[john lucas]

I was turning more cupcakes today. when I turn standard boxes that are thin sometimes you get chatter out toward the edge when hollowing. On regular boxes I just dampen it with my fingers on the outside. Can't do that with the cupcakes because of the fluting on the outside. I put several rubber bands around the outside and it completely eliminated the chatter so I could get a clean cut on the inside.

 

[RusDemka]

That's a great idea. But how do you get the flutes on there??

 

[john lucas]

Flutes are cut with a router using an index wheel to lock the turning in place. The router rides on a table I built that fits in the lathe banjo.

 

[duncsuss]

Thanks for this great tip, John.

For me, it's a twofer -- I hadn't realised that you cut the flutes on the outside before you hollow the cake, but it makes perfect sense (since I attempt to finish the outside of regular bowls as far as possible before hollowing).

(Make that a threefer -- another view of your router jig nudges me once more towards building one.)

 

[john lucas]

My original router jig had the router mounted flat. That works fine for some things. However on the V cuts and rounded cove cuts the center of the bit is moving too slow to leave a clean cut. By mounting the router at 45 degrees I was able to use the edge of a straight bit to make V cuts and the whole cut is much cleaner than using a standard V cut router bit.

 

[adot45]

I would sure like to see a finished cupcake. Good tip too. :thumbsup:

 

[john lucas]

here you are. I'm working on 3 more

Here is a group photo of the ones I've already made. Have 3 more in the works and trying out a new icing formula.

 

[Travico]

You know, If I had a cup of coffee, I would grab one and take a bite out of it! Those are neat!

 

[adot45]

Thank You, those are really very nice. They look great!

 

[firehawkmph]

Nice cupcakes John. I would try and take a bite out of them. They look good enough to eat. Nice tip on the rubber band, good idea.
Mike Hawkins

 

[mchlhgn1]

Nice

Very interesting! What is the icing made of?