How to Make Wine Stoppers Made From Old Crystal Doorknobs
Antique doorknobs are much more decorative than most current knobs. They are made of materials such as brass, glass, wood, ceramic and crystal. Often, these knobs are small works of art, with designs painted or embossed on the face of the knob. With the addition of cork, these old doorknobs can be repurposed as bottle stoppers. Vintage knobs are found at auctions, garage sales, flea markets and antique stores, with reproductions available for purchase at decorative accent stores and some hardware stores.
Things You'll Need
- Clamp
- Hacksaw
- Drill
- Cork stoppers
- Headless screw
- Fast-acting glue such as Super Glue
Instructions
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Hold the doorknob screw against the cork stopper. If the screw is longer than the cork, you will need to saw the end of the screw so it is 1/2-inch shorter than the cork. Place the knob shank in the clamp. Use the hacksaw to remove the end of the screw. If the doorknob does not have a screw, purchase a headless screw at a hardware store. Take the knob with you to get the correct side. Purchase a screw that is shorter than the cork when inserted into the knob, or place the screw in the clamp and saw it to the correct length.
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Drill a hole in the center of the wide end of the cork. Use a drill bit slightly smaller in diameter than the screw on your doorknob. Drill down the same distance as the length of your screw.
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Screw the knob into the hole you drilled in the cork to check the fit. If the screw goes in easily, remove if from the cork. If the screw will not go in the cork, drill the hole with a slightly larger bit. Once you have verified that the doorknob screw will fit, place a few drops of fast-acting glue on the threads of the screw. Screw the knob into the cork until the cork meets the shank of the knob. Let the glue dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Drawer pulls will also make good wine stoppers and they are smaller than doorknobs.
Wear eye protection when sawing metal.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
