Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Spalted Box Elder
Jerry Whitaker
>I have 5 or 6 slabs of box elder (approx 2 1/2" thick) wrapped in saran wrap and I think they have spalted to where they should be. How do I stop the spalting at this point? If I put them in the freezer, will that stop it? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Re: Spalted Box Elder
Gary Evans, Tallassee, TN
>Putting the wood in the freezer is a good way to stop the spalting if it's going to be awhile before you turn the wood.
Your other alternative is to go ahead and rough out your shapes and let the wood start to dry. The fungus that causes spalting is only active at fairly high moisture content. Just off the top of my head I think the magic number is 40% MC. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
Gary
Gary
Re: Spalted Box Elder
Brad Vietje
>Turn 'em & dry 'em, if possible. Boxelder is pretty soft to begin with, and spalted Boxelder can be hell if you let it go too far. I agree that the freezer can hold them a while, but turning them now is more fun !
Safe Spinning,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT
