I have got both pairs of goblets completed, now let's see if the 'customer' likes one or the other.
The cherry ones are the first I did and every time I look at them I see another difference, the Prickly pear is perhaps a better match. I really must practice this duplicating business
Very easily, it is as dusty as anything though with no shavings at all, just red dust. It holds a shape well but I don't think it has much integral strength so wouldn't be of much use for flat work.
I have finished with ordinary veg oil for beer vessels like this
which holds a can of lager but with goblets that are likely to have red wine in them I prefer the melamine as it stops the wine staining the ood. Thouigh looking at the cactus I s'pose that wouldn't be a problem. Perhaps any dark wood would be OK in that respect. The main thing you have to remember is that whatever finish you use has to be OK with the liquid and alchohol can be corrosive.