Corks

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

As a Boomer with a propensity for storing things which “might come in useful one day”, I have at last found a use for the collection of wine bottle corks that I have amassed. Finding that I was short of a handle for a new 8 inch file I shoved the tine into a cork and proceeded to use it. Absolutely marvellously comfortable for my hands which are getting a bit knarly and, like the rest of me, losing their grip. In particular I find that champagne/cava corks  are most comfortable.

Mick

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

Good tip! I find the crown corks from beer bottles just don’t work that well – bit rough on me mitts. S’pose I should go up-market as far as invigorating beverages are concerned…

[NealebParticipant @nealeb]

I thought the modern answer was ring pulls but they don’t work so well either…

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Good idea must drink more

H

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Seems Champagne does have some purpose after all.

[Bo’sun]

On Bo’sun Said:

Seems Champagne does have some purpose after all.

..if you never found out what it’s primary purpose is, you have really missed out..

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Just as well you dont have to buy wine in this quaint little country !

You would never get handles for your files !

Slop which sold for three Euro a few years ago is now being “offered” at only eight Euro !

So, back to a piece of wooden dowel.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

They all seem a bit short as a handle to me, unless you keep the bottle attached!

[egaParticipant @ega]

One of my most-used tools is a birdcage maker’s awl whose point lives in a cork when not in use.

[Andy_HParticipant @andy_h]

I use champagne corks as a graver handle. They are nicely shaped for that.

Hadn’t thought of using one on a file but seems a great idea especially for needle files.

Andy

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Champagne corks are usually OK but wine bottle “corks” are mostly some sort of plastic resin, possibly with a slight mix of ground cork.  We have lots of cork oaks growing round here but they are rarely harvested.

Russell

[VicParticipant @vic]

I’ve got lots of old Prosecco corks and they all seem to be of the Agglomerated variety.

[Russell Eberhardt]

On Russell Eberhardt Said:

Champagne corks are usually OK but wine bottle “corks” are mostly some sort of plastic resin, possibly with a slight mix of ground cork.  We have lots of cork oaks growing round here but they are rarely harvested.

Russell

I am told by a geographer specialising in the Mediterranean that almost all cork produced went to the wine industry. With metal caps and plastic things replacing corks there is major concern that the Cork Oak would disappear. A few years ago a good quality cork cost 1 Euro.

JA

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Off post a little, but following on from JA’s comment.  As I understand it, if the cork isn’t harvested from the Cork Oak tree, I think about every seven years, the tree will die.  And along with it, any associated local industry.  So much for cheaper alternatives.

[VicParticipant @vic]

There are lots of uses for Cork as a material. Using them to plug wine bottles may be desirable by wine aficionados but I much prefer screw caps for wine except Champagne or Prosecco. I’d probably use the material more often, it makes very nice tool handles, but it’s not inexpensive.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

I use turned down corks to plug the tailstock of lathes when nothing fitted to the taper, ensures chips and dust are kept out.

Emgee

[Bo’sun]

On Bo’sun Said:

Off post a little, but following on from JA’s comment.  As I understand it, if the cork isn’t harvested from the Cork Oak tree, I think about every seven years, the tree will die.  And along with it, any associated local industry.  So much for cheaper alternatives.

Yes, commercially the bark is taken every seven years, cut back to the mother layer which will continue to grow.  However the tree will not die if the bark isn’t taken.  The growth of the thick bark has evolved to protect the tree in the intense forest fires we have in the south.  After the fire has passed the trees look completely dead but, in a year or two they come back to life and can live for over 200 years.

Russell

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, put a load of corks into a big green recycled glass jar, and who knows what might flourish. ☺️

OK I’ll get me coat.

Regards Nick.

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

Fun fact: Cork has a Poisson’s ratio of almost 0.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

hardly a good advert ??

[TrickyParticipant @tricky]

There is a Cork Museum in Mezin which is a small town in Lot-et-Garonne in SW France.  We lived for 5 years in France very close to Mezin and visited the museum.  We also had cork trees in our garden and the cork bark just split as it grew so no problem with not harvesting the cork.

https://ville-mezin.fr/l-histoire-du-musee.html

 

Richard

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

I want one of these cork trees:

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

I have been following ‘Project Kamp’ on You Tube, and after reading the comments on this thread I thought it would be a good idea to share this link, as it shows the many uses for cork including how it is used to make insulation:

Project Kamp #53

I found it very interesting.

Ketan at ARC

[JAParticipant @ja]

Thanks Ketan. Yes, very interesting. High quality wine corks appear to be their premium product.

I could comment on cork having a Poisson’s Ratio of near zero (very important) but will refrain from doing so.

JA

[Speedy Builder5]

On Speedy Builder5 Said:

hardly a good advert ??

or perhaps rather clever. If you complain about poor quality they just say “as advertised”.

[Author]

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