I recently completed a table that featured spalted maple, a very unique and beautiful wood. Spalting is basically a process that certain woods undergo while they rot! Who would have thought that letting something decay could actually make it more beautiful?
Insects and fungi are the two main mechanisms of decay in wood, with fungal decay causing the most deterioration. These parasitic fungi feed off carbohydrates and leave behind waste products that can stain and colour the wood. A certain kind of "white rot" is responsible for the spalted maple you see above, leaving behind black pigments as waste. The lines indicate zones of decay where the wood has been attacked by the rot.
If left in the right conditions for the right amount of time you can get some incredible results, but if left too long the wood will completely decay and turn to dust. To stop the rot is actually fairly easy, you just need to dry the wood below 20% moisture content and since most finished lumber is dried to 8-10% you don't need to worry about the rot once it has been properly dried.
So think about using some rotten wood next time, the results can be stunning!
MB
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