I have one Box Elder board with “flame” features (a reddish spalting) that I intend to use as the top of a hall table. I’m concerned that if I work the face of the board too much (planing/sanding) I may lose the very feature I’m intending to highlight. And, yes, I know, in time, UV light will fade the flames.

Does anyone out these in FW-land have any experience working with Box Elder flames? Any idea how deep the flame features go in the wood? I imagine the answer is, it depends, but if you have any experience working with Box Elder, please share.

Many thanks.  …Tom