Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
maple burl platter
Mike Schwing from Md.
>18" in diameter, big leaf maple burl. Bark inclusion was very carefully inlaid with gold leaf and gilt varnish as to look like a gold vein, and touched up elsewhere here and there.
Quite a few coats of lacquer and then hand rubbed to a high sheen.
Comments welcomed and thanks for looking!
Re: maple burl platter
Dick Hines
>It this part of the burl shipment you got a while back?
Love burl. My brother and I are going on a burl hunt in Jan. after hunting season. He farms 500 acers and I am sure there a few cherry burls some where.
Re: maple burl platter
Gil
>Mike does the Gilt varnish hold the gold leaf in place? This piece has amazing grain, do you hand rub the lacquer on the lathe or off?
-Gil
Re: maple burl platter
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Thanks Gil. The gilt varnish was used to touch up areas where I couldn't get in to apply the leaf. There is an adhesive I use specifically for applying metal leafs. It is like contact adhesive, you let it dry and then apply the leaf. The leaf comes in 4x4 squares only a thou or so thick and it breaks up into little pieces if you let it, or if you can't help it. But it doesn't matter, because any area with adhesive will cover with the leaf, and extra is simply brushed off. So that it didn't look so bright, I dotted and dashed the leaf with a black marker. The goal here was to make the viewer say "hey, what is that?" and look closer to see the gold hiding inside and go "cool..." Making it obvious wouldn't have provided the illusion I was looking for.
Re: maple burl platter
Ken DeMarco
>Mike,
As always, incredible!! would love to see a bigger picture of this or maybe a detail shot of the gilted area.
Thanks ,
Ken DeMarco
Re: maple burl platter
Raymond Overman
>I'd like to take it one step further and see this in person. Do you mind shipping it to me? I promise to send it right back.
This piece is gorgeous Mike. Like most of your turnings a true gallery beauty. Great job.
Re: maple burl platter
Tom Mullane
>Wow, Mike I really like that piece... and I heard a rumor that you were donating it to the club as a silent auction fundraiser... Gee thanks... I am going to have to bid on it... LOL...
If it is not gone before the next club meeting please bring it along... I would love to see it...
Re: maple burl platter
Mark Kauder
>Mike,
Very Nice. I like the gold leaf - nice touch, however, I happen to like the natural dark contrast of the bark inclusions against the lighter Maple burl. Gold leaf would really be a stunning contrast on a dark burl.
Keep up the good work - but slow down - you are killing the rest of us. ;)
Mark
Looking Good
RevDoug
>Mike,
Your offerings are looking so good. And, you being pretty prolific with your turning. Are you sure you're the Mrs. enough attention?
Thanks for sharing the pics. You're doing so well I guess we'll be seeing another full-time professional soon.
Turn 'em round,
RevDoug
Re: maple burl platter
Robert Savit
>I like this piece quite a bit, but I have one suggestion. I think it would look better rotated 180 degrees. It feels top-heavy to me.
Nice work,
Bob Savit
