I haven't made any or even thought it through, but why aren't the cones
that use O-rings to close bottle stoppers turned from wood instead of
steel? Wine and spirits are gentled and stored in wooden barrels and
casks, so I would think cones turned from oak or hard maple with 3
grooves for 3 different O-rings might work. They could be attached to
exotic wood tops or integral as a complete stopper.

Warping and size or out of round humidity effects might negate using
wood since stoppers can end up in many different towns and fridges.
Staining might be an esthetic concern also, although most stoppers are
for show and not for blow. There may be other reasons that I failed to
think of (not uncommon).

Wood seems to 'go' with wine better that steel, but I don't think Ruth
Niles needs to lose any sleep over my wonderings.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

"Arch" wrote: (clip)why aren't the cones
that use O-rings to close bottle stoppers turned from wood instead of
steel? (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I think the answer is simple--O-rings are already available, and they're
cheap, so there is no money to be made. A wine stopper with a tapered,
bored cork is easier to turn than one with an O-ring, probably seals just as
well, and looks very professonal.

Anyway, that would be my guess.