Making a Wine Cork Trivet
Cork Trivet - Large
Connect wine corks using #3 cotton Twine. Don't use nylon as it may melt. Drill 9/64"holes in the ends of the corks (best if done with electric hand drill - not a drill press).
Stiff string ends are needed in order to be able to push the string thru the holes in the corks. To make stiff "needles" at ends of strings, soak ~2" of the string ends in casting resin (best) or epoxy (not the quick setting kind -- regular 2 part epoxy is hard to find nowadays) . Make ~1 oz of casting resin -- there will be a lot left over, but it is usually necessary to get the proportions right. Hang the strings to dry overnight at 60F+. If <60F, let dry overnight till tacky then move inside to 70F. Casting resin will leave blobs at the ends. Cut the blobs off on the diagonal with wire cutters. (Make "needles" on both ends of long Inside strings but only one end of short End string.)
Important! Set up all the corks in an even rectangle before starting to string them together.
Make strings of the following lengths, depending on the size of trivet you wish to make.
| Trivet Size | # of Corks | Length of Trivet | Inside strings | Outside strings |
| Small | 5x8 corks | ~7-1/2 " long | 4 strings @ 45" | 2 strings @ 22" |
| Large | 5x14 corks | ~15"long | 4strings @ 65" | 2 strings @ 40" |
Referring to the picture, "Cork Trivet Detail", tie square knots to connect the inside corks and figure eight knots between the end corks. The figure eight knot is difficult to draw tight. Practice cinching this knot tightly before starting the trivet. You'll still have to redo several of these figure eight knots during the course of the project in order to make them tight. The idea is to have the figure eight knots tight against the cork such that they provide the same spacing as the square knots and there is not any extra string between the end corks.
Tie the same knots at the end of the trivet and trim off any extra string. Be sure ALL knots are tight.
Cork Trivet Detail
