Wine or Bottle stoppers

In message , randyswoodshoop writes

From what I remember when making wine, it is recommended that you should not use stainless steel to stir the mix, which I assume is due to a reaction . I wonder if the same could apply to these stoppers. As for chrome I have no idea I they react. But in theory the wine shouldn't be in there long enough to deteriorate :)

Stainless for show, (with O rings for blow). Cork or silicon for use. Aluminum for beer and rot gut. Chrome for shoe horns and back scratchers.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Dunno, but I use these, the best and most attractive available to show the work, not the stopper, IMHO..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

A lot of guys on Wood Central's turning group swear by Mac's suggestion of using stainless. Apparently there were some cheaper (or just inferior) made chrome stoppers that had the chrome peel off and pit. And it happened to a lot of folks.

Not such a tragedy if it is a stopper you made for your brother in law, but not good at all if it was a commissioned gift for a wine lover.

Go to Mac's link; Ruth sells in bulk and you can turn away knowing you will be making a great product that will last without question.

Robert

I guess some of the early SS one's were also a different "composition" or something.. my guess (don't know a thing about SS) is that it's like carbon steel or HSS, where there are different amounts of carbon or whatever... Anyway, some of the early ones either turned colors, pitted and/or effected the flavor.

I really like Ruth's stoppers because they're the only one's I've found that don't stick up way out of the bottle.. I was really disappointed with the first 2 types I tried, for just that reason.. I was expecting them to be flush or slightly raised but they stick out of the bottle at least an inch.. yuk..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

I've had the same problem with chrome plated stoppers. It probably depends on the quality of the plating, i.e. how thick the layers of copper and chrome are and how clean the base metal is.

Once saw some beautiful stoppers made from yew with cork. Actually bought one, but would not use it as I was never sure whether it was a safe timber for food and drink.

It did look good and served as an inspiration when I was making them several years ago.

Alan

In message , Alan Squires writes

One issue with Chrome plating is there are from what I remember two methods. Copper/Chrome and Copper/Nickel/Chrome, which gives a far superior finish