J W Bennett Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Looking for some help on welding up grape clusters from ball bearings. I'm just not happy with my results. Does anyone have a blueprint or a how to on a good method. Any help would be appreciated. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Use a small pan with sand in it, wet the sand with some spray despat or PAM, this will hold the sand in place some. Make an impression in the sand with the back of your fist. Place the bearings in the depression you have just made, best if you have several different sizes of bearings. Use a small rod or eequivalent to make a ground from your table to one of the bearing and then start tacking them together. I will TIG them as they don't move on me that way. This will make 1 half of a cluster. Lay a 'stem' at what you want to be the top of the cluster and tack this in place, making sure it is long enought to weld to the vine. I watched Lorilei do this and the clusters come out looking very realistic. Sorry, I don't have any pic of any I have made. I think you can see some on her site; www.blacksmithchic.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J W Bennett Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Thomas, Thanks, that is how I have been trying to do it. I am having trouble getting the 2 sides to mate up and look decent without gaps. Thought there might be something I'm missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kburd Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 j w, i would say that you are probably too worried about having the cluster look "perfect" if you look at real grape clusters on a vine they very greatly in size shape and symetry. just my opinion but i would say you are a getting hung up on "right" or "decent" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger604 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Would love to see some general step photos of this. So many great ideas shared here for us rookies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 The above mentioned way with the sand is the easy way. Now for the harder way and the way that takes 2 or 3 times the grapes. It helps to have a stem welded on but then you have to grind the welds. Start with a bottom grape and add one at a time around and up the bunch keeping the mig welds out of site till you have a bunch of grapes. The grapes look a lot nicer in my opinion if you use about 3/4" balls but slightly put many flats on the ball. I know graps are smooth but they look better in iron with the Flat spots. Somewhere I have a picture but cant put my fingers on it at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 j w, i would say that you are probably too worried about having the cluster look "perfect" if you look at real grape clusters on a vine they very greatly in size shape and symetry. just my opinion but i would say you are a getting hung up on "right" or "decent" I agree. Whenever you are making botanical elements it's always a good idea to study what you are making. You can pick a dozen leaves off any tree and they are all different...GOD like variaty Really all you need to do is "trick" the minds eye as to it being a grape cluster, or leave, or ram's head..... Don't be too critical on yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J W Bennett Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Backed up and took a long look at what I had. Used 3 diffirent sized balls and varied their depth in the sand. Turned out more realistic to my eye. Got the leaves cut formed and cleaned and the vines forged. Now down to the assembly. Pics soon. Thanks everyone for your help. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Use a small pan with sand in it, wet the sand with some spray despat or PAM, this will hold the sand in place some. Make an impression in the sand with the back of your fist. Place the bearings in the depression you have just made, best if you have several different sizes of bearings. Use a small rod or eequivalent to make a ground from your table to one of the bearing and then start tacking them together. I will TIG them as they don't move on me that way. This will make 1 half of a cluster. Lay a 'stem' at what you want to be the top of the cluster and tack this in place, making sure it is long enought to weld to the vine. I watched Lorilei do this and the clusters come out looking very realistic. Sorry, I don't have any pic of any I have made. I think you can see some on her site; www.blacksmithchic.com I also have seen Lorelei demo on this. It sounds like you got it figured out though. I will post a photo here for others. Sorry if the photo comes out to big. :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J W Bennett Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 First off thanks everyone for your replies and help. I finished the winerack last night here are some pictures. Thanks again, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 That turned out great. Very nice work. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainely,Bob Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 That does indeed look exceptionally nice. The proportions are well thought out and balanced with both the bottle and glassware. I`m sure the lucky people who bought it or received it were well pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 Looks great! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 OK, got a question... Why were you worried?!!! This looks great! Very realistic to me and I agree with Bob, sure the client loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J W Bennett Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 Thomas, The first clusters did not turn out well. I went back to square one and played with them until I got the look I wanted. Once again for all the help. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 That looks great, John. Now I know why you didn't make it to Stan's Hammer-in. LOL. We were hoping to see you. But you were Busy. Thanks for sharing the pix. Great job. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger604 Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Awesome piece!! Thanks for the photos too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mashin' metal Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 dizzamn!! very nicely done indeed so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Those turned out really nice John! Frosty the Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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