Richard Raffan turns a camphor laurel tray in real time start to finish.

This video replaces an incomplete version posted a few days ago. Now you see all the turning, sanding, and finishing. The blank comes loose as I throw it on a screw chuck, illustrating why you should never stand in line with the blank as you start a lathe. Then you see how I deal with a few areas of picked out grain, and achieve the flat surface that a tray demands.

[@johnwhitteron5296]

Thanks Richard, I hope you realise how helpful it is to see your process 'warts and all'..... great platter.

[@simonsmith8610]

Thank you for all the hard work you put in to put these videos up. It is much appreciated. I know I am a better turner because of them. Cheers!

[@jamescarter8813]

Stunning bit of wood, the bug holes just add character. Thank you for sharing your knowledge Richard

[@glencrandall7051]

Well turned Richard. It's a beautiful piece of wood and you turned it into a beautiful platter. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@MarklTucson]

Thanks for reposting with the missing video -- very helpful seeing how you deal with making a flat bottom.

[@jorisdemoel3821]

Well, that needed to overcome some adversity. A very nice piece and a very strking figure, Thanks for another educational and entertaining video.

[@johnnyb95678]

A beautiful tray and thank you for sharing all of your experience and expertise.

[@ronbeckhaus7326]

I love the aroma of camphor laurel when I turn it. I shall have to ask my wife if she needs a tray as I have a section of 2 inch thick camphor laurel slab in my workshop. Hmmmmm. Cheers, Richard, thank you

[@jimgardner5410]

Another great video that shows how slow I am. Seriously though, thank you for posting. I do wish we could get colour coded sandpaper over here.

[@peg4692]

Very nice Richard.

[@FDG4ever]

Do you think woodturning would be a viable career choice nowadays? I am now the same age as you were when you started out , but I've been turning for over 5 years. I'm just having trouble getting anything sold online at prices which I would need to get in order to make money. I feel my best bet would be to make plates since the lumber doesn't need to be very thick. You are my favorite turner to watch and get design ideas from.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I know it's possible to turning wood for a living because many turners do. Most successful turners specialise in turning just a few items like spindles for the building and furniture trades, or utilitarian kitchenware, or jewellery, or pens, or some sort of souvenirs. Repetition is usually the key, because retailers will want to replace stock that's sold. I rcommend wholesaling to retailers who'll pay within 28 days, the usual credit arrangement. And it's essential that you fulfill orders speedily and on time. If you're interested in selling domestic ware, remember that to scrape the barest living you need to sell the equivilant of at least two 12"x4" (300x100mm) salad bowls every day of the year - or about 20 plates every day of the year. When I started, 50 scoops a week paid most of my basic living expenses.

[@DavidBockel]

Richard--what is the angle on your round-nose scraper?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The 1-in round nose scraper has a 45° bevel on the nose that becomes steeper until it blends in with the vertical side. You see a ¾-in shaped and sharpened in Sharpening Scrapers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmamnKWYhdeSbdU

[@kenvasko2285]

Was the mounting issue caused by too high a speed for that large a piece of lumber? That was strange. I appreciate you making the bottom flat. I love the figure in the wood.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I think a combination of too high speed and softish wood as the drilled hole was deep enough for the length of screw. That rarely happens. More usual is the blank not threading right on due to too short a hole or a hole too tight for the screw..

[@WhoGnu08]

Another great lesson! It was interesting to see how when you were completing the inside of the rim, you used the spindle gouge and stopped just shy of the intersection with the bottom, then you used a scraper to finish it off. Am I correct in assuming it was to avoid a catch? Also, are you using a Vicmarc inertial sander?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I take the nose of the spindle gouge slightly below the flat bottom so that between the base of the wall and the flat of the bottom there's a small groove that make sanding easier.

[@WhoGnu08]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Thank you for answering.

[@oldgeezer1746]

I love the calipers, where do you get them?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Lee Valley

[@cobberpete1]

You forgot to mention, that it also cleans out the sinuses while you are turning 😁. I'm not as adventurous ( experienced) as you. my mortices are between 5-8mm

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

That's way way too deep a mortice for most chucks and especially Vicmarcs.

[@chrisdodds3383]

Nice chunk of camphor laurel. I love camphor laurel because you never know how much colour you will get. Keep turning Richard 👍