Congratulations to Ted Pelfrey for "Forest Floor" being selected as Turning of the Week for November 4, 2024
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Crash
It looks like you caught the bottle stopper bug. I love turning stoppers and they are by far my hottest selling item. If I may offer you a couple points of advice:
1) establish a difference between the chrome stoppers and the cork or silicone by using only your best wood on the chrome units. Most figure/color etc on the chrome. This will help support a 2 to 1 price difference when you start selling them.
2) Gloss sells in the stopper biz so work on your finish. Sand to at least 600 and I use a brushing laquer followed by friction polish. If the piece is very porus use a CA finish then friction polish if you like.
3) Little details are important but don't over do it. You'll find too many details, ie. pummels and beads, will look dull after sanding.
4) after you make your first dozen, draw out your 3 or 4 favorite shapes and practice them. Make 10 in a row the same shape this will develop your speed and improve the shape.
5) Take them everywhere, every party you go to use as a hostest gift, every fundraiser in your town donate one for a door prize, every birthday in your office or family use a stopper as a gift. In about 6 months people will be calling to buy them.
6) Just have fun. Make up a box full of stopper blanks, drilled, pegged and ready to go on the lathe. When you have a bad day at work you can come home and go to the shop and make stoppers with whatever time you have.
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