| Project by schwingding | posted 715 days ago | 376 views | 0 times favorited | 12 comments | ![]() |
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Well it is the holiday season, so I thought I’d post my holiday platter.
To think that there was a time when I was totally against using color in woodwork! I eschewed use of coloring agents as I thought it was heresy to color something as pretty as a piece of wood. As you can see, I got over it.
This is a 14” platter/shallow bowl made form big leaf maple burl. After it was turned and sanded I airbrushed a transparent red over the surface until I was satisfied with the color. Then it was sealed with several coats of lacquer, then the gold was added by brushing a “gilt varnish” where you see the gold color. I needed several coats of lacquer before the gilt so I could resand the edges clean without removing the red where the gilt cross into the red here and there as my brush skills aren’t that great. Thereafter this received many, maybe 15 coats of a water based lacquer, then was hand sanded and buffed on wheels to the resulting high gloss.
This platter won the American Association of Woodturners first national platter turning contest.
What I think I like most about it is that the maple burl behind the color looks like marble. My wife wanted this really badly, but I took it to the AAW convention in Kansas City, told her I sold it, but secretly kept it and wrapped it up for a surprise Christmas gift.
-- Just another woodworker




























12 comments so far
dennis mitchell
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3791 posts in 1212 days
posted 715 days ago
Red painted Maple burl. That took some guts! Great job.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
MsDebbieP
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14162 posts in 1058 days
posted 715 days ago
see??? Painting isn’t evil. This is gorgeous.
As I’m reading it (well, first of all—15 coats?? !!! WOW) and then my heart stopped when you said that you sold it after your wife said she wanted it.. Be still my heart..
And then.. you conniving soul, you…. haha she will be the one with heart palpitations when she opens her present. Well done.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Greg Mitchell
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1383 posts in 966 days
posted 715 days ago
Beautiful platter.
-- Greg Mitchell--Lowell, AR--gdamitchell@sbcglobal.net
Blake
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2760 posts in 772 days
posted 715 days ago
Another beautiful project, schwingy.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
SPalm
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951 posts in 779 days
posted 715 days ago
You are kicking things here up a notch. Thanks for doing it.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Chip
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1058 posts in 990 days
posted 714 days ago
Another outstanding piece Schwing.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
miles125
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1434 posts in 903 days
posted 714 days ago
That is one great looking turning!
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
Karson
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25805 posts in 1298 days
posted 714 days ago
A great turning. Someone want to turn a 36” round maple burl it’s about 1 1/4” thick.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
schwingding
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122 posts in 723 days
posted 714 days ago
Thanks for the nice words folks. Dennis, you’d be amazed what you’ll do with maple burl when you buy 1000 pounds at a time.
-- Just another woodworker
Grumpy
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14932 posts in 748 days
posted 713 days ago
Beautiful job Schwinding
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
dennis mitchell
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3791 posts in 1212 days
posted 710 days ago
1000…..pounds…..at…a…time! I get weak in the knees getting 500 brd ft of Alder. 1000 pounds of Maple burl would just put me in intensive care!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
trifern
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7895 posts in 664 days
posted 506 days ago
Absoutely gorgeous. I know what you mean about coloring wood. I have had several projects that I intended on coloring, only to chicken out after seeing the beauty of the raw wood. This project inspires me to step out of my comfort zone. Thank you.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.