The Problems With
Coasters
You're at: https://57296.neocities.org/coasters.html
(Last worked on: April 2nd, 2024)

4/2/2024 update: There are 2 problems: oldsters and youngsters who dribble, and iced drinks that "sweat".

* For the former, simply banish us both to a stain resistant, plastic "children's table"  :-)

* For cold drinks, spend a few dollars for a set of nice, stainless steel, double wall and/or thermally insulated mugs. Get normal looking ones, medium sized with handles (not the tall, narrow bottom ones made to fit car drink holders.) Their handles, modest height and extra width make them far more tip/spill resistant than the usual glasses and goblets.

earlier writ:

* I was recently surprised to learn that our #1 department store here (BiMart) didn't stock any table coasters for sale. You know: those little round puppies that diffident hostesses place under your drink --in vain hopes that you'll use it to protect the surface of her little coffee table.

* Then I went to Walmart, finding two choices: square wooden and stainless steel: neither of which substances are suitable. Something absorbent is needed: cork seems both ideal and traditional.

* Tah-dah: Staples sells 12 inch square tiles of cork (for to make DIY bulletin boards): at 3/16 inch thick, they seem perfect for making DIY coasters as well!

** But what shape and how large to make them?

* After measuring a few of our glasses and mugs, I did the obvious thing: made two round ones, 4 inches in diameter --one of them glued to a 4 inch wooden disk (for weight).

* Nope: instead of being able to semi-consciously set one's glass back down, now I had to pay close attention --landing the glass on-target, lest it tip over the coaster's edge.

* Worse: even the weighted coaster would stick to the base of the glass, then fall off in mid-flight.

* A non-solution: make the coaster as large as is conveniently possible --up to becoming a cover for the whole table top.

* That worked, but it's cumbersome and then there's that edge --which might tip a glass or mug (and make that big cut-upon of mine all sticky). And: if you opt for a largest "coaster", it quite changes the decor.

* Note that pad of yellow Post-it Notestm (below, upper right). Now there's an absorbent (absorbent enough --stack 2 or more for cold drinks), disposable solution. Post-it-Notestm are (hopefully) just sticky enough (on smooth surfaces) so as not to lift up with the glass --but you need 4 inchers for mugs.


Until I find some to buy, I'm using a pad of home made, 4 inch square, "Post-it-Notestm"