Rubber vs. Cork Stoppers?

[monarae]

I have used cork stoppers for my vials but they are brittle and difficult to get my wire STRAIGHT through.

I was thinking about using rubber stoppers but not sure getting a hole in it is any easier.

Has anyone had any experience with using rubber stoppers? Does the rubber react with the vial contents?

Any tips for using cork more easily?

Mona

[lunamoonshadow]

Oil will degrade rubber over time & the "black" will come off :(
essential oils will eat it too....

You can pierce cork easier with a fat yarn needle or sewing needle.

dunno if that helps or not?
(oh, maybe dipping them in water before you pierce them to "moisten the cork" might help too--cork does dry out over time...kinda like the cork in birki sandles does...:lol:)
I store mine in little zippie baggies so they don't dry out (the extras--not the ones already in bottles :lol:)

[monarae]

Thanks Luna, that does help.

[Blair]

When I buy corks I actually examine them first to make sure they aren't already cracked up. If they are pretty solid to begin with, I don't have much trouble with them breaking apart later. I also use the "poking the hole first" method. I set the cork so that one side is flat down on a surface then take some sort of pin or needle and push it through to get a straight line for my wire. I hadn't thought of trying to wet them first, though. I'll have to try that myself!