14" Wormy Oak Feathered Platter

[Bob Bergstrom]

A friend gave me a crotch of wormy oak a year and a half ago. I roughed it out and let sit in the garage for the summer. When I looked at it in the fall it had a crack on the outer lip of the blank. I almost threw it away. but liked the crotch and worm holes too much. I decided to fill it crack with some epoxy and Pearl-Ex powder. I used mink which is a dark brown with green iridescence. The brown worked well, but did not show any dichromic tendencies. It matched the dark bark inclusion on the opposite side well. The oak is quite heavy and I left the platter that way also. It is about 5/8" thick. Foot is beaded with my usual 3/8" spindle gouge. Finish is Forby's Tung Oil.
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[David E Keller]

Very nice, Bob. I love the worm holes and the figure.

[John Keeton]

Bob, this is exceptional!! I love the oak, and you did a very nice job with the turning of this piece. I do a lot of detail work on my bases, but I really like your beads on the exterior of the foot - I may "borrow" that on a future turning if you don't mind.

[charlie knighton]

i like that oak, thanks for sharing

[John W Dixon]

Really interesting piece! Love the detail on the foot.

[John Hart]

Love it!!! All the details, the rescue, the creature domain...everything. Nicely done, Bob :)

[Bob Bergstrom]

Flattery will get you everywhere. Glad you like the technique and feel free to use it. Turning beads on bowl isn't too hard as long as you keep the point of the tool at the midpoint and stay patient to let the point penetrate to form a escape route for the chips.

[Jim Burr]

You know Bob...you end up with some of the best wood! Or, you make the best out of what you have. Either way...this is a beautiful platter!!

[jwjerry w kowalski]

Very nice wood, I love your delicate beads on the bottom, very nicely done and interesting.

[Michelle Rich]

pretty..nice detail work and ya gotta love the pin holes!

[Bob Rotche]

I love the simplicity yet graceful curve of the piece allowing the wood to take center stage. Foot detail is icing on the cake and a nice surprise when you turn it over. I may try to borrow the idea too (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...)

[Johnny Taylor]

Bob, I love Oak and for me the older, wormier and rougher the timber the better the end product will look. This is a really nice looking platter with loads of character.

[Baxter Smith]

Great wood, great turning, great platter!

[Curt Fuller]

Bob, you sure have been making some beautiful bowls and platters! I'm glad you took the time to save this. That wood is really something.