Photo 1 Click for an enlarged view

To continue on the wooden fruit theme, I would like to share with you a method of making wooden bananas that I learned some years ago. That great English woodturner Keith Rowley gave the original mathematics of the process in a magazine article in 1992. If it wasn't for Keith, many hours and a lot of timber would have been wasted trying to work out the process.

The timber that I use for bananas is Amarello, which is an irritant, but naturally yellow. I buy my Pau Amarello in pieces about 5 feet x 1 foot x 2 1/2 inches (photo1). More economical than buying pieces 2' x 2' x 2", which in Britain cost £8:00 including tax (about $13.33).

Take a piece of Amarello 7" x 2" x 1 1/2" and on the 2" flat draw the shape of the banana. I cut out a template on the scroll saw from a thin piece of m.d.f. (photo2). This saves time as I usually make them 10 at a time. Cut out the shape of the banana, and with a soft, sharp pencil, draw a center line around the shape you have cut out (photo3). This center line is important, so take your time and do it right. Mark the ends A (sharp end) and B.

Now, adjust the table of the band saw to 30 degrees and make sure that you have zero clearance at the blade. Starting at end A, carefully make the first cut around the line to end B (photo4) leaving the line just showing. You should always cut so that the bulk of your material is below the blade when cutting at an angle. If you go off the line, the main bulk will fall away from the blade, and the light off-cut will usually cause no problems.

Photo 4 Click for an enlarged view	Photo 5 Click for an enlarged view

When you have cut as many bananas as I have you will be able to split the line, especially if you are using a 1/4" skip toothed blade which can follow the tight curves of the profile. Keeping the blank facing in the same direction, roll it clockwise 180 degrees and take the second cut along the line from A to B (photo5). Now turn the blank around end for end so that end B faces the blade. Make cut number 3 along the center line again (photo6), roll clockwise again, and take the final cut (photo7). You now have a banana shape ready for refining on the belt sander or with a drum sander fitted to the lathe.