Spalded Maple Raised panel blanket chest

Very good job! I bet the inside smells great!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I’ve used spalted wood before with absolutely no issues.
Spalting varies by species and how advanced it is, as well as the age of the
wood before being milled/used. Spalted wood is actually a fungus that
inhabits the tree (usually/always?) after death and eats the wood fibers.

If I am not mistaken (and I could be), you need to stop the growth
of the fungi somehow. Using a seal coat of an alcohol based finish
or stain should do nicely. Kiln drying the lumber will also kill the fungi.

If the spalting is advanced, it could sacrifice the structural integrity of
the wood you’re using, so care should be made in milling the wood for
the project. Think of spalted wood as a real pretty rot and adjust your
plans accordingly.

That is a real nice chest you’ve got there.

-- Still learning everything

rpmurphy, It is clear to me you are correct about the spalted wood. My problems could be explained by your descriptions. I think the mold is dead. I haven’t seen any indications of it progressing. The fellows I purchased the wood from told me that drying the wood killed the mold. I hope so.

Gary K, Yes, it does smell nice.

thanks to you both.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Very nice.

I’m wondering if moving it to a pervasively moist climate like South Alabama didn’t play a role in the wood changes you experienced.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Nice Job Terry.. Here in Florida we have to let any lumber we order acclimate for quite a while.

-- Chris

You need to be very careful with spalted lumber. I had an experience about a year or more ago which it had gotten into my eyes and sinus. Eventually sending me to the eye Dr. She was quite befuddled, but knew it looked like some kind of fungal disease. Then it dawned on me as to what I had been turning, spalted maple. After a round of anti biotics and eye drops I finally got rid of it. Since then I am very carful turning spalted anything. You never know if that fungus is dead or not. Just a word of warning. Be on the safe side and wear breathing protection and eye protection. mike. I love spalted wood too. Your project is excellent.

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Nice looking chest Roz. Good advice Mike.

-- Maplewood, MN

CharileM, I think the climate change definitely caused the trouble, but my guess is that the wood reacted more violently to the climate change because of structural weakness from what amount to decay.

jockmike2, you are 100% right about the wood. I am not as good as I should be about safety gear. I have used some other woods that I know cause health problems if the dust is inhaled, like Black Ash and Osage Orange (Called Mock Orange down here). Osage grows into a large tree this far south.

Chris, you make a good point too. Here we have to give the lumber time to adjust to the climate it will be used in too. Air-conditioned interiors of houses are much less humid than say August in the deep south.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Great chest.

-- Jiri