Ambrosia maple platter citique please

[Thomas Bennett]

Here is an Ambrosia soft maple platter. It’s about 18 inches in diameter x 2 “ high sanded to 1500 grt, finished with Minwax wipe-on. I will spray (with an airbrush) poly, the regular semi-gloss and buff it later. I was thinking with the primitive photo set up I have that it might catch the light a little easier without the final finish/buff. I’ll be steadily working on my photo set-up over the next few months to improve the quality. Fellow SMC member, John Sheets, wood turner and photographer extraordinaire will be helping me…..please John?

The wood(I have the whole log) has an unusual pink color I have not seen in Ambrosia, or any soft maple. Has anyone else? The worm(beetle?) holes go right through. I couldn’t get it to suck up to my vacuum chuck until I covered the holes with tape. I didn't want to fill them.

The profile photo is hard to see, but you’ll get the idea. It’s a little flat on the bottom. It’s so big I couldn’t get it to curve anymore without eliminating the foot.
Thanks for looking and please comment and criticize.

[Wayne Bower]

Great looking wood. I like the shape to0

[Bob Justin]

Very nice! Your inclusion of a common sized item for reference is a helpful touch as well to compare the size.

[Dale Gregory]

Outstanding! Keep them coming! ;)

Dale

[Brian Poor]

I hate it when I drool on my keyboard when I'm trying to type!
Awesome stuff! :)

[Steve Schlumpf]

Thomas - that is one beautiful platter! The wood is amazing and really keeps your eyes moving with all the spalt and curl! Love the size of this and also the ogee curve that stands out in the profile! Like you - I have never seen this shade of maple before but it sure is breathtaking! Very nice work and since you have the whole log - I look forward to seeing some more of this wood!

[Joseph Peacock]

Cool!!! The platter looks like tiger skin....Awsom!!!!:cool:

[Robert McGowen]

That will be a nice center piece somewhere. Time to cut up some more of that log........ :)

[Curt Fuller]

That's just plain beautiful. I like how you kept the platter very simple and let the wood do the talking. There were a lotta happy beetles working on that piece of wood.

[Thomas Bennett]

That's just plain beautiful. I like how you kept the platter very simple and let the wood do the talking. There were a lotta happy beetles working on that piece of wood.

Curt pointed out exactly what I am trying to do....keep it simple. If you have a crazy piece of wood, let it do the talking with clean , simple lines. How can you go wrong?
I have a few more platters I will submit...not duplicates...over the next few days.

Thanks for all the comments, TB

[Ben Gastfriend]

Beautiful! You have to love the ambrosia maple! Got some really nice contrast, there.

[ROY DICK]

Out standing platter, but you have too much money left over.

Roy

[Dennis Peacock]

Beautiful platter for sure. The form and the finish are very nice. Keep'em coming!!! :D

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great looking platter. The wood is a beauty.

[Jim Becker]

Ah, that's a beauty, Thomas.

[John Timberlake]

Beautiful platter. Nice even streaking. I have seen ambrosia with the pink color in the areas where it is not streaked. Makes for a very nice effect. Can't wait to see more from this log.

[William Bachtel]

If it pink, or pinkish, it is Red Maple, which is soft, but not as soft as Silver Maple.

[Kevin McPeek]

Thats a great piece. I know you asked for a critique but really without feeling it there is nothing that I can pick up on it that stands out that needs attention.
I'd say you chose an appropriate form for the blank and it is well executed. Good work!

[Thomas Bennett]

If it pink, or pinkish, it is Red Maple, which is soft, but not as soft as Silver Maple.
This might very well be Red Maple. I bought the log cut into 8/4 and 4/4 boards. I never saw the bark. Thanks William for the observation. TB

[Barry Richardson]

That is one sweet platter! was it green or dry when you turned it?

[Tom Sherman]

A very nice platter Tom.

[Keith Burns]

Can't really add anything except to say "ditto" to what's already been said.

[Walt Nollan]

Stunning!

Walt

[Steve Mawson]

Just super. Wish I could find some wood like that.