Hi all. I sawed a red maple log today that had some spalted wood in it. I have no experience with spalted lumber so I don't know if these boards are too far gone or not. One side of the log was kind of punky and three boards had some spalt and two more just rotten in the middle and the rest of the boards were fine. This log was a butt log and the boards are 12" wide.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11157/DSC02373_opt.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11157/DSC02372_opt.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11157/DSC02374_opt.jpg)
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(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11157/DSC02376_opt.jpg)
Thanks for any info or advice you can give me. Cutter
I hope they're not too far gone. It very pretty wood. I had some that was oak instead of maple that was splalted like that. I made new cabinets & table for my camper with mine. It planed fine & glued up same as the regular oak I had used. It's been used a few times this summer & still looks & is holding up fine. Wish I could figure out how post pics from iPhone & they'd be on here too. Good luck on a better answer than I gave, but I don't have one. My spalted was bout same weight & hardness of non splalted I used
Spalt with figure makes a nice seller. Those look like you cut them at the right time.
Depends to some extent what you want to use it for. Something non structural such as a cabinet door panel can be a little weaker than the rails and stiles for the same door. Dig at it with your fingernail. If you can get your nail in it might be a little too far gone. Spalted wood might also take finish differently than sound wood. Consider this when choosing your finish. Watch for cracks in the edges of the boards as it dries. Another sign that it might be a little too far gone.
I had some sawn that looked like that a couple of years ago and my biggest problem was twisting and cupping when drying. Luckily I had it sawn at 5/4 and got some good short pieces of 1 inch stock from it. Use a large flat block of wood and a full sheet of sandpaper when sanding your project to avoid low areas in the softwood and it takes a couple of extra coats of finish but looks beautiful when done. :)
Thanks guys for your comments. I won't be making anything with it. If it dries well I will try to sell it.
I read that spalted wood caused some serious lung problems for a fellow who turned spalted wood on a lathe.That was in an issue of Fine Woodworking.
Quote from: 36 coupe on September 02, 2014, 05:10:01 AM
I read that spalted wood caused some serious lung problems for a fellow who turned spalted wood on a lathe.That was in an issue of Fine Woodworking.
It can, the fungus that causes the spalting creates toxic chemicals, and/or can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Not something that you want to have happen in your lungs. Wearing a breathing mask would be a sensible precaution when working with it.
Ian
Some spalting looks good but its just half way to rot. If a spalted piece is cut and dried does that stop the decay, anyone know.?? Frank C.
Yes drying will stop it. I think it need at least 20% MC to grow.