Made from Port packaging
Made from Port packaging
This thread is to hold examples of things made from Port packaging.
Included by reference is the Port-bottle table lamp.
Included by reference is the Port-bottle table lamp.
Re: Made from Port packaging
Sainsbury’s pre-summer clearance (mentioned in Port for sale by retailer and in a TN) has 2006 Graham Malvedos at £23. They come in single-bottle wooden boxes, as also do, for example, the Tesco Symington 2007 Vintage. With some simple wood glue, eleven of these can make a small table that holds a decanter and a glass.


- JacobH
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Re: Made from Port packaging
An idea stolen from AHB is to grow plants in them, although you can't easily do that with the Malvedos boxes that have a cardboard bottom. Indeed, I am yet to find a satisfactory for them since the cardboard isn't as robust as I'd like to use them for storage purposes.
Also, any suggestions as to what to do with the plastic funnels you sometimes get?


Also, any suggestions as to what to do with the plastic funnels you sometimes get?


Re: Made from Port packaging
Perhaps you could manufacture ten Wizard of Oz Tin Man costumes?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: Made from Port packaging
More planters...
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
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Re: Made from Port packaging
The card in the front slips out and in a nice piece of design work turns out to be a Graham’s Malvedos Coaster!
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Re: RE: Re: Made from Port packaging
Perhaps a water feature?JacobH wrote:An idea stolen from AHB is to grow plants in them, although you can't easily do that with the Malvedos boxes that have a cardboard bottom. Indeed, I am yet to find a satisfactory for them since the cardboard isn't as robust as I'd like to use them for storage purposes.
Also, any suggestions as to what to do with the plastic funnels you sometimes get?
Re: Made from Port packaging
I have a few spare. Coasters: genius.Christopher wrote: ↑12:57 Sun 28 Jun 2020The card in the front slips out and in a nice piece of design work turns out to be a Graham’s Malvedos Coaster!
- JacobH
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Re: Made from Port packaging
As Julian says, this is genius! Why did I never think of it? I’m feeling rather sad about the number I have thrown away, now.Christopher wrote: ↑12:57 Sun 28 Jun 2020 The card in the front slips out and in a nice piece of design work turns out to be a Graham’s Malvedos Coaster!
That’s really rather classy. I am very impressed.
I feel this is the equivalent of Mickey Mouse cutting the brooms in half in Fantasia, in that I would much rather have a “what shall I do with 10 plastic decanting funnels” problem than “what shall I do with 10 tiny Wizard of Oz Tin Man costumes” problem....
Re: Made from Port packaging
That seems fair.
Perhaps a couple of elastic bands and some sort of medically-approved filter on the pointy end of the funnels would allow you to turn them into designer PPE face masks? A big market just waiting to be tapped!
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- JacobH
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Re: Made from Port packaging
They have a small sediment filters attached. Do you think I can get those medically approved?
- Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Made from Port packaging
I think that qualifies to be a "face-covering", as required to travel on the Tube or train.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
Re: Made from Port packaging
Useful for propping up an espresso machine while descaling...

