I turned it on a faceplate at first to clean the back of it and make a tenon. Only works if the wood is sound. Then reverse and do what I want to on the front. I am run ning at between 200 & 400rpm, whatever feels safe and allows me to cut the intermittent wood. I do these over the side of the lathe so if the worst did happen it wouldn't be coming off in to me. A lot depends on hpw out of balance it is, this was surprisingly balanced so a bit easier than some smaller ones I have done. I have done them on a sacrificial piece of wood hotglued onto tjhem as well.
Pete