Spalted Wood
Although primarily found in dead trees spalting can also occur in living trees under stress.
Spalted wood. Spalting is a common woodworking term used to describe the colorations and patterning created by the growth of fungus in wood. It is best avoided for joinery or at least used with caution in for example a dovetail joint for a drawer front. Spalted wood is generally not a sound structural wood.
Well youre in luck because here they come. When the fungus begins to grow withing the wood the process is referred to as spalting. There are 7252 spalted wood for sale on Etsy and they cost 3111 on average.
Some species are more prone to spalting such as maple birch and beech while others such as walnut rarely spalt. Spalting is a by-product of the rotting process that affects all wood to a greater or lesser extent. The most popular color.
Did you scroll all this way to get facts about spalted wood. Which is fine with Cate who has worked with maple often. The unique patterns and coloration of the spalting process can add value to wood which otherwise might have a low-value.
Its caused by moulds and fungi and can create many different and beautiful colours and patterns in the wood. While maple isnt the only wood that will spalt its one of several pale hardwoods that are prone to it birch and beech being two others. Thats why spalted wood is an excellent choice for bowls soup spoons tridents back scratchers and much more.
Wood that is spalted is so sought after by woodworkers because it has such a distinct look with conflicting dark and light colors as well as black and brown lines running through the wood. Spalted wood is any wood that has begun to decay or rot as a result of a specific range of airborne fungus. From Spalted Wood Sara Robinson spalting is a process that occurs on wood when fungi colonize the substrate and extract various nutrients.