Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Question on Platters
Jerry Whitaker
>I just got a huge chunk of Boxelder and want to cut it up in slabs to make platters. I have never made a platter before and need to know how thick to cut the blanks. There will be a couple of them about 14 in. in diameter and another one about 12 in. and a couple between 8 and 10 in. Would the thickness be the same on all of them?
Re: Question on Platters
John Lucas
>Jerry
Platters vary in thickness depending on the design. All of mine have started with 1 3/4 to 2" thick blanks.
Re: Question on Platters
Jerry Whitaker
>Thanks John.....I was planning on cutting them about 4 inches thick, no knowing what to do. This info will save me some wood and I will be able to get another platter or two from the log. Think I will do about 2 1/2 in. thick since I am unexperience with platters so I will have a little leeway for mistakes.
Re: Question on Platters
John Lucas
>I generally make my platters from dry wood. Depending on how you orient the growth rings you may want to allow more for woodmovement. A flat sawn green platter will warp quite a bit. I would consider twice turning a green wood platter. rough turn it and let it dry for a few months and then turn it again. I haven't turned any green wood platters so I can't tell you how thick or how much it will warp.
Re: Question on Platters
Richard Allen
>I make a few platters and I find 4/4 stock to be perfect for plates and platters from 10" to 20".
The thickest I have used for a platter is 8/4 stock and that was for several 16"+.
15" x 1" Zebrawood
14"x1" Red Oak
12"x3/4" Sycamore
17"x1" Mahogany
14"(ear to ear)x3/4" Sycamore
Thanks
Richard
Re: Question on Platters
Bill Howatt
>I always use dry wood for platters. I turned a 17" mahogany platter from 1-1/8" thick stock and I have turned one about 7-1/2" from 3/4" stock. I hot-glued a waste block to the bottom. I would prefer to start with stock that is at least around 2" thick so I have more room for artistic expression (aka, fixing the screw-ups).
Bill
Re: Question on Platters
Jerry Whitaker
>Richard, thanks for sharing those pictures .... they are beautiful.
Great Plates Richard!
George Van
>Great Plates Richard