Question About Soft Maple

[Mike Goetzke]

I bought a wood rack system and about 250 BF of soft maple from a guy selling of lots of his tools for $300. I didn't notice this till I unloaded the lumber but it has some slight powder beetle damage (I'm guessing that's what it is???):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/IMG_2806.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/IMG_2807.jpg

The wood racks are the heavy duty ones from Hartvilltool that go for around $185 w/ discount so the wood was very cheap. He has had it stored on the rack system in his finished basement for several years. There was no sign of powder anywhere. What should I look for to make sure the lumber is no longer infected? Or is it just firewood:(.

Thanks,

Mike

[Dave Stuve]

Hi Mike,

The first thing I'd look for is holes that are oval instead of round. Oval holes usually mean that they were made before the wood was cut - and any infestation was probably killed by the kiln (uh, this was kiln dried, right? :D )

If all of the holes are round, that means that they were made after the wood was cut, which is usually a bad sign.

Dave

[Mike Goetzke]

Thanks for the response. I looked at the boards closer. Some are oval and some look sort of round, but, the ones that I say look round - if I stuck a pin into the hole the pin would be very skewed to the surface (i.e. the are not perpendicular to the surface). Tell me this is good. Also, most if not all of the holes are in the dark streaks in the wood - does this mean anything?:

(click thumbnails to enlarge)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/th_IMG_2808.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/?action=view&current=IMG_2808.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/th_IMG_2810.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/?action=view&current=IMG_2810.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/th_IMG_2811.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/?action=view&current=IMG_2811.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/th_IMG_2812.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/?action=view&current=IMG_2812.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/th_IMG_2813.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/?action=view&current=IMG_2813.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/th_IMG_2814.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/?action=view&current=IMG_2814.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/th_IMG_2815.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/mbg/?action=view&current=IMG_2815.jpg)


Thanks,

Mike

[Dan Forman]

Those holes were made when the tree was still standing. The coloration of the wood is due to a fungus carried by the beetles. You have what is commonly known as "ambrosia maple". Some consider it a defect, most consider it a natural embellishment.

Dan

[Mike Goetzke]

Thanks for the info - I did a search on ambrosia maple and some finished pieces look beautiful. Also, it seems to draw a much higher price than clear maple.

Mike