I carve a lot of bottle stoppers and have destroyed many corks when trying to drill a hole for the dowel used to attach them to the carvings. To solve the problem, I created a quick and easy jig to hold the wine corks safely while I drill the hole.
To make the jig, draw a line down the center of a I1/-" by l1// by 4" piece of scrap wood. Drill a %"-diameter hole through the center of the scrap wood on the centerline. Cut along the centerline with a table saw or band saw.
To use the jig, put a wine cork in the hole and clamp the jig securely in a vise. Drill a hole in the cork with a 3/8"-diameter brad-point bit. The jig supports the soft cork while you drill the hole.
Glue a H"-diameter dowel into the cork. Make sure about 1%" of the dowel protrudes from the top of the cork. After the glue dries, chuck the dowel in a drill press and sand a slight taper on the bottom of the cork with 80-grit sandpaper for wood.
Before you begin carving your bottle stopper, drill a %"-diameter by l '-deep hole in the bottom of your blank. When the carving is complete, cut the diameter dowel to size and glue the cork to the carving.
Non-Skid Relief Carving
I needed a way to secure a small relief carving while I was working on it that would still allow me to quickly reposition the wood as I followed the grain. To solve the slippery problem, I cut a piece of non-slip drawer liner slightly larger than my carving and stapled the liner to the back of my blank. The non-slip material keeps the carving from moving around on the larger board I keep across my knees to support the carving, but allows me to flip the carving around as much as I want.
Tips
- Use a small gouge to shape a horse's hoof properly
- Smooth your hardwood bowls with a cabinet scraper
- Carve fragile parts, such as antlers, from a separate piece of wood and glue them in place for additional durability.
