Posted on spalting kiln dried lumber
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#1 posted 1059 days ago |
Spalting is a fungal process which happens quite easily when conditions are right; warm, wet, and low to no air flow. Kiln drying will stop the process as it takes away the wetness, but the fungus remains; given the chance it will leave dormancy and pop up again. From what I have learned with maple is that there are 3 fungi involved; the first colors the wood but doesn’t degrade it, the second can only propagate after the first has had its way, and it degrades the wood to a point, and the third (white wood rot) totally breaks it down to a pithy substance. The first doesn’t much like the other two moving in on its territory and puts up a defensive wall (seen as black lines) but it only lasts so long. Air drying wood without stickers will spalt the snot out of it quick-like. Last, spalting is really just a nice term for rotting so you need to take it easy if you try. Looks like your test worked very well, I hope any bugs in there caught a nice buzz! -- Power tools put us ahead of the monkeys |
