Wine Cork Cutting Hack

by CyberJaws in Workshop > Woodworking

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Wine Cork Cutting Hack

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Old wine corks have a lot of great uses but can be a pain to work with if you don't have the right tools for cutting them. This simple hack will make natural wine corks much easier to cut with less effort and little-to-no-breaking of the cork.

Measurements

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Before you boil, use a Sharpie to mark off whatever measurements or cut marks you need. It's better do to this before boiling so that the cork doesn't dry before you can cut it.

Boil

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Boil the wine corks in water for 15-20 minutes. If the water gets low, add more.

Cut

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After boiling, one by one, take a cork from the water (leave the rest in the water) and begin slicing or making whatever cuts you need. Cork dries quickly. If the cork is giving too much resistance or looks like it's going to break, it needs more boiling.

Safety

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Remember to take necessary safety precautions when working with sharp tools. Don't put your hands in front of a blade, don't cut towards you etc. I found working with boiled cork to be a lot easier than when they are dry and I experienced less slippage.