Any suggestions on how to cut wine corks in half?

[Brdy]

I’m looking to cut wine corks in half, around 150 of them!

I only have access to hand tools at the moment. I have tried a serrated knife and a Stanley knife but can’t get them quite in the middle.

Doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect, but must be more consistently perfect than my accuracy using a knife and hopefully more efficient.

By in half, I mean having 2 semi circles.

 

[TRITON]

Getting them clamped is going to be half the battle, as if they are moving or squirming about thats going to lead to a nasty accident, especially if using a knife.
What about a hacksaw ? Small teeth so it doesnt rip, and should it move, accident will be minimized.
I would mark up the line all the way around, for increased accuracy

Oh the joys of bandsaws

Alternatively ... you can buy split corks here-£20 for 50(Portugal)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22441829...C4DYVJ&hash=item34405f68f7:g:I4oAAOSwft9cq2pB

Look about, might find a UK seller.

 

[niall Y]

You could try a hacksaw, even a junior one might be big enough. They are surprisingly useful for cutting things like bamboo canes.

 

[ChaiLatte]

If you want to end up with two semi circles at the end (i.e. one cork produces two finished items), the cutting method will need to be kerfless, like a knife.

A guided knife, through a wet cork might be a good place to start. Drill a hole the diameter of the cork into the end of a piece of wood. Drill a hole smaller than the diameter of the cork from the bottom of that hole out the other side of the wood. Make a saw cut across the diameter of the hole the width of your knife blade. Poke a dowel into the small hole after cutting, to eject the halves.

Long ago, when my parents made wine, we had a cork-inserting device. You would soak the cork, insert into the device, put on top of the bottle and ram in the cork. One of those, with a blade fixed across its bottom might do the trick. Think garlic press with only one sharp line in its base.

https://www.brewmart.co.uk/hand-corker/

If you want to achieve two finished items that are slightly less than a semi-circle each, you can use a saw in the same jig, which turns part of the cork into dust.

If you want to achieve one semi circle per cork, you can use a plane or router and turn 50% of the cork into shavings.

 

[Brdy]

Getting them clamped is going to be half the battle, as if they are moving or squirming about thats going to lead to a nasty accident, especially if using a knife.
What about a hacksaw ? Small teeth so it doesnt rip, and should it move, accident will be minimized.
I would mark up the line all the way around, for increased accuracy

Oh the joys of bandsaws

Alternatively ... you can buy split corks here-£20 for 50(Portugal)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22441829...C4DYVJ&hash=item34405f68f7:g:I4oAAOSwft9cq2pB

Look about, might find a UK seller.

I actually tried a small scroll saw I managed to get for free off a mate, although the up and down motion was too violent.

Would you say a small bandsaw would be better, do they cut on the down stroke?

Corks are bloody expensive haha, I bought them for £10 per 100, £20 for 50 halves is abit beyond my price range. Appreciate the suggestion tho!

You could try a hacksaw, even a junior one might be big enough. They are surprisingly useful for cutting things like bamboo canes.

I tried a Japanese pull saw, wasn’t too successful, I’ll try a junior hacksaw now tho thanks!

If you want to end up with two semi circles at the end (i.e. one cork produces two finished items), the cutting method will need to be kerfless, like a knife.

A guided knife, through a wet cork might be a good place to start. Drill a hole the diameter of the cork into the end of a piece of wood. Drill a hole smaller than the diameter of the cork from the bottom of that hole out the other side of the wood. Make a saw cut across the diameter of the hole the width of your knife blade. Poke a dowel into the small hole after cutting, to eject the halves.

Long ago, when my parents made wine, we had a cork-inserting device. You would soak the cork, insert into the device, put on top of the bottle and ram in the cork. One of those, with a blade fixed across its bottom might do the trick. Think garlic press with only one sharp line in its base.

https://www.brewmart.co.uk/hand-corker/

If you want to achieve two finished items that are slightly less than a semi-circle each, you can use a saw in the same jig, which turns part of the cork into dust.

If you want to achieve one semi circle per cork, you can use a plane or router and turn 50% of the cork into shavings.

Great advice thanks! Definitely food for thought for me! I am looking to end up with 2 usable halves.

 

[mwinfrance]

Olfa cutter ( or similar ), extend the "snap off" blade part part all the way out, cuts clean.

 

[Nail]

I would think that taking the time to make a holder or jig would be worth it if you have so many to do.

When I’ve cut some in half for artwork I’m pretty sure I just used a knife but it wasn’t that many and I was happy with the level of accuracy.

 

[Brdy]

I would think that taking the time to make a holder or jig would be worth it if you have so many to do.

When I’ve cut some in half for artwork I’m pretty sure I just used a knife but it wasn’t that many and I was happy with the level of accuracy.

Good suggestion, I am looking making a small jig now. Will update with results!

Thanks

 

[Tris]

An opinel knife works well for cutting corks, no wide bevel so less resistance as cork can be 'grabby' as you have found. A wooden vee block is helpful, or you could make a clamp by cutting vees close to the end of two short boards, then clamp them together holding the cork

 

[mwinfrance]

I should have thought of an Opinel, been here so long I always have a number 8 in my pocket.

 

[profchris]

I cut wine corks in half lengthways as sanding blocks for luthiery. I hold them by finger and thumb at the ends and use a Japanese pull saw - it's really easy, though maybe the first couple were harder.

My corks are all leftovers though

 

[SammyQ]

Freezing them frst also makes them less friable, easier cut.

 

[MarkAW]

What are you intending to make?

I found a sharp knife gave the best cut

 

[Agent_zed]

How about partly using the idea above that you drill a very slightly larger hole is a piece of wood and cut a line across the middle. Then make up a levered knife with the jig to hold the cork.

Something along these lines https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38779453...XI4kPuGXYTjDBRcPcM2Cz-3gsPETBNihoCwMcQAvD_BwE

It doesn't have to be as beefy as this as cutting a cork will be far easier. A large kitchen knife would do I would think. Just make the hole in the wood enough that there is enough room for the blade and the cork.