Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article What's New  |  Site Map 

 

 
   
   
 
 


Today's
Sponsors:


Construction Recruiters

COOLwoodworkingstuff.com

Copemaster

Cordes Machine

Country Saw & Knife, Inc.

Courmatt International Inc.

CP Adhesives

CSH Custom Service Hardware Inc.

CTD Machines

Custom Woodworking Business

Cutlist Plus

D.S. Brown Machinery

Dancer Lumber

Delle Vedove USA, Inc.

Delmac Machinery Group

Delta

Denray Machine

DeVilbiss

Diehl Machines

Dispoz-A-Blade

Diversi-Tech

DMC

DODDS

Don Hall & Associates

Donald Dean and Sons

Downdrafttable.org

Durable Wood Products

E.W. Tooling Inc.

Eagle America

Eagle Machinery and Repair Co.

EasyCoper Tool Company

ECabinet Systems

Edge-It Edgebanding

Electrophysics

Elias Woodwork & Manufacturing

Elkom North America

Endeavor Hardwoods

EnRoute WOOD

ETemplate Digital Measuring

ETK International

Eurosoft, Inc.

EX-FACTORY

Excel Dowel and Wood Products Inc.

ExpressSander.com

Extrema Machinery

ez-Router

FastCap

Finish Systems

FlexiCAM

FORDAQ

FormWood Industries

Freeborn Tool Company

FS Cruing

FS Tool Outlet.com

Fuhr International

Fuji Spray

Furniture D Cube

G&M Woodcopy Lathes

Gabbiani Machine

Gary M. Katz

Global Hardwood Flooring

Glue Machinery Corporation

Goby Walnut Products

Granite Road

Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association

Greco Manufacturing

GreCon

GUHDO

Hanson and Leja Lumber Company

Hardware Resources

Hardwood Council

Hardwood Store of N.C. Inc.

Hasko Machines

Heidelberg Flooring

Hendrick

Her-Saf

CNCROUTERSTORE.com

CNT Motion Systems

Colonial Saw

Construction Programs and Results



WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?



Tips for creating spalted maple       Creating spalted lumber by creating the correct conditions. January 4, 2001

Question
Is there a way of making spalted hard maple? I have a log with big hunters spikes in it (never had any luck getting them out) and it is probably well stained by now. If I could get it to spalt, I could chainsaw it into chunks for wood turners.

Forum Responses
Find a cool shaded spot and let it sit on the ground. Cover it with sawdust and keep it moist (not too wet). I can't tell you how long it will take. It will only spalt at temperatures from 60-90 degrees. It’s tricky to catch it just right before it rots. I haven't tried to do it on purpose, but get a lot by accident. Check it after about 3 months.



A wood turner I know leaves chunks of maple strewn around his yard in order to get them to spalt. He checks them every so often, and when the spalting reaches a stage he likes, he turns the piece and applies the finish.

I found some nice spalted maple at a friend's house, grabbed a few chunks, and 2 months later I went back to get some more--all of the remaining log had rotted. There is a very fine line between great spalting and rotten wood.



The previous comments are indeed very accurate. Spalting is the result of activity by the white rot fungi. (Shitakii is one white rot fungus, so think twice about how delicious these mushrooms are on your next piece of steak!) You want the fungi to begin their activity, but not get too far advanced. We can stop their activity by drying the wood or by heating it above 130 F. We can encourage their activity by keeping the wood warm and fairly wet (but not too wet).

Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor


Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
  • KnowledgeBase: Finishing

  • KnowledgeBase: Lumber and Plywood

  • KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: General

  • KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing

  • KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: Air Drying Lumber

  • KnowledgeBase: Wood Engineering: Wood Properties

  • KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous: Woodworking

  • KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base




    Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

    If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to
    review our Forum Guidelines.

    Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

    When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

    Return to beginning of article.



    Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy || Site User Agreement

    Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

    To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

    Copyright © 1996-2009 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
    Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

    The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

    WOODWEB, Inc.
    RR4 Box 265A
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB