Need opinions on sweet gums

Tom,

Some of the older trees can have some color in the center, but most of the time it is rather plain. I would cut them down just for vengence, those pokey balls they drop are torture for bare feet. robo hippy

Tom,

Boring wood until it spalts. I've made a number of spalted bowls with great success. The wood spalts then rots fast. The difference between good spalt and rot is about 2 weeks.

Well, maybe not that fast, but pretty fast. Stay on top of the process or you will lose the wood.

Joe Fleming - San Dieog

What do they call spalted gum? Pyorrhea?

juicyfruit?

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

"George" wrote: What do they call spalted gum? Pyorrhea? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gumorrhea.

Pyrorrhea! Gumorrhea! Not to worry Tom. I learned on rcw that wood has antibacterial properties. Not sure about juicy fruit. ;)

Actually Tom, we had some handsome sweet gum moulding & trim in an old Tallahassee home.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

On very large trees the heartwood resembles black walnut. But there may be six inches or more of light wood surrounding it.

It typically separates from the outer layers during drying.

Sweet gum spalts nicely.

Barry

During WWII when the supply of walnut was low for stocks on rifles sweet gum was substituted for the walnut. I would give it a try. Glenn Nashville, GA

Guess I am in the minority. I like the white color myself. It's different.

OH YEA! Wear a rain coat if you turn it green. :-) No joke!

If you can keep it from deparating at the boudary the contrast between the heartwood youngwood would be great.

Hi Tony

Nice bowls !!

Question, does the wood from fresh cut tree not darken up after a while, (number of months/years)?? Or is the darker color of the wood from the "aged" log because of staining/spalting. I just like to know, thanks.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

T> Tom,