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Face Plate Turning

Face plate turning is where the grain of the wood runs across the item being made.  A range of items made using this technique are shown below:

Circular piece of wood mounted on lathe showing direction of grain for faceplate turning

Wooden bowl with coins embedded around rim and clear grain running across the bowl

Clock face made from plank of wood with numbers burnt into the face using pyrography

  
Bowls are the best known examples of face plate turning.  This bowl clearly shows the grain going across the hollowed out section.  Coins have been inset into the rim to add interest This clock face has been made from a section cut out of a plank of wood, similar to that mounted on the lathe in the top picture.  Notice how a groove has been cut around the edge for the numbers.