Frank Penta has not only favored us with his expertise in design and turning, but furnished us with handouts, TURNING AND DETAILING PLATTER BASES, which also includes a page on COLORING MATERIALS. This is an excellent handout, very comprehensive and complete. During his demonstration, Frank passed around samples of blanks showing the various stages of the turning he was demonstrating. His demonstration, description of the tools being used, the handout, and the passing around of blanks have made this instruction one of the best I have ever seen.

Frank's treatment of a platter base is his concept of making the base of the platter a surprise with a visual impact. The multi-axis base and the three-footed base were featured. The tools he uses were shown and described, including the texturing tool. It was interesting to note how different patterns resulted from the application of the texturing at different angles. Frank sometimes uses a chatter tool in conjunction with the texturing tool. A 3 point tool is utilized to turn beads. His gouges of preference are a 3/8" bowl gouge with a fingernail grind, and a 3/8" bowl gouge with a traditional grind. For the three-footed base, a modified parting tool is used, along with a reciprocating carver and a drum sander. Also utilized are 1/4" and 3/4" beading tools. After sanding the foot and base up to and including 400 grit sandpaper, the blank is reversed and mounted on the lathe using an expanding chuck in the foot recess, allowing the front to be turned, textured and/or colored as desired.

Above: Inexpensive tools made from square and round HSS stock held in an aluminum collet, made by Al Basham, a member of the Woodturners Guild of North Carolina. Top is a wide parting tool, bottom is a three point tool, that Frank like for cutting beads and will make the bead really stand out. Below: texturing tool.

For multi-axis turning, Frank turns two sizes of platter bases - a 9" base for platters 15 inches and larger, and a 6" base for those under 15". For a 9" foot, a 2" circle is drawn in center of the platter front, then the circle is divided into 3 parts. At each 1/3 mark, a 3/4" hole is drilled with a 3/8" drill, as well as in the center mark, making sure the holes are just deep enough so the screw chuck does not bottom out. The blank is mounted on the lathe with the screw chuck in the center hole and then is trued up. The 9" circle on the base is the guide for turning from the outside of the circle to the rim to shape that portion. Enough material should be removed to leave the 9" base 3/8" to ½" higher than the rest of the base. Two more circles drawn at 4 1/2" and 3 1/2" indicate the channels to be turned (3/8" deep). It is essential that the sides be kept straight on the channels.

Left platter: bottom view. Right Platter: front view with screw for Oneway chuck installed in center hole. Three other holes for moving the center to different axis can be seen.

The screw chuck is then mounted alternately in the 3 holes in the face. At each hole, the tailstock is brought up to mark a new center on the base. Around the new center, 5 1/2" and 6 1/2" circles are drawn and channels are turned for each new position. Sanding and detailing are done after each channel is cut. The blank is remounted in the primary center hole and then turned to remove any marks made by the live center on the base. As with the three-footed base, the blank is reversed and mounted by use of an expanding chuck in the recess in the foot. The face is then finished.

We were also shown how Frank utilizes color mediums, including water base dyes, ink, metallic dyes, and even shoe dyes. Primary colors used are red, blue, and yellow. On darker woods, Frank's finish of choice is a mixture of 1/3 pure tung oil, 1/3 polyurethane varnish, and 1/3 mineral spirits. His choice for lighter woods is lacquer.

Left: Reciprocating carver is used to rough out foot. Right: Hand held drum sander is used for finishing.

Frank demonstrated how the use of a caliper is essential in turning a platter. The one he uses is available from Lee Valley Tools. Another interesting tool used is the collet handle made by Al Basham, a member of the Woodturners Guild of North Carolina, the club of which Frank is president.

Despite the inclement weather, attendance was good and we are most appreciative to Frank for such an excellent demonstration.

--Bob Pruitt

More about Frank

Handouts