What is faceplate work?
Faceplate work is where the work (the lump of wood being turned) is held, by various means, just at the headstock end of the lathe, allowing the turner full access to shape or hollow out the spinning end of the piece. This technique is used for turning bowls, where the wood grain runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation, but also for hollow forms, boxes, goblets and vases, where the grain runs parallel to the bed bars (and hence the axis of rotation).
