Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Spalting maple logs
Rick in Colgate, Wi
>Has anyone tried to spalt logs by burying them in woodchips and sawdust, which most of us have plenty of? I've just buried 3 large hard maple logs in sawdust instead of leaves and was just curious if anyone has tried this before.
Re: Spalting maple logs
tdaniel
>I have not had good luck in sawdust; I think more air flow is needed. Brush and leaves seems to work better for me.
Td
Re: Spalting maple logs
John K Jordan
>Last summer I dug a shallow trench and buried a large figured maple log as advised by someone who had done the same, but with cherry. I plan to dig it up this weekend with my backhoe - I'll be sure to let you know if it spalted, rotted, or just got dirty. I suspect it's a tricky process, dependent on soil, drainage, temperature, etc.
Has anyone here tried burying in the ground?
JKJ in East TN
Re: Spalting maple logs
Dick Hines
>With all the rain we have had in Va I just sit the logs on end on the ground and let nature take is course.
I even had some elm spalt in the shop sitting on the cement floor.
Re: Spalting maple logs
Bud Gabaree
>I did the same, but inadvertently. I cut up some maple logs into 2 and 3 foot sections and stood them on end behind my shop (on dirt) to save space. I intended to get back to them soon, but didn't. When I did finally did get back to them, after about 2 months, they had all spalted throughout.
What I don't like is that there was also a lot of blue and gray mold-like discoloration that I find unattractive, but others seem to like in a finished piece.
Does anyone know if there is a way to get only the spalting lines without the ugly part?
Bud
Re: Spalting maple logs
Carole in VA
>I have that blue/grey stuff in my maple. I am not sure if it is part of the spalting process or just natural to the wood, but I don't like it. I want to get the black line spalting!
Re: Spalting maple logs
Barry Irby
>I stood some poplar that was about 11" in diameter and fifteen inches long on end on some Styrofoam and some were on a scrap piece of carpet on a slab. They were green and I covered the top end with a plastic garbage bag. Almost forgot them, but the spalted and the started to rot. The wood is beautiful, but punky. They sat there for about a year, I think six months or less might have been better.
Re: Spalting maple logs
JamieDonaldson
>If the wood is still wet, paint the ends with a mixture of beer and Miracle Gro, then put in a plastic bag for several months. Check on progress about once a month, and the process can be accelerated in warm temperatures like summer.
Re: Spalting maple logs
Ed in No.VA
>The blue/grey stuff is a fungus called blue stain.
It attacks freshly cut wood. it is also what the ambrosia beetle grows in it's tunnels for food. The aqmbrosia stain is still a different fungus that the critter packs around as it feeds. If you want to keep your maple white then make a fresh cut and immediately seal the cut before the spores hit it. Same problem with the grey color on wet holly.
