Spalted Dogwood

Re: Spalted Dogwood

John K Jordan

>>>I had someone give me some spalted Dogwood years ago and I absolutely loved turning several projects with it. Unfortunately, I have used my supply and I'm looking for more. I've searched eBay, Craigslist, other wood chats, my local sawmill, etc. with no luck.

Does anybody know where I can get my hands on some?

Hi Ray.

Dogwood is one of my favorite woods to turn!

What sizes are you looking for. I have just a little from a neighbor's stump. But I recently noticed a dogwood log I forgot about and left on the ground a while back. When I get time I'm going to cut into it and see if it is spalted (and still useful)

Before I got the stump I had not seen spalted dogwood, although I've cut a lot of dogwood blanks over the years. Most of what I'm turning now has been drying for over 10 years.

BTW, Just this morning I got the fantastic book "Spalted Wood: The History, Science, and Art... " by Sara Robinson, PHD who focuses on spalting. She shows pictures and describes the fungi in spalted dogwood in her book. An interesting thing about the black lines we love in spalted wood - they are actually called "zone lines", barrier areas BETWEEN spalted areas that the fungi create, primarily as defense against competing fungi. Until I started through the book I had no idea how important spalted wood was to people over the last 500 years or so.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764350382

If you have any photos of things made with spalted dogwood I'd love to see them. I don't yet since all I have is soaking wet. But I do love turning spalted wood - this has a picture of of a little piece I did recently: http://www.woodcentral.com/woodworking/forum/turning.pl/md/read/id/497536/sbj/liquid-amber/

Besides the dogwood at the moment I have spalted maple, holly, y.poplar, beech, birch, hackberry, elm, and some unknowns. This is some of my stash.

I've also been in communication lately with a gentleman who does a lot of spalting and told me how he proceeds. The Robinson book has more great ideas. I intend on starting a "spalting farm" here when the weather warms a little.

This is Sara Robinson's web site if you are interested:

http://www.northernspalting.com/

JKJ

Re: Spalted Dogwood

John K Jordan

Nice piece! Dogwood was the wood traditionally used for household things that needed to be smooth and strong, and especially for things for working with fibers, such as bobbins and shuttles for looms. The more it is used the smoother it gets.

Warps like crazy when drying, though!

I like to use it for turned boxes, thin spindles like the conductor's batons, finger tops, pepper grinders, rolling pins, ornaments, finials, tool handles, even pens. Takes threads well.

Most of what I have came from my own property when a tree died or had to be taken down. Once I did get a yard dogwood tree from a neighbor that was big enough to cut a 12" wide board - got some big chunks from that and some pieces about 4' long.

That spalted maple block on the right of the picture is actually the biggest spalted piece I have, drying since around 2003 or 2004. I have plans for turning it.

But I will check on the dogwood log as soon as I can. It looks to be about 8' long. If it is spalted and not too far gone I'll let you know. It has been in the shade in the woods.

JKJ