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Now I had to sweeten the curve between the rim and the foot with the gouge cutting from the bottom up toward the back of the rim. I sheer scraped the back with my 3/4" square scraper and went through the sanding procedure after I turned on the dust extractor and the air filter, which hangs just above and to the front of the lathe. I started with 120 grit cloth backed abrasive and went through the grades finishing with 400 grit. I stopped the lathe and gave the now sanded surface a coat of cellulose sanding sealer and dried it off with a cloth with the lathe spinning. I cut the finish back with 0000 steel wool and then with the lathe stopped again, I gave it a second coat. I dried this off as before, cut it back and while the lathe was still spinning, I held a piece of pure beeswax against the surface and melted on a good coat. I took a cotton duster and friction melted this coat until it shone well, and buffed it up with a fresh duster.

Photo 9	Photo 10

I then removed the platter from the chuck, unscrewed the faceplate, and then mounted it onto the chuck ready to start the inside face. (Take a minute to look at the finished profile of the back (Photo 9)). I started to true up the wobble which was still evident on this side of the platter and found that I had to take off quite a lot of material to do so (Photo 10). Beech is renowned for moving as it dries and I was going to take no chances with this piece, even though the wood was kiln dried, so I decided to form and finish the rim now (Photo 11).

Photo 11	Photo 12

I took a thin cut with a newly sharpened gouge and trued the rim before sanding and sealing as with the back. I started to take out the inside of the platter, and as I cut into the timber I could feel the end grain chattering even though this was a good sharp gouge. (Photo 12). I carried on slowly forming the inside and then with a fresh grind to the gouge, I took one final light cut across the whole surface finishing just at the rim edge. (Photo 13).

Photo 13	Photo 14

I scraped the whole of the inside with a French curve bowl scraper held slightly on its side to give a sheer scrape. This finished the inside nicely and I sanded, sealed and polished as with the back. The only thing left to do now was give the whole inside of the platter a burnish with paste wax. This left a nice luster on the surface instead of a high shine. (Photo 14)

Oskar Douglas