New Year’s and the other winter holidays usually involve drinking wine. Save the corks and use them to make a trivet like the one pictured here.
The trivet in the picture was our Christmas present from the neighbor across the street. He has a woodworking shop in his garage, and makes all sorts of projects, from furniture to small accessories like this.
He made the trivet from scraps of wood and wine corks. A thin sheet of plywood was framed with 1 x 1/2 slats that were rounded along one edge. Scraps of quarter-round or baseboard could also be used to frame the trivet. The bottom of the trivet has a triangle of wood in each corner to keep the frame stable, and rubber feet that were purchased at a hardware store.
A similar trivet can be made from an old picture frame that is missing the glass. The best frame is one that has a Masonite backing. If the frame has a cardboard back, a piece of foam core cardboard, thin plywood or Masonite can be cut to fit the space. Glue the back to the frame, using the original staples to give it added strength.
Set up a gate on a band saw to cut the corks in half. Use the next cork to push the first cork through. Always be careful of your fingers when using a power tool to cut small objects. If a band saw is not available, corks can also be cut with a hack saw or a very sharp kitchen knife.
Decide on an arrangement for the corks, depending on the size of the frame and the size of the cork. Some corks may have to be cut to fit the space. The design can be rows of corks like the trivet shown, or similar to a brick pattern used to make brick sidewalks. Make the arrangement on a piece of paper that is the same size as the frame, then transfer the pieces to the frame as you glue.
Glue the corks, flat side down, to the backing.
If the rubber peel and stick feet are not available, another cork could be sliced into circles that are ¼ to ½ inch thick. Felt or fun foam can also be glued to the back to make pads that help prevent scratches on furniture.
This trivet will make a nice gift for the wine lover on your list.
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