This weekend we were visited by a group of women, who were having a few days of fun and relaxation at a neighbour's cottage. This was great incentive for Brian and me to take stock of his recent work, decide on pricing and tidy up the workshop. It is a big stretch to make the transformation from workshop to studio and we were happy to see the quality of the pieces Brian has produced so far this winter. Brian always enjoys giving a tour of his workshop.
The look on Beth's face tells the story of how excited she was to find the perfect house-warming gift for her daughter and son-in-law.
The platter began as a slab from a huge maple burl. Brian scribed the circle and used the band saw to make the round.
The faceplate was screwed into the face of the burl and it was mounted on the lathe. The slab was so heavy and large that Brian supported it with the tailstock as he turned the bottom.
Once the bottom was rough-turned, the expansion chuck was attached so he could turn the face of the platter.
The burl turned at about 800 RPMs as Brian carved the shape of the top of the platter with his gouge. It takes a steady hand especially on the irregular bark edges.
Now it was time to turn off the bottom of the platter using the vacuum chuck to keep the platter centred. The finishing of the piece takes about a week as coats of oil are applied, allowed to dry and then buffed to a perfect shine. Brian's skill and years of experience create a hard and durable food-safe finish.
I called Beth and she said that her daughter and son-in-law loved their gift. She knew that a large platter would be used often in their new home as they enjoy entertaining and take pleasure in how they present food to their guests.
This stunning platter, with its interesting grain, variations in colour and irregular bark edge will be a beautiful addition to their home.
