A turner's secret technique revealed

Beautifully done. Just awesome.

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

Mike – a terrific tankard and appreciate learning about the technique for beer proofing

-- Phil in British Columbia

A beautiful project and thanks for the secret!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

not wasting beer- now thats a good idea!

and also a pretty cool trick with the bottom! thanks for sharing.

does the bottom ever shrink back or once it swells for the first time it’ll stay watertight in the tankard?

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Wow Mike you did a great job ! I really like the detail-s you put into this .

Thanks for sharing this with us

-- Rj's Woodworks,San Jose & Weed Ca,

Thanks for sharing Mike, great looking piece…and great idea.

-- Don S.E. OK

Hey Mike
This is a speictacular tankard and a great trick,

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Hey…very beautiful…..I like the handle’s shape, so cool…!

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

Thanks for all the the kind comments. I’m sure Purplev that the bottom will dry out again, but never enough to fall out since it was very dry when inserted in the tankard which shrank in around it. That was probably the last good idea I ever had! I sure hope someone can use it.

-- Mike, American in Norway

So what are you saying, the bottom of this cup is going to drink some of my beer before it will swell up? Okay, I guess I’d be willing to share just a little. I really like this mug. I saw a lot of porcelain and pewter mugs and steins when I was in Germany, but no wooden ones. How is the handle attached?

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

Great job. What kind of woods?

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

DaleM are you some kind of quality control expert? Because if your not maybe you should be. I hate to admit it, but I think I used some stainless steel pins and wooden dowels. I should have looked a little closer when I was photographing it at my son’s place. If I were making it today I would just use a shallow mortise and tenon joint and glue it epoxy to keep it waterproof. The wood Topamax is all birch. This was an advantage as it shrinks about 10 or 11% radially (I think) which fit my needs.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Thanks Mike, I was just wondering because I think I’ve already added this somewhere on my to do list in my mind and wouldn’t want to spill my beer because my handle came off. I guess I would have to switch brands though from Milwaukee’s Best to do the tankard justice. I’m not a good enough turner yet, but someday, maybe. No, not a quality control expert, but my wife says I’m a perfectionist (but the way she says it, it’s a bad thing). :)

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

Pretty cool mug, nice work!

-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)

Beautiful job on the mug. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa