Sam asks:
>OK guys I got a set of Champagne corks to fit in my 30s track bike. Here
is my dilemma the corks that came out were >severed off and only the inner
part was left. The inside of those bars is small-wine cork size-but wine
corks don't have >expanded ends. Do I trim down the Champagne corks and
leave the large bulbous ends as my plugs?
Try this: Find a 1/4" or so bolt, 3" or greater in length. Cut off it's head. Drill a 3/16" hole in the center of your champagne cork starting form the under side, as centered as possible and stopping 1/2 in before the cork. Insert the bolt in to your electric ahnd drill. Screw the bolt in to the cork. The cork should now be firmly atahe to the bolt and you have a crude lathe in you hand. Tune the cork down to desired shape buy spinning the cork over some an abrasive. Use light pressure. I use 100G sandpaper affixed to a a paint stirring stick with double stick tape. Finish with finer paper, about 400G is OK . You can shape to your desire. If the cork to be inserted into the bar is too large, you can reduce it's size too, but remember that when you remove the screw it will shrink.
Happy corking!
Jim Cunningham
~CyclArtist
Vista, CA