Spalting bow wood

[BrushWolf]

Has anyone tried to spalt there own wood. I want to build the kids a bow from trees from the farm. I thought it would be cool to spalt some for limb veneers and such. If you have done it other than putting it outside and waiting I would like to hear how you did it.

[goobersan]

Years ago John from OMC used a fine point sharpie to "spalt" veneers.

[Mad Max]

Troy Breeding
http://www.woodgallery295.net/spalted-maple-veneers

[monterey]

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Troy Breeding
 http://www.woodgallery295.net/spalted-maple-veneers  

That's how I'd do it!

[BrushWolf]

Yeah it would be easier just to order it. I have read that you can put the wood in a plastic bag with some fungus or other spalted wood or even dust. Keep it damp and let it work. I was wondering if anyone here had done anything of the sort. I want the bows to be made from wood off my farm. I have some lumber drying all ready. Just been thinking of cutting some and try spalting it. Just looking to do something special.

[monterey]

It seems like an interesting experiment.  Wonder how long it takes and what stage of drying it would be done in.

[mikkekeswick]

Yes I've done quite a bit of spalting. You need the m.c. tpo be over 30%. Yopu can add various liquid to the mix, I know a friend of mine uses beer. I don't think there is a quick way. Just cut what you want oversized (double) and put it all in a pile with something covering it to keep moisture in. If you can find some already spalted pieces lay them alongside your fresh wood and wait.
Of course make sure you pick a species that spalts nicely.

[JamesV]

I used some spalted maple for the core in a longbow and when I strung it up it developed a hinge at the end of one of the fades. Never again. No way, can half rotten wood be as strong as clear healthy wood.

James

[KenH]

My thoughts exactly, JamesV.  Spalted wood is soft, fragile wood, rotten with fungus.  Beautiful, yes, but structurally very unsound.

[kennym]

Originally posted by goobersan:
Years ago John from OMC used a fine point sharpie to "spalt" veneers.

I had a fellow send me some spalted maple, my first thought was I could take good lams and spalt them with a pen! LOL

That bow failed, but the pics he sent me showed it wasn't all the maple's fault. Riser fades were too blunt.

[BrushWolf]

Originally posted by mikkekeswick:
Yes I've done quite a bit of spalting. You need the m.c. tpo be over 30%. Yopu can add various liquid to the mix, I know a friend of mine uses beer. I don't think there is a quick way. Just cut what you want oversized (double) and put it all in a pile with something covering it to keep moisture in. If you can find some already spalted pieces lay them alongside your fresh wood and wait.
Of course make sure you pick a species that spalts nicely. [/QUOTE
That's pretty much what I was reading about. Thanks for the info. I bagged up some wood today.

[BrushWolf]

If the spalted wood was used as veneer and not core I wouldn't think it would be a problem. Maybe I should rethink it though. There are sponsors here that sell spalted veneers. I would think if they didn't work they wouldn't sell them. I was checking out some very nice  spalted mango veneers just the other day.

[Carpdaddy]

Didn't you all see the "sold" tag on those in Troy's link?    :D