About this Product
Hand-Turned Pistache Bottle Stopper with Carved Top Hat and Stainless Steel Base
Add a playful twist to your bottle collection with this hand-turned Pistache bottle stopper. Made from pistache wood, known for its light tones and beautifully swirling grain patterns, this stopper features a carefully carved top hat design that’s both charming and unique.
The stainless steel base provides a secure, durable seal, making it perfect for preserving wine, spirits, or other bottled favorites. The polished finish accentuates the natural beauty of the pistache wood, while the whimsical top hat adds personality and a touch of elegance.
Handcrafted in Austin, TX, this bottle stopper is more than just a functional tool—it’s a conversation piece and a delightful addition to any bar or kitchen. Whether you’re gifting it to a loved one or treating yourself, this one-of-a-kind creation combines artistry, craftsmanship, and fun. Approx. size 4" tall x 1" diameter.
Turncoat Studios ATX, LLC
Meet the Maker
Everything we do starts with the wood. We search out both highly figured and simple, even grained woods. The selections are based on both appearance and functionality.
The turning process starts with an idea of the finished piece and the wood dictates the rest. When we are ready to start, it’s mask on, wood spinning, and we apply tools to the wood. The process results in a compromise between what we want and what the wood will allow. Never fight the wood. All of these pieces are turned on our lathe, in our workshop, by our hands.
With the piece turned and sanded it is time for paint. We take inspiration from nature, cultures, artistic movements, and the shape of the piece and the complexity of the grain. The designs run the gamut from simple to complex and from large to small as the piece suggests. Sometimes the designs take days, returning to the piece multiple times to add touches. We hope these pieces give you years of service and beauty.
How it’s Made
Creating a Hand-Turned Bottle Stopper
Crafting a hand-turned bottle stopper is a creative and rewarding process that transforms raw wood into a functional and artistic piece. Here’s a step-by-step overview:
1. Selecting the Wood
The process begins with selecting a beautiful piece of wood, such as walnut, maple, cherry, or exotic hardwoods like cocobolo or padauk. The wood is chosen for its durability, grain patterns, and overall aesthetic appeal.
2. Preparing the Blank
The chosen wood is cut into a small blank, typically around 2 inches square and 3 inches long. The blank is sized to allow for shaping and refining the design during turning.
3. Drilling for the Hardware
A hole is drilled in one end of the blank to accommodate the threaded insert or mandrel that will hold the bottle stopper mechanism. This ensures a secure fit between the wood and the metal stopper hardware.
4. Mounting on the Lathe
The wood blank is mounted onto a lathe, using either a threaded mandrel or a chuck. This setup ensures the blank is held securely while spinning for shaping.
5. Shaping the Stopper Top
Using hand tools like gouges and chisels, the artisan carefully shapes the wood into the desired design for the bottle stopper top. This step allows for creativity, with designs ranging from simple and modern to intricate and decorative.
6. Sanding the Surface
Once the desired shape is achieved, the surface is sanded with progressively finer grits of sandpaper while still on the lathe. This process smooths out any rough edges and prepares the wood for finishing.
7. Applying the Finish
A protective finish, such as oil, wax, or lacquer, is applied to the wood. This step enhances the grain and color of the wood while sealing and protecting it from moisture and wear. The finish is buffed to a smooth, glossy sheen.
8. Attaching the Stopper Mechanism
The metal bottle stopper hardware is threaded or attached to the finished wood top. Stainless steel is commonly used for its durability and rust resistance. The connection is tested to ensure it is secure and functional.
9. Polishing and Final Inspection
The completed bottle stopper is polished to enhance its shine and inspected to ensure it meets high-quality standards. The stopper is tested to confirm a snug fit in standard bottles.
10. Packaging the Finished Product
The bottle stopper is carefully packaged, ready to be used or gifted. Some artisans include a display box or stand to showcase the stopper’s beauty.
This process results in a unique, handcrafted bottle stopper that combines artistry, functionality, and the natural beauty of wood. It’s a timeless and practical piece, perfect for sealing wine, olive oil, or other bottled treasures.
