What Is Spalted Lumber

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.

What is spalted lumber.

Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood the unique coloration and patterns of spalted wood are sought by woodworkers. Simply put spalted wood is wood that is colored with the help of fungi through a process known as spalting. Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. It is found in wood that has begun initial stages of decay and is then subsequently dried preventing further decay.

It is created when white rot fungus begins growing within a piece of wood or log. The unique patterns and coloration of the spalting process can add value to wood which otherwise might have a low value. From spalted wood sara robinson spalting is a process that occurs on wood when fungi colonize the substrate and extract various nutrients. Spalted wood is any wood that has begun to decay or rot as a result of a specific range of airborne fungus.

Spalted maple lumber turning wood hobby wood and instrument wood. Spalting is simply a fungal discoloration of wood and can be found on a wide range of wood species and genera. Although primarily found in dead trees spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. So in some sense it is fungi that create tattoos on the wood surface.

Cate caruso the founder and principal of studio c first encountered spalted wood furniture at last year s field supply in upstate new york where a smooth expertly crafted spalted maple table. Our facility produces birdseye maple lumber curly maple tiger maple lumber and we stock over 70 species of exotic wood. Spalting is a common woodworking term used to describe the colorations and patterning created by the growth of fungus in wood. You can say spalting refers to the process where fungi take color away from the wood adding dark or white layers.

When the fungus begins to grow withing the wood the process is referred to as spalting. Spalted wood is traditionally something that s been found by woodworkers rather than produced. Spalted wood is the coloration and detailed dark lines that occur from fungal growth in wood commonly referred to as spalting.