Spalted beech queries

[OldWood]

A large beech came down near me 20 months ago. I logged the top wood for logs last year and took some more out this year.

Its is now beginning to spalt in the smaller timbers - up to 12". The main bole is at least 36". There's probably at least 15 tons of wood still in this tree.

The questions :-

How long (is a piece of string , I know !) - will the spalting last for before the wood is rotten - ie once started does spalting go very quickly through the timber or do I have some time to get a reasonable amount out ?

I was warned that turning spalted beech is hazardous because of the fungus present - my answer was that if the wood is dry (<18%) then the fungus will no be dead. Opinions?

A more general question but starts from this source of wood - how do you prepare notch timber for turning ? With a tree this size there is quite a lot of such pieces.

Rob

 

[CHJ]

- - ie once started does spalting go very quickly through the timber or do I have some time to get a reasonable amount out ?

12 months can see very rapid spalting spread if conditions are optimal.

-
I was warned that turning spalted beech is hazardous because of the fungus present - my answer was that if the wood is dry (<18%) then the fungus will no be dead.

The spores can still be live but dormant when dry, avoid breathing at all costs, the lungs are a perfect incubator for regrowth.

- A more general question but starts from this source of wood - how do you prepare notch timber for turning ? With a tree this size there is quite a lot of such pieces.

Rob

TRY THIS METHOD

 

[Bodrighy]

Alternatively use a glue chuck. This piece was simply turned by mountuing on a glue chuck using wedges then turned. The glue peels off quite easily



Pete