Spalting in the buff

We use a lot of spalted wood. Wood that goes through a biological process once it has fallen or has been cut. Hurricane Sandy did a lot of natural re-decoration even up the hills of PA. So, you have wood and you have some wood that has been "maturing", readying itself to return to the soil. To break down the cellulose in wood, we rely on fungi, bacteria and insects to help move a tree into entropy. The come in and eat and feed and breakdown those tough cell walls. The fungi also grow in very different shapes and have of different types all up and down the genus. . and bless these natural processes in their infinite combination that can recycle lumber and create such beauty. Thanks Mother Nature - good job, we rely on you!

Ambrosia the little beetle that creates beauty

Ambrosia

(Not the fluffy dessert) - Not at all

If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one there to harvest it - do the bugs make a sound? 

I would imagine that there is a at least a crunching as the beetles dig their way in to make a home.  In our case, she is an Ambrosia Beetle and she carries with her a fungi that dissolves the wood and makes it extra yummy fungi to eat.  Now if it gets too crowded a bunch grab some fungi and off they go to a new tree.

This log shows a lot of beetle and fungi action.  Normally, you don't see this much.  More often than not, it's streaks. 



It's a visual double entendre having the mushroom on top.  These things make the geek in me very happy.

The dessert with whipped cream and madarian oranges is very tasty but different. 

Woodworkers who have allergies should take care in working with these woods as fungi spores may still be present and they should follow good shop practice and wear a respirator. 

Shave Bowl

Here is a Shave Bowl in Spalted Maple.  Spalting is a biological process that effects wood.  But what does that mean?  It means that the wood is felled and sits around.  For furniture making and use of structural wood it is not a good idea.  It changes the density and strength of the wood.  For small objects and decorative purposes it is fine to use.

To get down to the nitty gritty, spalting is created from fungi that start to decompose the wood.  The particular species of fungi create different effects.  One type will set up boundary lines and others in conjunction will change the colors within the lines. 

This log has several types of fungi and insects working on the wood.  Before finding uses for these woods they were considered waste wood. Not even good for burning. Such incredible beauty lies within a log or branch, you just need to know where to look for it.

 
This shaving bowl has dramatic lines and beautiful coloring.  It is one of a kind.  Each bowl is one of a kind. Each piece of wood has a different set of lines, areas of dramatic color and natural rarity.  This particular bowl went to his new home today.  I will miss him.

As crazy as it sounds, I am in love with these woods.  They are extraordinary gifts.