re also a best seller at craft fairs if you want to turn for some extra money.
Happy Turning 
Looking for a last minute gift for those that hard to buy for woodturner on your list All joking aside, this tool allows you to sand those hard to reach spots without leaving any unsightly sanding tracks. The Sandmaster can also be used to apply oil or wax to your turning and will produce a quality professional finish. 
Sorby Sandmaster An extremely handy addition to any turner’s armory, the Sandmaster is used in conjunction with a lathe to put a fine finish on turned pieces. It eliminates the unsightly lines often associated with traditional hand sanding. The Sandmaster comes complete with a Velcro covered 2" sponge pad which allows for the easy changing of abrasive discs. The aluminum oxide discs come in a variety of grits from 60 to 400. The adjustable head lets you reach even the most difficult areas. As an option for your larger turnings, a 3" head and sanding discs are also available for greater efficiency. The Sandmaster becomes an even more versatile tool when the head is removed and replaced by a pigtail mandrel and bowl mop. Made of fine grade cotton these mops are ideal for applying oils or buffing waxes to produce a professional finish. The following video is from Robert Sorby and gives a complete demonstration of the sanding and finishing process using the Sandmaster.
Sandmaster Customer Reviews 1) Submitted by Jon, from Endicott, NY on 1/16/2008 I had my doubts when I ordered this but it’s cut my sanding time by at least 75% with better results … Works great …IMHO the biggest drawback is the limited quantity of sandpaper you get with your order. 2) Submitted by Jack, from Travis AFB, CA on 2/24/2007 Works geat, gets in to small areas, and with the variety of sandpaper takes the wood down to a ultra smooth finish. Handle could be a bit longer.
This video demonstration from Jet Tools is very well done. They cover how to turn a plate from start to finish and offer clear concise instruction. This set of videos offer great tool techniques and some really good turning tips. I hope you find these videos as helpful and as informative as I did
PART 1 of 2 - How to Turn a Plate on a wood lathe
PART 2 of 2 - How to turn a plate on a wood lathe.
