Square Platter with Textured Rim

Adding a bit of texture and colour to a square platter is a great way to dress up a simple design.

- Pat Carroll

Sometimes, it takes experimentation to come up with something fun and unique. Take this platter for example. A bit of power carving around the rim, and some application of paint and colored waxes presents a unique look.

Getting Started

The first step is to ensure all equipment is working correctly and all PPE, (Personal Protection Equipment), is clean and in good working order. Next, make sure the chuck is sized with the dividers to get the correct diameter for maximum gripping power. In this case, 2" is the required size. Lastly, secure your 12" square by 2" thick cherry blank to the lathe with a 4" faceplate. The centre of the blank is located by drawing a diagonal line from corner to corner.

With the piece secured on the lathe, it is checked to be running true. Begin by making the 2" tenon. Next, a 3/8" bowl gouge is used to do the bulk removal of the wood. This is done by using the lower wing of the tool. To complete, a parting tool is used to true up the tenon. As the chuck has dovetail jaws, the dovetail is refined with a skew to achieve the correct angle. Lastly, the centre is marked for relocating the piece so as to true up the foot on completion of the rest of the piece.

Turn the Bowl

Mark out the bowl portion of the platter. Try different sizes until you get a proportion you are happy with. Once again, using the lower wing of the tool, the bulk is further removed. Great care has to be taken where to tool is cutting air between the corners

Before too much is removed, I like to establish the underside of the rim. The rest is then removed up to the line keep the rim straight. At this point, the bowl portion is roughly shaped using the 3/8" gouge.

Textured Rim