grapes

I suggest freezing them first, then glue them to stub tenons (or a mini vacuum chuck) for turning. Might have to turn the temperature down in the shop, too, to keep them from thawing too fast.

If you use a vaccum chuck and turn at about 8000 rpm you don't have to freeze them. Reduce speed when turning grapefruit.

Dave

Dave Sifers wrote: (clip) Reduce speed when turning grapefruit. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wouldn't that depend on the diameter of the grapefruit? BTW, it takes a better vacuum to hold your average grape, compared to your average grapefruit. And, wear a faceshield. I wouldn't want anyone to get squirted in the eye.

Alan, don't wait for further advice. Turn the grapes before they ferment: inhaling the spray causes inattention. Remember; It's ok to drink & post, just don't drink & turn! Arch

Fortiter,

Hi Alan,

I don't have first hand information on turning grapes. But this might be a lead for you. The link below is to the AAW page of an entry by the Rocky Mountain Woodturners.

Rocky Mountain Woodturners Serving: Northern CO, Southern WY, Western NE Meeting Date: 1st Thursday following 1st Tuesday Chapter Web Site:

Good luck and let me know what you find out.

Ron Robinson East Texas

A few years ago the Rocky Mountain Woodturners did a bowl of fruit as the AAW Collaborative Challenge for the symposium. I was the one who did the grapes. What I did was choose a type of wood that was a good grape color, and turn between centers into cylinders of a slightly larger diameter than intended grape. After that I chucked the cylinder with more than a grape sticking out, drilled a hole in the end, and turned. After sanding, the grape was parted off of the last little bit. I believe I reversed the grapes onto the drill bit, held in a morse taper chuck in the headstock, for sanding the end. Turning grapes is a lot like turning beads. Oh, and I bought a bunch of grapes at the store to use as a model! The stem was the hard part. I used some wire and green tape from a florist. Could have been done better probably. It was surprising how many grapes had to be turned in order to have a decent looking "bunch".

Have fun!

CD boulder, co

Gee, Cindy! You didn't turn the stems? Used wire? Green tape. Just what kind of a turner are you! *G*

SNIP-------- It was surprising how many grapes had to be turned

Cindy, Sounds like you turn grapes like I shell pecans.... eat too much of the product! ( : - ) Ken Moon

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for posting the info on the grapes. I like to make special gift items for my wife that are so time consuming that I will make only one of each in this lifetime. So far, she has a platter of cookies, a vase of flowers, and a basket of eggs. Figuring out how to tie grapes together has been holding up the bowl of fruit. Now I can finish that and get started on the box of crayons. Thanks.

Ron Robinson East Texas

Hi Ron & Cindy, Great ideas. Are pics on the net, so we can try to plagerize your neat stuff? A friend of mine did a wonderful turning of pancakes, butter & syrup on a plate. The way food prices are going, we all may have to learn how to turn ersatz meat & potatoes.:) All best wishes for the holidays, Arch

Fortiter,

I'd imagine you had to turn a whole bunch of them.

I have seen clusters of turned grapes in gift shops when I have visited Arrowmont at Gatlinburg, TN. The one store I remember visting that had grapes along with other fruit was thr Whittlers Notch . As I remember there was someone from the Competon family involved in this turning, I do not see anybody with name listed in the AAW Resource guide from TN Tom Obourn

Hi Arch,

Yes and no. Yes, there are pictures on the net of all these things. No, I didn't keep any record of where I plagerized them from so I can't refer you to them. But I can tell you what my next attempt will be. Pancakes, butter and syrup on a plate. Thanks for the great idea.

Here is the link to the fruit bowl that contains Cindy's grapes. It is by far the best looking bunch of wooden grapes that I have seen.

Ron