[TheForge] fabricator magazine/ questions on grape making

[Roger R Degner]

I also use the soft steel balls and mig weld them either in sand for a 2
dimensional bunch or mig them to a 3/16 rod to make a stem and weld the stem
into a 3 dimensional bunch.

I find the grapes if heated and hammered make a much nicer presentation even
though real grapes are smooth.  Try a smooth bunch and a faceted bunch and
see which is more pleasing

Roger R Degner


I haven't tried Peter Renzetti's method, but I like the of it.  The way I 
make them is to costly.  I buy soft iron ball bearings from places like 
Mc-Carr, and get 1/2" and 3/4" sizes.  To weld, I take a pan about 4" deep 
and roughly 6" wide and 10" long.  I put moist sand in the pan, and using my

fist make an indention for the ball bearings in the shape of the cluster I 
want (if you were looking at them from the back).  I then TIG weld the backs

of the bearings and remove from the sand, and start another set, changing 
the layout of clusters a little.  At the price of steel these days, I'm 
going to take a close look at Peters method, I like it!