What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Platter?

Size depends....

Russ

>My opinion is that the best size depends on what you want to do with it. Is it a centerpiece for your skills, is it a gift, or is it something you will sell?

As a showcase for your skills, make it as big as the lathe allows. The larger it is, the more attention it will attract.

If you are going to sell it, it will become a difficult sale when the bowl is larger than 13" and the platter is larger than 16". The larger bowls and platters present the potential buyer with the problems of higher price, storage or placement in their home, and it utility if they want to use it.

As a gift, you are forcing these same problems on the receiver of the gift. They often solve them by putting it in the back of a closet and forgetting about it, and don't be surprized if they put it in a yard sale or give it to someone else.

Re: What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Plat

Jerome Laux

>Measure some kitchen cabinets (and door openings) for maximum diameter that can get through. Typically, the wall cabinets are about 11" + deep. Bottom cabinets are 22" deep or so, but you are limited by the door openings if they have middle supports. If you are making it for sale, make it a comfortable size that suits your design and the limitations of where a customer might store them.

Re: What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Plat

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Hi Mark

Make is as big as you want. If is doesn't sell as a platter, nail a hook on the back, triple the price, and call it a wall hanging!

I usually make my platters between 10" and 14". As Russ says, there are certain sizes that sell well, and just because we can make them bigger doesn't always mean we should. Now, having written that, I have a couple of white oak blanks I sawed out about three years ago that should just about be ready to be turned into 24" platters, and if they don't sell, they will become wall hangings!

Bill

Re: What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Plat

Jim Pugh in Elyria, OH

>Just to change the direction of this a little, a friend of mine makes platter forms in the 6 - 8" range and they are simply gorgeous. Consider also that some folks (female type) collect pie plates (dessert dishes) to display and a nice wooden platter in that size/shape could be an attention grabber.

It's all in how you market it

TDaniel

>Mark, if the wood is really pretty don't worry about the size; if too big to sit on a table then display it as a "wall hanging". Generally, as Russ has said, about 14-15" is a good size that will "fit" most places. I just finished a series from big leaf maple burl that are 36" tip to tip; these will be displayed at our art show in 3 weeks as wall hangings.

TD

Re: What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Plat

Joe Fleming

>I have made about a dozen platters for decoration only (plate stand, for example). I've used burls and highly figured woods including voids on the rim and bark on the rim. All have been in the 17" - 20" range. The designs have all been very basic. All sold for $$$ and rather fast. Joe Fleming - San Diego

Re: What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Plat

Bill Hale, Woodspinner

>I don't think there is any special size that is best. I generaly have very large that are to attract people. Some shows they all sell and other shows you could not give them away. Who knows?

Have some large, some medium and some small.

Good luck

Good turning and be safe

Bill

Thanks, great question and answers.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>

Re: What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Plat

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Thanks to all of you for your Sage Advice. I at least have perameters to go by.

I appreciate it.

Mark

Re: What is the practical/Sellable Size for a Plat

William R. Duffield on the Cohansey

>If they turn out to be too big for platters, you can use them for candle stands or tilt top table tops. Big ones can be more useful as lazy susans than as platters you need to pick up.