Author Topic: spalted maple?  (Read 4723 times)

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Offline osage outlaw

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spalted maple?
« on: February 02, 2017, 05:13:36 pm »
Today at work I started to remove some large chunks of wood off of a mulch BioBed that we just replaced.  They looked bad on top of the mulch and we have a tour coming through tomorrow.  I grabbed the biggest piece and tossed it in the golf cart.  That's when I noticed it was spalted.  The chunk is 14"-16" across and about the same in length.  I cut both ends off to get a better look.  I don't know what type of tree its from.  Maybe Maple??   I think its solid enough for knife handles.  I'm not sure if it would work for turning on a lathe. 

If I was to cut this into knife scale blanks what would be the best way to make the cuts to get the best looking pieces?



I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline ---GUTSHOT--->

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2017, 06:18:52 pm »
I'm no help to you but I think it would make some purty handles.

Offline bubby

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2017, 06:38:57 pm »
Clint it is usually crosscut
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline EdwardS

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2017, 07:16:47 pm »
I crosscut mine.

Offline aaron

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2017, 08:49:47 pm »
beware- spalted wood can cause respritory problems if you inhale the dust- wear a good mask and cut outdoors
Ilwaco, Washington, USA
"Good wood makes great bows, but bad wood makes great bowyers"

Offline selfbow joe

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2017, 09:07:35 pm »
That looks like it would make some nice knife handles

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2017, 09:15:27 pm »
Thanks for that tip Aaron.  I didn't know that. 

When I got home tonight I hit it with some spray lacquer and it brought the colors out.  I definitely see some knife scales in there. 




I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline paulsemp

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2017, 09:28:26 pm »
Mine was from a silver maple. Was very soft and know it wouldn't hold up to a lathe. Makes some cool handle build ups.  Minwax make a wood hardener that helps if you have that problem.

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2017, 09:29:44 pm »
That's cool looking Paul.  I hadn't thought about handle lams.
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline Outbackbob48

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2017, 10:33:14 pm »
Clint, if to soft and crumbly try some wood stabilizer on your scales. Bob

Offline chamookman

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2017, 03:06:18 am »
Good save OO - nice stuff ! Bob
"May the Gods give Us the strength to draw the string to the cheek, the arrow to the barb and loose the flying shaft, so long as life may last." Saxon Pope - 1923.

Offline Pappy

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2017, 04:21:30 am »
Yep, save ever piece I see when we are cutting wood, slice it up and put it away to dry. Very nice stuff you got there Clint. :)
 Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2017, 08:14:53 am »
I'm going to try this method of stabilizing the wood.  Seems pretty simple.

https://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=P9H-ab57UIg
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline JEB

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2017, 08:57:46 am »
As mentioned wear a respirator  as I believe the  spalting  is mold. Nasty stuff.

Offline tattoo dave

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Re: spalted maple?
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2017, 10:17:10 pm »
Great looking piece of wood. Nice find. Lots of knife scales in there!

Tattoo Dave
Rockford, MI