Deluxe Floats

[JV44]

It is indeed Chavender, pop me in the order book will you. I'd like to have a go at this so I'm building up the cork stock, tonight a Shiraz cork will become available.

 

Ah yes a Shiraz cork which is of coarse slightly inferior to the Merlot cork for the more disscening float maker , Wait a moment i have just realised the Merlot we drink is in those screw top bottles bugger gonna have to change brand Steve.

[Peter Waller]

Just let me encourage any one to have a bash.

 

First of all, find a conveniently bald crow, failing that e-bay.

 

Remove the quill stuff with a surgical type scalpel, running the blade with the flow of the feather.

 

Remove stubble with fine sandpaper.

 

Secondly find a convenient cork, I bought 100 corks for D.I.Y. wine makers, a quid in a local charity shop.

 

Using a drill stand drill hole through centre of cork to match width of feather.

 

Using drill piece .5 of a mm thicker than the one that drilled the hole to hold and spin cork body, use a rasp to turn off unwanted cork to give you the basic shape.

 

Having rasped off the surplus use fine glass paper to finalise shape and give a good finish.

 

A spot of glue in hole in cork and slide cork body to desired position.

 

Enclosed photo is my very first attempt at a cork bodied float, as yet no artistic stuff but that is the easy bit!

 

If I can do it then so can you!

 

Okay, so my d.i.y. method might not be purist stuff, but it does the job!

 

Edited November 18, 2009 by Peter Waller

[lutra]

I think you've done a cracking job with that cork Peter. Ive had a couple of go's at making cork bodies and Ive not found it easy stuff to shape. I'm guessing there most be different kinds/grades as some of the ones i tried to drill and shape were a bit crumbly.

Edited November 18, 2009 by lutra

[George387]

Hi Guys,

Some of you may not have seen this, it is a float making insight I wrote for another website, but it will help anyone who is looking at making their own.

Making a Cork on Cane Float

best regards

George

[Rusty]

That looks excellent Peter, I’d be pleased to get that far.

 

My progress is a bit slower I’m afraid but I do keep promising myself that I’ll get to the construction phase soon (the two on the far right were particularly nice)

 

[chavender]

Just let me encourage any one to have a bash.

 

First of all, find a conveniently bald crow, failing that e-bay.

 

Remove the quill stuff with a surgical type scalpel, running the blade with the flow of the feather.

 

Remove stubble with fine sandpaper.

 

Secondly find a convenient cork, I bought 100 corks for D.I.Y. wine makers, a quid in a local charity shop.

 

Using a drill stand drill hole through centre of cork to match width of feather.

 

Using drill piece .5 of a mm thicker than the one that drilled the hole to hold and spin cork body, use a rasp to turn off unwanted cork to give you the basic shape.

 

Having rasped off the surplus use fine glass paper to finalise shape and give a good finish.

 

A spot of glue in hole in cork and slide cork body to desired position.

 

Enclosed photo is my very first attempt at a cork bodied float, as yet no artistic stuff but that is the easy bit!

 

If I can do it then so can you!

 

Okay, so my d.i.y. method might not be purist stuff, but it does the job!

 

 

 

thats how i used too do it myself ,but some corks just flake too bits as chuncks come away,so getting plenty is the way too go.

these days i use a tiny lathe too turn them

 

cork is very absorbant and its best sealed ,one trick is too use pva white wood glue ,it dries clear and makes a great base coat ,leave 48h too fully cure .it can then be either painted or have several coats of laquor / varnish applied too it ,i like cork with the clear varnish finish myself

[Peter Waller]

I've only turned that one cork body so I am hardly an expert but I suspect that reconstituted corks are near useless. I was actually very surprised how quickly and easily I was able to do that one.

 

Chav, thanks for the tip on finishing the float.

[Peter Waller]

These look good quality:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/30-brand-new-wine-co...=item439b4f778c

[chavender]

champaigne corks are usually great ,and have that mushroom shape ideal for making bobbers , you do have too be carefull with e-bay as the descriptions aint always good ,often though the ones marketed as brewing corks arn't always the finest of grade of cork ,And there's those fake rubber type's often described as corks ,instead of bottle stoppers .i always look too the best patina's on them as any patterning will only enhance the look of the final float .and those of lesser patterning i use for painted floats ,usually though its easy too spot the good quality ones

 

theres these pre-formed cork float bodies ,easy too reshape ,just on the small size

[Tigger]

I can see the price of those corks goin up after this thread !