13 uses for wine corks - real and plastic
By Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Lightweight and rot-resistant, corks can do a lot more than just plug up your favorite bottle of vino. Start saving them for a few handy projects. While I do prefer real cork simply because it is a sustainable product, from the bark of the cork oak, which shed its bark and from that the corks are made, using the plastic stoppers that look like corks for the projects wherever they fit is the best way of keeping them out of the waste stream.
Create baseboard. Glue corks side by side onto a base of 1/4-inch MDF and cut along the long ends with a saw to an even height. Attach strips of 3/4-inch molding to the top and bottom, and nail the strip of corks to the base of your walls. Works with both real and plastic corks and looks great. Also protects the wall from knocks.
Create a Corkboard: Get an old picture frame, remove the glass, glue corks on side by side, in a pattern (see picture) and – voila – one cork pin board. Works with both real and plastic corks.
Scrub a knife: To avoid scratching high-carbon kitchen knives, use a dab of cleanser and scrub the knife with a cork instead of an abrasive cleaning pad.
Fluff up your soil: Chop or grind corks into granules and add them to soil as moisture-retaining mulch. Works only with real cork, obviously, as you want it to decompose in the end too.
Make a tiny sanding block: Wrap a piece of sandpaper around a cork. Use the curved surface for touch-ups on molding and other detailed items. Works with both real and plastic corks.
Keep artwork on an even keel: Cut a cork lengthwise into thin strips and glue them to the corners of hanging artworks. The cork will prevent them from tipping off-center. Works with both real and plastic corks.
Protect your blades: Glue several corks together side by side and place the strip in a drawer. Rest knife blades in the crevices to keep them sharp and protected. Works with both real and plastic corks.
Make a doorstop: Slice along the length of a cork at an angle and push the cork under a door to keep it from slamming shut. Works with both real and plastic corks.
Hush up your cabinets: Slice a cork into thin circles and glue the pieces to the inside corners of cabinet doors to quiet them when closing. Works with both real and plastic corks.
Safeguard your tools: Drill a hole halfway through the length of a cork. Fit the cork over the end of a pointed tool to prevent damage to it (and yourself). Works with both real and plastic corks. Great way of storing needles for leather work and such as well. Corks also make good file handles.
Make into cabinet handles: Corks, both real and artificial, also can be used as handles for cabinets and such.
Make into coat rack: Corks and here especially those from champagne and sparkling wine, from real cork, whether cut from the bark or made from chippings, make for great candidates to be made into coat racks. I have made a number of those and they are simple to make and will serve you well. Ordinary corks, and here also the plastic ones, can also be made into coat rack which also work but are a little different in the construction.
Start a fire: Soak old corks in a jar of rubbing alcohol, then put a few in a fireplace underneath logs and newspaper. Light the corks with a long-handled star ter to get the flames dancing quickly. Works ONLY with both real corks.
And this is, by no means, and all exhaustive list. I am sure that readers will have another few things to add here...
© 2011
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