Finished Platter: What type of Wood??

[Gilbert Vega]

I just finished turning a platter/bowl but not sure what kind of wood it is. My first guess is spalted Pecan but it also appears to be some spalted Maple. Any guesses?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2591274983_3fcbe92098_o.jpg

[Nathan Hawkes]

I agree that it looks like pecan. Great job!! I like the crisp distinction between the rim and the sides of the bowl. I seem to have a problem keeping a crisp line there. Great work.

[Bob Hallowell]

Gilbert It could be either but one thing for sure is it is very nice.

Bob

[Steve Schlumpf]

Gilbert - very nice platter! Beautiful spalted wood and great form! My vote would be for Pecan only because of all the color variations. Nice work!

[Jim Becker]

That's called 'Beautiful Wood', a species that particularly benefits from reshaping at the lathe. :D

Nice job!

[robert hainstock]

It is a very nice piece either way. :)
Bob

[Daniel Heine]

Gilbert,

Why don't you send me that gorghous platter, and will do a complete analysis!!!

Dan

[Mike Vickery]

Nice piece.

My first reaction was splated Pecan or possibly Cotton Wood, but it is just a guess.

Pecan has a more open grain structure then Maple so you should be able to tell between the two fairly easily. Personally I don't think it looks a lot like maple but with the spalting who knows.

[Gilbert Vega]

Thanks for the kind words. I guess it truly is Pecan. Here are a couple more pics of the bottom, still unfinished. Platter is 11" diameter and 1 1/2" tall.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2591336405_b7b559b69a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2592174884_8750ebf062_o.jpg

[Paul Engle]

Classic Gilbert , absolutely classic. Very nice work indeed. I have seen some spalted birch look that rich. If you like I can examine more closely at my shop ..... :rolleyes::D

[curtis rosche]

i was going to say it looks like some cherry i have, then i saw you are in texas. could it be spaulted mesquite?

[Greg Heppeard]

From the rays in the grain I think it resembles spalted sycamore.

[Ben Gastfriend]

Whatever type of wood it is, it's truly beautiful. Grain patterns like that are alot like fingerprints... none are exactly alike.

[Mark Hix]

Nice work. I especially like the side shot that makes the rim look darker.

[Dusty Sawyer]

This is way off from what anyone else has offered up as an answer to your riddle... My first impression is Spalted Red Maple. It looks very much like some I turned which had been on the ground for a while and absorbed or 'grew' some beautiful color from the fungi that had infested it.

[Chip Sutherland]

I learned a trick from Jimmy Clewes a few months ago. Undercut the edge very slightly 1-3 degrees to get crisp edge. In the second picture posting, it looks like he undercut the edge to achieve the crisp edge.

[lynn smith]

Gilbert,
I just wanted to say that I think the back ground in your first photo works really well with your oustanding platter.
Nice form I really like it.
I have a piece of myrtlewood that I think would lend itself to a similar design.

[Gilbert Vega]

Sorry for the late response but just got back from a long vacation.

Dusty, my first thought was that it was spalted maple. I bought this blank at the SWAT meeting about two years ago and thought I had bought Maple.

Lynn, Thanks. I was in a hurry and just set the platter on my contertop for a quick picture.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Gilbert that is a beautiful platter and beautiful wood. I think if I had to guess by looking at the bottom it may be pecan.

[Steve Mawson]

Great piece, my guess would be Pecan. When I lived in Missouri a Pecan tree that was over 4 feet across was given to me. Looks the same.