Teapots spout dripping.

Yes. Get a spout of a different shape.

The issue is that there is a fight between the cohesion of the water molecules to hold together in a drop, versus their adhesion to the surface of the spout. A well-designed spout will let the last bit of water to fall off as a droplet rather than clinging and rolling down the end of the spout.

Placing a groove under the spout end helps. Smooth finishes are better than rough ones, and sometimes a rough one can be okay if enough stain builds up on it to smooth the surface out a bit. Narrowing the end to increase the rate of flow at the tip also can help.

I think there was actually an article in Scientific American on the subject in the late sixties, comparing different shapes and with math models of flow.

--scott

I have seen many servers use a small cloth to catch any drips, sometimes very ornate and nice looking cloths... but any would do.

- Dominic Drinking: 44oz. Mountain Dew Slushie :)

How about a tea towel?

--Blair "(whistles idly)"

I know that this is going to sound strange, but if you smear a little butter under the tip of the spout, it should catch the drips. Alternatively, "drip catchers" such as the one shown here work very well:

Yes, I use this little gadget for spouts that aren't shaped properly:

There are inserts that you can place in the mouth of the teapot. I've heard they work well, but I've never tried one. So consider that secondhand, unproven hearsay.

Google for "dripless teapot gadget" and you'll find a number of suppliers.

It's a paperclip.

--Blair

Speculum.

Jim

Blair P. Hought> > Yes, I use this little gadget for spouts that aren't shaped properly: > >

And a damned small one too

Marlene

My wife says even the small ones are too big.

Jim

Marlene Wood wrote:

I appreciate all the information on this tread concerning spout dripping and thank you all. I still want to keep this teapot because its a gift. However, I am shopping for a new teapot and this time I'll try it before I buy it.

Hey, now, there's no call to go all ad-hominem on me...

--Blair