Originally Posted by
Woodrims
I make them for myself as well. I order "best quality" corks from "WidgetCo" (the forum will not allow me to post links until I have at least ten posts) and grind them to shape on a bench mounted belt sander. This works shockingly quickly and it's easy to burn right through them - expect a short, steep learning curve! Once I have them shaped into the appropriate rectangles (I keep a factory rubber pad on hand with which to compare) I cut in the bevels with a coarse hand file. It now takes me a couple of minutes per block, and I only screw up about ten percent of them.
(I had considered the "composite" corks but was afraid that whatever material is used to hold them together would melt onto the rims. It is interesting to hear that another poster uses them. I will have to give them a try.)
Thanks! That widgetco site looks pretty neat for other things too. I was in Lisbon a year ago and was tempted to buy a big block of cork at a cork store but passed. I'm currently visiting my newborn, first grandson in Switzerland. My son is a mechanical engineer (those genes passed me by) with a shop in his basement. I brought an old seatpost that fits the wine corks well along with
bobsyourbike pdf, some brake pad holders and some cork bottle stoppers for a father/son project, which we were just discussing over breakfast. I"m sure I have the necessary tools at home but it will be more fun this way.