Sapele Multi-axis Platter

[Mike Stafford]

Another platter from my stash of blanks that have lain ignored in the shop for the last 10 years or so. For a while I turned a lot of platters and accumulated a lot of blanks then I moved onto other things. Under the dust and grime I found this 18" by 1 3/4" platter. I learned to turn the multi-axis base from Frank Penta when I took his class on embellishing platters. It has been a while since I had a piece of wood this large swinging off-axis Gotta love how well sapele cuts and finishes.

Here are top and bottom views.



A detailed view of the multi-axis base. It is always fun to see the reaction of someone when they turn the platter over and see the base. Almost always you get a "How did you do that?"

 

[Robert Horky]

very, very nice and for sure I would be one of the 'how did you do that' people.

 

[Dave Hoskins]

I really like what you did to the base, Mike. The rest of it is darn good as well!

 

[Ted Calver]

Excellent!!

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

That's superb, Mike!

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Showed that to my advanced students. Some just shook their head. Some got the deer in the headlights look. We do some offset turning next semester so will show this again at that time. Beautiful work.

 

[Mike Stafford]

Showed that to my advanced students. Some just shook their head. Some got the deer in the headlights look. We do some offset turning next semester so will show this again at that time. Beautiful work.

Jonathan, send me your e-mail address and I will send you the instructions. Just a word of caution, start with a 12" disc. Turning something 18" in diameter is not for the faint of heart.

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Thanks Mike. 12" is as large as our lathe will turn I believe. email is: jshively@njsp.k12.in.us

 

[Mike Stafford]

Thanks Mike. 12" is as large as our lathe will turn I believe. email is: jshively@njsp.k12.in.us

Well, with a swing limited to 12" you will have to use a blank smaller than 12" in order to be able to offset for the three multi-axis positions.

 

[Chuck Ellis]

Very nice, I like the detail on the bottom.

 

[Paul Douglass]

Very neat!! Years ago when I was turning, I got this little chuck from somewhere the was for turning offset design in small items like medallions. Never got around to trying it and now I'm not sure how to use it.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

Very neat!! Years ago when I was turning, I got this little chuck from somewhere the was for turning offset design in small items like medallions. Never got around to trying it and now I'm not sure how to use it.

Somewhere deep in the depths of the Internet I think I posted a tutorial on using one of those offset chucks, Paul. I'll dig around and see if I can find it.

[Edit to add] Found it...let me know if you have any questions, Paul.

 

[Paul Douglass]

There is one at the Ruth Niles site...

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

There is one at the Ruth Niles site...

I found the one I wrote...added it to my previous post above.