Leather Bottle Stopper Ideas

[match]

I've just made a very small leather bottle for use as a hipflask - however I'm stuck for ideas on how to stopper it.

I've tried both wood and cork carved stoppers, but both of these leak if the bottle is inverted (quite likely in a jacket pocket).

Does anyone have any ideas of what I could use to make a stopper? The bottle is now 'finished' so there's no chance of going back and fitting a stopper during the soaking stage Of course, I might just be doing something 'wrong' in making a stopper in the first place...

 

[Eric_Methven]

As a remedial exercise, I've had to do this on one or two occasions. I have found exactly the same problem with leakage from the opening. How I solved mine was to cut a piece of brass tube (from B&Q) about an inch long, insert it into the flask (a tightish fit is best) then seal it all round with molten beeswax. Then I fit the stopper into the brass tube. The tube need not sit proud of the flask opening, but I've found having it sealed in place with wax, and the stopper plugged in the brass tube, you get a much better seal as the leather doesn't move like it sometimes does with normal use.

A thin walled piece of tube would work best. It can be from brass or stainless steel or silver if you can get it. I'd avoid copper though.

I was also playing around with the idea of using threaded brass, and using a threaded stopper with a leather washer inside to create a seal but I haven't tried it yet.

To be truly authentic you could try a plug of wood with a hole drilled through it. Seal that in place with wax then plug the hole with a stopper.

Eric

 

[SOAR]

I have seen stoppers made of leather rolled up tight then plugged in the hole, I dont know how they work or much about them, I'm sure someone on here will though.

Simon.

 

[SOAR]

Any chance of some pics?.

 

[match]

As always, immediately after I posted, I had an idea about how to fix this, which I've just tried out and seems to have worked.

I put the wooden stopper in place, got a hairdryer and ran it all around the very top of the bottle around the stopper. As soon as the wax on the surface started to melt, I pushed hard around the base of the stopper with my hands, and held it tight for a minute until it had hardened. This seems to have closed up all the tiny gaps that were obviously there before, as I now don't get a drip when the bottle is inverted Might only work as its a small neck, but thought it worth mentioning.

Pics as requested - its a bit rough, but mostly because its a rough offcut which I just decided to make something out of:

(The slightly squint top was there before I applied the hairdryer, and came about during the stretching process

Thanks for the suggestions though Eric, I've got another bottle I made a while ago that occasionally leaks, and I might try the wooden plug/stopper technique - maybe even try to make a feature out of it!

 

[SOAR]

Thats really nice, what size is it?.

 

[match]

Thats really nice, what size is it?.

Its pretty small - it holds about 150ml, and is about 7" by 4" - just enough for a warming drink on a cold afternoon. The size I just guessed at using a cardboard cut-out in the pockets of the various coats I commonly use

 

[SOAR]

It looks the buisiness, next question what tipple will it hold for you?

Simon.

 

[match]

Probably sloe or damson gin - both of which are nearly ready for bottling, or there's always the option of a good whisky

Alternatively, it might end up being a Christmas present - still got some folk to sort things out for