Wine Stopper – Pewter Metal Spun 3

Description

Wine / Bottle Stopper – Pewter Metal Spun Stopper w/Copper 3

Call them a wine-stopper or bottle-stopper; their function is the same. They add a sense of beauty and elegance to any bottle that needs sealing. Putting the original cork back into a wine bottle is not easy, but with a wine stopper on hand, you can close the contents with a bit of style until you’re ready for the next pour.

Wine stoppers were one of the first production items when I started turning back in 1998. They are a great way to learn proper chisel techniques, form good sanding habits, apply a beautiful finish, learn about the relationship of curves and develop good fundamental designs in woodturning.

A few years ago, one of Woodturning Magazine’s writers approached me for a profile article on my work. The following question & answer sums up the value and importance of what turning this simple form has meant to my woodturning:

Woodturning Magazine Q.: “How would you describe your style?”

Traditional, minimalist at times, sensuous, voluminous, fluid, but most importantly, I strive for the fullness of life. Let me tell you a little story about my style. It sounds strange, but it’s true. I learned woodturning and developed my style by turning thousands of wine stoppers. There is something to be said about production work in terms of growth in design and seeing the blossoming of contours which ultimately lead to sensuous forms that please us. I learned to turn (or develop my style) within production work. It’s similar to how I learned to draw from sketching thousands of gesture drawings.

Gesture drawings are 1-minute sketches of the human form that capture the essence and life of the model. Whenever I turn a stopper, I still approach it the same way: with speed, feeling, and capturing a mood. I don’t want to get caught up in the piece’s details, just the overall feeling I get from the curves. I try to incorporate a sense of life into these quick minor studies. When I work on larger pieces, like pepper mills, I carry that same sense of life into that work. I may spend more time refining the larger pieces, but these studies keep my work looking fluid.

The wine-stopper is my warm-up. I never tire from turning stoppers. I can freely explore the subtle changes that develop in each one. They’re disposable without investing too much time. It’s also amazing how much one can learn from happy accidents! I can’t thank my wine-stopper patrons enough for this education!

Metal Spun Overlay Wine Stopper

The metal-spun overlay stoppers feature a .025″ layer of solid pewter spun over an exotic wood. I feature Jobillo and Macassar Ebony or Brown Ebony as the base wood on these stoppers. Traditionally, metal spinning involves taking the spun part off the wooden form. Since the spun part is locked onto the form, it cannot be removed. Therefore the form becomes sacrificial. I love the combination of metal and wood, which adds elegance and uniqueness to my woodturning.

Featured Wine Stopper Hardware

All wine-stoppers feature a stainless steel base, so you can rest assured there will be no pitting, rusting, or staining of the metal when capping your favorite wines or spirits. The tapered rubber gasket will fit into just about any liquor bottle, so a one-size-fits-virtually-all. Free stopper gift bag with each stopper purchase.

Wine Stopper Facts:

• Removable threaded stud makes cleaning the base easy
• Fits most wine bottles
• Tapered Rubber Gasket Keeps Stopper Securely in Place and Wine Fresher Longer
• Well Balanced and Looks Great in any Bottle
• Approximate Size: 4″ x 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″
• Free Organza Gift Bag with Each Wine-Stopper Purchase
• Wood Species: Pewter Metal Spun Overlay on Brown Ebony w/ Cu Inlay
• Durable Automotive Epoxy Finish