Replies

1. 
   Neil | Jun 29, 2006 11:50pm | #1

   I would be a bit skeptical about doing that.   It is my understanding spalting comes from a fungus that attacks the wood. 

   Some funguses produce Mycotoxins and can be very toxic.

   Neil

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 30, 2006 07:26pm | #2

   No, no, no don't worry about toxins for heaven's sake.  Worry about how the wood would hold up to abuse.  Spalted wood is generally softer and more porous.

   As to this whole toxin thing, here's a read from an email dear Jon Arno sent me awhile back:

   "When the wood dries out below 20%MC the fungi go dormant, so the fungi that have penetrated deepest into the wood have a little more time to "operate" as the wood begins to dry from the outside when the moisture content declines toward the 20% cut off point."

   The entire text, for those who are interested in spalting in general:

   "Hi Jamie,

   I've been following the spalted maple thread, but haven't jumped in because I'm basically in agreement with those who have posted so far.

    

   I suspect the veining in spalted maple is enhanced if the maple is exposed to variations in moisture content that hover back and forth around the 20%MC cut off point. The logic is that the fungi that cause the spalting metabolize best between a low of 20%MC on up to the wood's Fiber Satuation Point, which for most species is between 28%MC and 30%MC.

    

   When the wood dries out below 20%MC the fungi go dormant, so the fungi that have penetrated deepest into the wood have a little more time to "operate" as the wood begins to dry from the outside when the moisture content declines toward the 20% cut off point. If the wood is keep constantly at an MC in the 20% to 28% range, the fungi advance into the log at a constant rate that yields a more or less uniform graying of the wood...and it also results in the most rapid progress toward the complete structural decay of the wood tissue.

    

   The story is a little more complicated than this in that the fungi that actually are most destructive to the wood tissue aren't the simpler molds that cause the spalting, but the molds tend to break down the interconnecting pits between the wood cells that allow the more destructive fungi to gain access and each of these related critters has some specific optimum MC at it metabolizes best, but they all are most active at some point between 20% and 28%MC. In any event, the outcome is the same.

    

   So, to make a long story short, the best spalted maple comes from logs that are exposed to vacillating MCs that range around plus and minus 20%MC...and especially if the vacillation progresses slowly back and forth.

    

   Hope this helps.

    

   Regards,

    

   Jon "

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/30/2006 12:27 pm by forestgirl

1. 
   dycook | Jul 01, 2006 06:05pm | #3

   Hi,just learning this chat thing I posted another note about the spalted maple

   and cutting boards

   ps thanks for the 1st reply it was very informative

                                                   Thanks Dale

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 05, 2006 05:42am | #4

   Hi, I saw your other thread, figured you weren't aware how to "Reply" in your original thread.  Seems like you've got it now, though! forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   Buster2000 | Jul 05, 2006 08:48pm | #5

   The overall consensus is that spalted maple is unsuitable for cutting boards.  That we can all agree on.

   Although I agree with the information you have posted, I do have some concerns with you conclusion not to worry about the 'toxins'.  I think that in the specific case of a cutting board, there may be issues with the fungi.  It is important to note that the fungi is dormant, not dead.  If the MC of the wood is increased, it can reactivate.

   In most cases we keep our cabinets and furniture dry, however a cutting board (depending on it's use) is likely to have wet items placed on it, may be left wet and of course could be washed with wet cloths.  Further the kitchen counter is a more humid environment, than most other places.  I believe this could increase the MC of the wood, at least near the cutting surface, which would be the last place that you'd want to encourage fungal growth.

   When cutting the surface will become abraded, and small particles of wood and fungus will find it's way into warm moisture rich food.  Again this is not a place you want to encourage fungal growth.

   Most of this is erring on the side of caution.  But I do think spalted wood needs to be treated with caution in construction and use.

   Buster