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QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

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QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

#1

QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

Jim King

>We have several distinct types of spalt here and it appears to be related to the species affected. My question is after looking for a couple of hours on Google for information on spalted woods I could not find any name but simply spalted. Here we refer to the piece on the left as snake skin spalt and the piece on the right as three color spalt. Anyone have any information on spalted names or are we in new territory ? By the time the wood reaches this stage they are all but impossible to identify by species thus the search for a way to differentiate the various forms. Any help is appreciated.


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Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

#2

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

Doug Trembath

>Jim, I don't recall having heard anyone differentiate among the multitude of stages spalting goes through. Here we get staining, lines, even the snakeskin effect you posted, in Maple, at least. I think it's wonderful how the fungi can affect the wood, and sometimes it's truly spectacular. Contrast that with the times it's just plain ugly, and you have the two extremes.

Does the wood you have, generally much denser than ours, get as punky along with the spalt? I have some Indian Rosewood that is beautifully spalted in the sapwood, and solid as it ever was. Pity, but it's one wood I get a pretty severe reaction to, and have decided not to turn it. Anyone need some?

I appreciate the opportunity to see the fabulous woods you post here, Jim. Thanks for showing us such beauty. I just wish I could get some blanks up here to do the vessels I make. I think the shipping would kill me.

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

#3

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

Jim King

>Doug: In this heat and humidity anything can spalt here including me. I have seen bloodwood heartwood with black line spalt and still hard as stone. Generally the spalt of which we have many distinct types does soften the wood a bit but a good soak of the rough turning in a water and glue solution after the rough turned blank has been dried will solve the problem. I have several peices drying now and if they turn out I will post them.

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

#4

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

Bob R WestMac Turning

>I am new to spalted wood, as all I have been able to learn how to turn is segment bowls (and that was what I learnt by making a lot of mistakes. What if this water-glue soak you are talking about.

Sorry for the mybe dumb guestion.

Bob R WestMacTurning

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

#5

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

Jim King

>Bob: Many times the spalted or starting to rot wood gets soft spots due to the fungus and bacteria that is forcing the color changes. What I do for lack of anything better is mix white carpenters glue with water so it soaks into the soft wood and allows you to finish it as normal after drying. Up there you have several hardeners that we dont have access to here which I am sure work better. The colors and designs in the spalted woods makes them worth the effort. Also here is a good link on spalted woods. http://www.alanlacer.com/articles/spalting.html

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

#6

Re: QUESTION ABOUT SPALTED WOODS

Bob R WestMac Turning

>Jim

Thanks glue info and also that spalted wood link.

BobR WestMac Turning

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