SPALTED Wood {Maple ?} . . . Who wants some?

{Here is a copy of a message I just put up on the 'rec.woodworking' NG. I really don't want to just trash this stuff.}

People -

It's been some time since I've 'tuned in'. So I apologize in advance for any procedural errors.

Anyhow, I have something to offer . . . I remember a good bit of discussion of the value of and desire for 'Spalted' wood. Yesterday I was finally able to take down a dead tree. I've been trying to get someone to do it for several years. I thought it would be hollow, but it wasn't. The upper trunk & limbs were so rotted {?} that they were like 'punk' or Balsa !!.

The lower trunk is very interesting. The took it down in about 3-foot 'chunks' - per my instructions. When they were cutting those into more manageable pieces, with ants all over the place, I was able to take a closer look.

a} The wood was solid and absolutely dry. It had been dead for some years and sort of 'Air Dried on the stump'. The chainsaw residue wasn't 'sawdust', but looked like 'cut Spaghetti' !! From the shape of the leaves I've raked . . . I'm guessing Maple.

b} The surface, where the bark had fallen off, was 'speckled' with 'worm' {ant ?}holes.

and c} The ends showed a distinct 'spalted' pattern !!! When I looked closer it was even on the surface of the pieces.

The chunks are spread along the side of the 'shop' . . . I've sprayed them to get rid of the ants. Also the entire area to kill the weeds. {The biggest reason for the 'project' is to put an 'attached shed' in place to store sheet goods}

There has got to be 500 pounds, or more, of the stuff. Before Joanne chucks it {she ABSOLUTELY WON'T let me take up any more of HER space, or 'feed the ants', or 'draw termites'}, or I use it for the shop stove, I'd like to see it used for something of beauty & value. There are some really BIG chunks. I'd be glad to take & send pictures to anyone interested.

Regards & Thanks, Ron Magen Backyard Boatshop {in the Philly suburbs . . . 215 Area Code, and 19038 ZIP code}

Reply to
Ron Magen
Loading thread data ...

Hi Ron

Like Darrell says, very generous, but......

I think you should get in touch with the local turner group/s, as long distance transporting is not economical, and one would want to examine the wood before even considering to take it on. Just my 2 cents here.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Reply to
l.vanderloo

In Philadelphia there is a woodturning and or woodworking gallery, workshop, teaching facility that would know of or where to get in contact with local wood turning people. Michael

Reply to
Michael

A few questions, based on my collecting spalted maple from the woods in the past.

Does the solid wood have two different colors, (not including the spalting) where the darker stuff seems noticably softer?

How deep do the worm holes go- or can't you tell from the pieces?

Do the annual rings appear to have separated at all?

If you do want to get rid of it, and are willing to take a couple of pictures, I'd be happy to consider taking some of it on, if you're willing to ship a hunk or two of it. The big thing I'd be looking for is that it does not have rotted areas or severe cracking- there's plenty of that all over, but good spalted maple is a beautiful thing, and much less common.

Reply to
Prometheus

NO 'separation'.

Everything seems SOLID - the 'punky' chunks went through the chipper.

A light 'creamy' color throughout, except for the 'spalt lines'.

The 'worm holes' go where they go . . . I can see them on the surface, and internally where the trunk has been cut into quarters.

How about I send you a couple of digital images and you make up your own mind.

I don't mind sending it anywhere, provided you pay the freight.

I've seen this stuff offered, on commercial sites, for $10 a 'slab' {14x5x2} . . . what do you think is a fair price ??

Regards, Ron

Reply to
Ron Magen

Sorry to take so long getting back to you, I've been putting in a lot of OT at work-

How much it's worth really depends on what it is, and who is buying it. I recently bought 3 pieces of curly black walnut on eBay from a commercial place that is 10 x 10 x 4 for $10 a piece. To tell you the truth, I don't think I would have paid that for green wood, but this was kiln dried and crack free. *But* it was nothing really spectacular, either. Sometimes rare figure or unique coloring overcomes other factors, so it's hard to say. The other thing the commerical guys do that is pretty neat is some of them stabilize the blanks with a kind of resin that makes them almost like a plastic. Nice, because it keeps them from cracking or warping, but I'm not entirely sure how it's done. I've bought knife scales with that treatment for almost embarrassing prices- but they were exotic two-tone burls with amazing figure.

Send me the pics at Prometheuscharter.net, and I'm sure we can come up with a mutually agreeable price.

Reply to
Prometheus

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.