Question on spalting

RPowers · August 31, 2013, 08:20:41 PM

So in giddy anticipation of a coming WM LT28 around Oct, I started dropping dead trees to begin a log pile. I cut a hickory that has been dead since late last summer, about 16" on the stump, and it seems to have spalted while standing. I didn't know that this could happen to a standing tree, and within a year or less. Is this normal, and is that true spalting I am seeing on the stump. Any comments on what to expect from this lumber by what you see? Lastly, what kind of hickory is it? They are probably my worst species for IDing a specific kind.

hackberry jake · August 31, 2013, 08:36:23 PM

That is spalting for sure. There should be some interesting boards in that there tree. As far as species go... not sure. Around here there are at least half a dozen different hickories. I call scaleybark scaleybark and the rest I just call it hickory.

drobertson · August 31, 2013, 08:46:52 PM

Yea, get it sawn and stickered! use the knive poke to check for solidness. if you can break it in your hand its fire wood, or camp wood. david

Magicman · August 31, 2013, 08:48:44 PM

The species and spalting will be the least of your concerns.

:D

RPowers · August 31, 2013, 09:00:52 PM

The devil, you say. I'm getting the new 4 degree WM bands, which the MO rep tells me are the cat's meow for hickory. We shall see, and ya'll will be witnesses.

drobertson · August 31, 2013, 09:02:25 PM

I know that hickory can be a real pain, but I just sawed two big logs, lighting struck, with spalting, and they cut real good! It seems to me that the dryer the hickory is the better my saw will saw hickory!. Not sure if it is the chips or what, I just prefer dryer ones. I say saw it and sticker it! david

Magicman · August 31, 2013, 09:08:02 PM

Quote from: RPowers on August 31, 2013, 09:00:52 PMThe devil, you say. I'm getting the new 4 degree WM bands.

OK, you were ahead of me on that one. I concede.

j-dland · September 01, 2013, 09:10:42 AM

On the subject of what to expect from the lumber from that tree, I recently had an experience with spalted hickory. Had a tree blown over by wind from Rita. It laid not touching the ground for five years. When cut into lumber, was spalted thruout. Made beautiful lumber for neighbors bar project. Hoping for more spalted lumber I cut a hickory that was downed for only a year or so. It looked a lot like yours. Have to say I was disappointed. spalting was limited to outer sapwood. The rest of the cant was just regular old hickory. Pretty lumber, but wish I would have waited a couple of more years. The spalting process takes quit a bit of time to make its way thruout a tree. Good luck with your mill and trees.

Kcwoodbutcher · September 01, 2013, 01:36:00 PM

Saw it quick. Bugs love hickory, around here it wouldn't last a year on the ground. From the bark it doesn't look like shagbark or shellbark. It could be mockernut or pignut hickory.

ET · September 01, 2013, 01:49:55 PM

I have been told that if you want to spalt a log, get some turkey tail toadstools, grind them up in water, then pour it on your log laying on the ground, tarp it keeping moist and cross your fingers in 6 months it will spalt.