john lucas
I do the same as Wally and I'm right handed. I put the thinnest weakest point point out so it's supported by the thicker parts as you move toward the headstock.
Can't answer for Charlie but when you try to make a lid for really small stuff you can't do it in the normal fashion which is to turn the bottom of the lid, fit it in the box and then turn the box and lid with finial. You need to be able to test fit the lid so turning the base of the lid first and working your way backwards just makes sense for turnings of this scale. Been there, done that.