Small English Walnut Platter

A nice bauble indeed and a very nice platter you have made! Any suggestions for those of us who have never done a platter?

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

It looks real good to me. Love the grain pattern. It is funny what drives us crazy.

My only advice, learned of experience, is ‘start thicker!’ This wood was only about 7/8” thick, and left me no room to deepen it for a rolled edge, or scoop out the back very much. I’d rather be working something 1-1/2” thick to begin with, I think. And flattening it was more difficult than I anticipated. Patience, patience!

-- http://barbsid.blogspot.com/

Hey Barb;

Yup, a knot showing up would drive me crazy, too. Not that I’m anal or anything!

Nice job on the turning.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Jeeprs gal, make it hard on yourself..the vibration musta been a devil…I have no opinion on your bauble as my eyes are bleary and it looks like a puddle with sparkle..need a new monitor? DUH YEAH The wood is very pretty..nice gradation of color from one side to the other. All in all, I think you did well in your attack on a vibrating, revolving chuck of wood!

Nice platter. I haven’t attempted anything like this yet. My small lathe would only allow for a pretty small one anyway. When turning something like this, how to you go about making sure that the back of it is flat so that it doesn’t rock when you set it on a table for example. I assume that you also have be sure and start with very dry and stable stock or it would potentially warp on you (always a risk with wood anyway).

-- Hey, woodworking ain't brain surgery. Just do something and keep trying till you get it. Doc

Looks like a challenge to me that I know nothing about. But I think you did a great job. I would be proud of it.

-- Janice

I like it. Good ‘fix’, but actually I really like the bauble.

Now I just know I am going to be baubling all day.
Steve

-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Very nice barbs,
I think the knot is what helped form the grain pattern, that’s how nature contributed to its beauty.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Thanks everyone. I just wish someday I could turn a piece that doesn’t have to be ‘saved!’ Doc, I read one is supposed to make the back slightly concave so it won’t rock on a table. If you view the back side photo, you’ll see I attempted that, carrying the sweep only about half way out to the rim or less. It doesn’t rock, so maybe that is okay, but I assume the sweep is supposed to reach further out toward the rim.
Michelle, vibration was what stopped me from attending to the rim as I wished. Everything I tried resulted in serious gouge marks or uneven spacing and long swirl marks. I haven’t yet made a steady rest, and need to. I’m very disappointed in the rim treatment, as it is too flat and needs a bit of a lift or raised crown to set off the border, in my opinion.
The stock was dry, but at 12” it wouldn’t fit on the jointer, and I decided to turn it without planing it flat first. I think I’ll take the time next time, to save some grief!
Added a third pic to show the original pin knot. It was indeed the center of some nice figure.

-- http://barbsid.blogspot.com/

Barb: a great looking platter.

I’ve not attempted anything like that so I’m proud of your accomplishments.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †

Thank you, Karson. Being a relative beginner, that means a lot.

-- http://barbsid.blogspot.com/