Re: Made from Port packaging
Re: flower pots - how long do they last before they start to rot due to water damage? They look quite good, just not sure about the longevity.
Re: RE: Re: Made from Port packaging
I assume that could be solved with a layer of plastic lining?MigSU wrote:Re: flower pots - how long do they last before they start to rot due to water damage? They look quite good, just not sure about the longevity.
- JacobH
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Re: Made from Port packaging
I think the problem is not so much rotting—the wood is actually pretty good quality—but rather the water causes the sides to warp and then pull apart. I presume that can be fixed at least a couple of times with some nails. But I should note that I’ve been growing spring bulbs in them and so they have been out over the winter. Probably they’d last much longer if you only used them in the summer for annuals.
Re: Made from Port packaging
Thank you both. I have quite a few lying around, and that's a pretty nice use for them.
- Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Made from Port packaging
Ours tend to last 4-5 years, generally growing salad crops in them from Spring to Autumn. The boxes go into a shed for the Winter.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
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- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: Made from Port packaging
Sounds like you have them well trained - "C'mon lads, it's startin' t'get a bit nippy, off we go..." source
- nac
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Re: Made from Port packaging
Inspired by Julian's lamp, thought I'd have a play. Needs a better bulb and a shade, but quite pleased with this...
Have five more of these boxes, so commissions undertaken!
Have five more of these boxes, so commissions undertaken!
- nac
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Re: Made from Port packaging (sort of)
This one clearly isn't Port packaging, but it is wine, so thought I'd share it...
- JacobH
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Re: Made from Port packaging
That’s very good! I feel like there must be something that could be usefully stored in the box...
Re: Made from Port packaging
You have a lot of keys!
- nac
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Re: Made from Port packaging
Indeed. Box construction is pretty robust and has a hinged lid with magnetic catches. Was considering adding a USB charging point. Would still then have room to stash an emergency half of TV96 in it.
- JacobH
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Re: Made from Port packaging
That’s good to know. The older Sandeman tawnies come in similar high-spec boxes but the lids are not properly hinged- they just drove a pin through the sides- which means they quickly shear off.
I’m in two minds about all the magnetic catches you see these days. I am pretty sure they make it harder to recycle, especially when they are used on cardboard boxes that some wines come in, but if you don’t mind hacking them out with a Stanley Knife, they are pretty useful for magnetising screwdrivers and the like.
A proper emergency Port kit involves a half-bottle, wine glass, corkscrew, collapsible funnel & coffee filter! Pre-pandemic I used to have a “grab-bag” set with this (+ a second coffee filter and manual coffee grinder) in case I had to unexpectedly spend the night somewhere before a hearing...
- Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Made from Port packaging
Raymond Reynolds uses some wonderful compressed card fibre internal packaging for shipping their bottles. Mrs. B is a keen gardener and has found that the packaging makes ideal seed trays, with each seedling having its own space to grow yet when planted out into the soil the card quickly decomposes and allows the seedling's roots to spread out.
From this:
From this:
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
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- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
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Re: Made from Port packaging
To this:
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
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- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Made from Port packaging
I have also made the occasional storage box from a wooden case. Cases of 6 bottles (of some brands) are exactly A4 sized so ideal for storing documents, sheet music etc. In our house cases of 12 tend to store CDs, camera equipment, Christmas decorations or any other junk I can use as an excuse to make something.
The picture below is of a Fonseca 1966 case. It was sanded down to remove all the scuffs, scrapes and black ink markings that occur during shipping and storage, given a coat of slightly tinted varnish, put onto brass casters, brass hinges, brass clasp, brass chains to prevent it opening too far were added and a couple of brass fixing plates used to stop the two pieces of tongue and groove making up the lid from separating.
Of course, if you plan to do this to a box you have to remove the lid, very very carefully to stop the wood from splitting apart - but it's worth it as the boxes do look very good scattered around the house.
The picture below is of a Fonseca 1966 case. It was sanded down to remove all the scuffs, scrapes and black ink markings that occur during shipping and storage, given a coat of slightly tinted varnish, put onto brass casters, brass hinges, brass clasp, brass chains to prevent it opening too far were added and a couple of brass fixing plates used to stop the two pieces of tongue and groove making up the lid from separating.
Of course, if you plan to do this to a box you have to remove the lid, very very carefully to stop the wood from splitting apart - but it's worth it as the boxes do look very good scattered around the house.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
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- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: RE: Re: Made from Port packaging
That's really nicely done.Alex Bridgeman wrote:The picture below is of a Fonseca 1966 case.
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Re: Made from Port packaging
The port was pretty remarkable too...
Re: Made from Port packaging
Beautifully done.
- Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Made from Port packaging
I’m going to try again with 4-5mm sheet so that I can make liners which slide in and out of the wooden case. The first effort had to be made to fit the case exactly — and all cases vary from square in their own unique ways — and the liners are therefore very difficult to remove and replace.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
Re: Made from Port packaging
That's a great idea, I might just make some for myself. How did you seal the seams?Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑12:00 Sat 06 Jul 2024 IMG_8632.jpeg
IMG_8633.jpeg
IMG_8634.jpeg
I’ve converted a couple of empty wooden cases into ice buckets using 2mm thickness polycarbonate sheet to make a waterproof liner.
I’m going to try again with 4-5mm sheet so that I can make liners which slide in and out of the wooden case. The first effort had to be made to fit the case exactly — and all cases vary from square in their own unique ways — and the liners are therefore very difficult to remove and replace.
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Re: Made from Port packaging
Maybe 1Kg of bottle sealing wax?MigSU wrote: ↑16:09 Sat 06 Jul 2024That's a great idea, I might just make some for myself. How did you seal the seams?Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑12:00 Sat 06 Jul 2024 IMG_8632.jpeg
IMG_8633.jpeg
IMG_8634.jpeg
I’ve converted a couple of empty wooden cases into ice buckets using 2mm thickness polycarbonate sheet to make a waterproof liner.
I’m going to try again with 4-5mm sheet so that I can make liners which slide in and out of the wooden case. The first effort had to be made to fit the case exactly — and all cases vary from square in their own unique ways — and the liners are therefore very difficult to remove and replace.

- Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Made from Port packaging
I wish I’d thought of that!Mike J. W. wrote: ↑21:17 Sat 06 Jul 2024Maybe 1Kg of bottle sealing wax?MigSU wrote: ↑16:09 Sat 06 Jul 2024That's a great idea, I might just make some for myself. How did you seal the seams?Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑12:00 Sat 06 Jul 2024 IMG_8632.jpeg
IMG_8633.jpeg
IMG_8634.jpeg
I’ve converted a couple of empty wooden cases into ice buckets using 2mm thickness polycarbonate sheet to make a waterproof liner.
I’m going to try again with 4-5mm sheet so that I can make liners which slide in and out of the wooden case. The first effort had to be made to fit the case exactly — and all cases vary from square in their own unique ways — and the liners are therefore very difficult to remove and replace.![]()
No, I just used a mastic tube of clear silicone sealant.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
Re: Made from Port packaging

A rear pannier for my bike!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Ben
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Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
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Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
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Re: Made from Port packaging
Well done!