Your spalting is infectious
Spalted wood is pretty, but do you know where the spalting comes from? It’s the decay left behind by a specific type of fungus. The wood must be harvested when the spalting is pronounced and visible, but wait too long and the wood loses its structural integrity. In fact, the wood is often weak along the spalt lines; something to remember if you’re working with it–be sure to reinforce it with a frame or backing if you have any doubts.
In any case, one might reasonably ask what happened to the fungus? Well, the spores are still present on the wood. Now, kiln-drying will sterilize and kill the spores, so you’re OK if you’re buying KD. But if you’re drying your own wood, or buying cheap air-dried wood from a sawyer, you need to do something about it. Eight hours in a 130 degree oven should be enough to sterilize the board. Alternately, sealing the board–e.g. with shellac–should coat it.
If you don’t, it probably won’t continue to decay, but you don’t want to use it for something like a humidor or bowl.
Toast your spalted lumber. You’ll thank me for it.
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