Lyle Jamieson
I do two things much differently. It would be a radical change for you but I believe it is the best way to turn anything. I never use a chuck, the limitations drive me crazy so I dont have to deal with it. Second, I always do the entire piece on the same axis. I start between centers like john L suggested to get the grain and color balanced. I do not finish the bottom or outside shape, but only rough it out at this point. I make a slightly concave surface on the tailstock side to seat a faceplate or glue block. When I mount the faceplate now, in this manner, I can do both the outside and inside on the same axis. Never a wobble and the wall thickness is true for the entire circumference.