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Small footed platters

Posts

Small footed platters

#1

Small footed platters

John K Jordan

I've made a pile of these, none perfect, of course! About 9" across, pretty easy to make. These are Cedar, Cherry, and figured English Walnut. I make the base thick so it is heavier and more stable.

Good for chocolate and cookies. I like to give these for birthdays and weddings.

The first one I tried, the cedar, came apart twice at the bark inclusion while turning. Superglue.


Just made another one from basswood for chip carving. It's funny how softer wood is sometimes harder to turn.

JKJ

Re: Small footed platters

#2

Re: Small footed platters

Ron Bauer

John, I like them a lot. Am I correct in presuming the outside shape is band sawed?

Re: Small footed platters

#3

Re: Small footed platters

John K Jordan

Yes, bandsaw cut just before turning. I usually don't get it perfect but so far no one has complained!

I turn them exactly like a bowl, starting with a screw chuck, turn the base/recess, then flip and do the top/inside. I got the idea of the shape from Frank Penta who makes plates with glue-ups using 4/4 stock. I start with a 2" thick piece to get the foot. I like the way it sits up off the table.

JKJ

Re: Small footed platters

#4

Re: Small footed platters

david

John:

These are nice. While there is a lot to be said about the nice lift that the relatively tall foot provides, I like to see the bottom shape resolve more to the surface it is sitting on with a lower foot, perhaps not more than 1/2" tall.

Re: Small footed platters

#5

Lyle Jamieson

Re: Small footed platters

Lyle Jamieson

Small footed platters?? You had me fooled I thought it was a big bowl with a small foot. But you have a small bowl with a big foot. LOL. Nicely done. I call them Sushi plates and I usually do them rectangular.

Re: Small footed platters

#6

Maybe Bigfoot?

John K Jordan

I couldn't decide what to call them, I thought they were too shallow for bowls and too deeply curved for plates. But I've done some deeper and some almost flat.

I'm not much of a fan of a small foot on things for stability reasons unless they are just for display where they can't easily be bumped or touched, . A potter friend has made large pots with small feet. He had one glued to a table so it wouldn't fall over if bumped!

JKJ

Re: Small footed platters

#7

Lyle Jamieson

Re: Maybe Bigfoot?

Lyle Jamieson

Agree, the foot is a deciding factor for function. No judgment good or bad, both work for different reasons.

Re: Small footed platters

#8

Re: Small footed platters

John Stegall

I turned a couple out of mesquite with no foot. I have been meaning to do one with a foot, small. Mine are square. I use them for nuts.

Re: Small footed platters

#9

Re: Small footed platters

don stephan

Working from dried planks and not green wood?

Re: Small footed platters

#10

Re: Small footed platters

John K Jordan

>Working from dried planks and not green wood?

Don, yes everything is dry. I seldom turn green although I did get a big chunk of fresh ambrosia maple from Sir Lucas yesterday!

The walnut slab (3-4" thick) was probably cut 25-40 years ago (it was given to me) but I usually work from wood I cut and saw myself and let air dry. Most of what I've been using has been drying between 5 and 10 years. With my new shop most of it has also been kept in conditioned space for over two years. My meter usually indicates between 10 and 13 percent moisture.

I do have a picture of the face of the figured english walnut one. I've made several of these and some other things out of that slab. The figure is wonderful but of course I can't take credit for that! :-)


JKJ