Ambrosia Maple Platter

[Nate Davey]

I picked up a 17"x17" AM blank up from my wood pusher in NC before I moved out here. I finally have a lathe big enough to swing it, so turned this platter today. The final diameter was just under 17". This blank had a little of everything; spalt, curly, worm holes, a little burl, lots of AM staining and an odd red'ish stain. I tried a different finishing technique on this, dry sanded to 180 then wet sanded with Dr Woodshop Walnut Oil at 220, 320 then burnished in a coat of Dr Walnut oil with Wax. I'll let you be the judge of the finish, I like it. Thanks for looking, comments and criticism appreciated.

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[Kathy Marshall]

Wow! The wood is absolutely stunning! Tons of character and the simple form really lets it shine! Excellent job Nate!

[Scott Hackler]

Excellent turning of some outstanding wood! I would be getting any more of that wood if possible!

[Roger Chandler]

That is a beauty, Nate......lots going on with that maple. Nice form and unusual finish....really pops the grain features!

[Ken Glass]

Nate,
That is wonderful platter,, and made even better with a great pick of such a fabulous piece of Maple. Well Done.

[Mike Cruz]

You calling those of us who are kind enough to give people wood "wood pushers"? :D Hey, you better not lose that guy's number. That's some prudy stuff right there! Great platter, too!

[Doug Herzberg]

Looks like you're putting that monster lathe contraption to good use. That's a great platter and, as others have said, the wood is out of this world. How much did your finish technique change the color?

[David DeCristoforo]

This is the kind of wood we all dream of getting out hands on. The platter is beautiful because the wood is beautiful. But... it is also beautiful because it is perfectly understated. It's not easy to show that much restraint. Many of us would have "done too much" with the end result that the piece and the wood ended up competing with each other. You did this one perfectly.

[Nate Davey]

Thanks all for the kind comments,
@Doug, it darkened it up quite a bit, but really made it richer. Here's a WIP pic
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[Doug Herzberg]

Thanks all for the kind comments,
@Doug, it darkened it up quite a bit, but really made it richer. Here's a WIP pic
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Look at that. 17" inboard and plenty of room for more! I think you did well with the finish, along with everything else.

[charlie knighton]

very nice,

what kind of monster do you have there

the blue sort of looks like the color of Sturart Batty's brand that he promotes

[Nate Davey]

Charlie, this is an old school Nichols Lathe, probably built in '02.

[charlie knighton]

cool....nice hunk of iron

[Baxter Smith]

Outstanding piece of wood with no adornments to distract from that. Great purchase and great job turning it Nate!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Wow that is beautiful. Great piece of wood and nice turning Nate.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Sure is some dark wood! Beautiful markings and color variations! You should be proud of this one... I know I sure would be!

[Doug W Swanson]

That's some great looking wood there. I just love the color variations! Excellent!

[Richard Jones]

Oh, my...............

[Michelle Rich]

amazing wood & I like the finish..it lets the wood talk/scream!

[Philip Duffy]

Any chance you would be willing to tell us how to contact the friend in NC who has that kind of wood for sale??? Please. P.

[Jerry Marcantel]

Nate, that's some beautiful wood and you did good on the color........ Did the wood have muck punk in it, and you said worm holes. I only saw one spot on the bottom that looked like it was filled. What is your secret to pluging the holes?
I like your swing on the lathe. just dreaming again................. Jerry (in Tucson)

[Michael James]

That's a great finish on a beautiful chunk of wood! Congrats.
mj

[Donny Lawson]

That is some beautiful wood. Great work.

[Faust M. Ruggiero]

Ooh La La, that's a piece of Nature's art enhanced by a wonderful job of displaying it. What a lathe you have, Nate. I believe you can turn barrels on it. Good fortune finding it and I we are assured more magnificent pieces to see.
faust

[Thomas Canfield]

The WIP shot of the wood does not give any indication of the rare piece that it holds. Good job. The simple platter lets the wood speak for itself. Finding something like that in a piece of plain looking wood makes you want to keep turning the extra away.

[Harry Robinette]

Nate
I'll just say everything above is very true,very nice work and wood.

[Jamie Schmitz]

I know art when I see it.Ausgezeichnet

[Nate Davey]

Thank you all for the very kind comments.

Jerry, there was a little punk at the bottom, I didn't do a thing to the worms holes, and the fill job on the back was medium CA and brass key shavings from Lowes. I laid in some glue sprinkled in shavings and repeated until it was full, then did my final shear scrape to level and clean it all up. BTW, I bought the lathe from a gent down your way, in Sierra Vista.

For those of you who either PM's me, Gene, or said they were interested in where I got the wood, I just need to call Darius and make sure he is good with me giving out his phone number. I will PM those who are interested.

[Jerry Marcantel]

Nate, Sierra Vista! Sounds like it's the Army you're in. I thought it was a different branch. How long ago did you get the lathe?? Also, I have a platter that looks very close in pattern just like the one you posted, but smaller. Thanks for the reply on the punk and tracks.
If any members on SMC live anywhere near Branson, I can give you exact coordinates that has a still standing very large stump(about 3" tall) of wood that looks exactly like Nate's beautiful platter pictured in this thread and a phone number of the property owner to get the permission to get it....... I'll post some pictures of things I made later tommorrow of this wood, and make this same offer again. ......... Jerry (in Tucson)

[Nate Davey]

Jerry,

I retired out of the Army in Dec. I was never stationed there, I picked up the lathe in Oct.