Spalted Wood
What is Spalted Wood?
Well in two words, Rotted Wood. Spalted wood is the result of wood that has been
aged and yet sawn into lumber at just the right time. What is left is an incomplete
transition from wood fibers to dirt. As this wood ages, the weak sapwood begins to
break down leaving long black streaks that spider web through the wood. These
streaks are the mineral deposits the tree has absorbed during it's long life. Of
course capturing this beautiful rotting wood at just the right time is the difficult part.
Here is my recipe for this stunning, but cantankerous wood.
How Is Spalted Wood "made"?
I use Beech because it spalts predictable, though almost any hardwood will spalt.
Rock maple, Ash, Oak, Apple and Popil will all spalt, but at different times and at
different ages. I use Beech because it will typically spalt in a year. I start by cutting
the log into firewood sized lengths. The short size ensures the spalting takes
place consistently throughout the log. I then leave the wood laying sideways in a
shaded section of the forest. After a few months I roll the logs over so that they age
uniformly. I then have a special jig that holds the logs in the chainsaw mill we own,
and saw the logs into 2 inch thick slabs.
How do you work with spalted Wood?
Spalted wood takes a lot of patience. It is like working with torn end grain
everywhere. The wood is half decayed so it is very unstable. It is not uncommon to
find punky sections of wood and then hard spots as well, all of which changes two
inches down the plank. A good amount of sandpaper is needed to coax this wood
into smooth submission.
Where can I find Spalted Wood?
Everywhere but your lumber supply is the running joke with this wood. Because it
is so fragile and holds little commercial value, you will not find it for sale in the
traditional manner. Fortunately Spalted Wood is all around us because it is a
natural progression of fallen trees. A short trip around my property can find tons of
the wood. Sections of wind felled trees, old piles of hardwood logs left over by
loggers, and aged firewood piles are all good places to start. Short sections are
the best bet however as they provide the most consistent spalting within a giving
sections of log.