How to Turn a Serving Dish

When I was working as in-house turner for the Vermont woodworking and ceramic artisans ShackletonThomas, I made scores of dishes and platters in cherry and walnut. They were simple forms with a single bead at the rim. I always admired the elegance and utility of those designs, and this serving dish is inspired by them. Here I’ve used bubinga, choosing it for its hardness, durability, and—with this particular stock—for its marvelous quilting, chatoyant grain, and brilliant natural coloration. This isn’t a complex piece to turn, but to make it really sing, the surfaces should be super clean and the transitions and details extremely crisp.

Side one

Begin by bandsawing a circular blank between 9 in. and 11 in. across. Then screw a faceplate to what will be the top of the dish. The screws should protrude from the faceplate at least 1/8 in. less than the depth of the dish’s hollow….