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Ken Salisbury
04-21-2005, 11:08 AM
Why can't I fine "spalted" or "spalting" in the dictionary ??. A very common word in the woodworking world should be somewhere in the dictionary. Am I just missing something ???

Old age brings on senility but I had no idea it also brought on stupidity :confused: :D :confused:

This is my understanding of the word - just in case you are as baffled as I:

Spalting is a by-product of the rotting process that is carried out by a vast array of stain, mold and decay fungi, that are found naturally on the forest floor. When the temperature and humidity are right, spalting can cause many different and beautiful patterns in rotting wood. The unusual coloration may be due to chemically induced reactions between the wood, fungi and insect deposits, often resulting in black, pink, grey and multicolored streaked wood

Donnie Raines
04-21-2005, 11:17 AM
I have three dictionaries here in the office..one published last year.Spalted is not listed in either of the books.

Ken Fitzgerald
04-21-2005, 11:30 AM
I checked my unabridged dictionary.....it's not listed there either? :confused:

Roger Myers
04-21-2005, 11:30 AM
Ken,
an interesting point...I also noted that spall and spalling are not in the dictionary yet quite often used in the masonry and stone trades. I expect that spalling and spalted have a close relationship....spalling to split or crack, as it is generally used. I did find a German/English translation of all the word (below) which caused me to wonder, are these foreign derrived words (german or other) that came over with the trades, but still see little use? ok...I gotta go back to work now :)

spall Splitter
spall Steinsplitter
spalling Abplatzen
spalling Abplatzungen
spalted wood gestocktes Holz (Holz mit einer vom Stockschwamm hervorgerufenen Zeichnung)

Ian Barley
04-21-2005, 12:36 PM
Dictionary.com lists the word "Spalt" but not the meaning that you or I would think of. It makes a reference to spalt timber but refers to brittleness rather than figuring

Rob Littleton
04-21-2005, 1:08 PM
This is interesting (to me at least)...

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=spoilt

It seems possible to me, that just like words have changed over the years (last names of people I refer to specifically), it MAY be that this word has changed over the years too.

Check out the meaning of the word half way down the page.

just a thought

Rob Blaustein
04-21-2005, 2:23 PM
That's interesting because Google returns 36,600 entries for "spalted!" I couldn't find either...until I turned to the OED (I have access to it on-lin). There are a few entries (with some refs to FWW), but you would think a word like that would have found its way into standard dictionary. Anyway, here you go:

spalt, a.

Now dial.

Of wood: Brittle, short-grained; breaking easily through dryness or decay.
<small>In some dialects also applied to other things.</small><!--end_def-->

<small><!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_ed--><!--start_d-->1567<!--end_d--><!--end_ed--></nobr> <!--start_ea--><!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->G<small>OLDING</small><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/help/bib/oed2-g.html#golding)<!--end_a--><!--end_ea--> <!--start_ew--><!--start_w-->Ovid's Met.<!--end_w--><!--end_ew--> x. 100 <!--start_qt-->Nor hazle spalt, nor ash whereof the shafts of speares made bee.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1577<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->H<small>ARRISON</small><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/help/bib/oed2-h.html#harrison)<!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->England<!--end_w--> <!--open_smallcaps--><small>II</small>.<!--close_smallcaps--> xxii. (1877) <!--open_smallcaps--><small>I</small>.<!--close_smallcaps--> 341 <!--start_qt-->The parke oke is the softest, and far more spalt and brickle than the hedge oke.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1733<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->W. E<small>LLIS</small><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/help/bib/oed2-e.html#w-ellis)<!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Chiltern & Vale Farm.<!--end_w--> 113 <!--start_qt-->The Beech is more spalt and short in it self than many others be.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><!--start_w-->Ibid.<!--end_w--> 154 <!--start_qt-->The Wind's Damage, that is often fatal to some of the Arms of this spalt, brittle Wood.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1787<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->G<small>ROSE</small><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/help/bib/oed2-g2.html#grose)<!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Prov. Gloss.<!--end_w--> s.v. Spolt, <!--start_qt-->The rafters of the church of Norwich are said to be spolt.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1787-<!--end_d--></nobr> in East Anglian glossaries (in form spouit).<!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1875<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->P<small>ARISH</small><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/help/bib/oed2-p.html#parish)<!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Sussex Dial.<!--end_w--> 110.

<!--end_q--></small> <!--start_def-->intr. and trans. To split, tear, splinter, etc. Hence <!--start_lemma--><!--start_bl--><nobr>http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/graphics/parser/gifs/mbb/sm.gifspalting</nobr><!--end_bl--><!--end_lemma--> vbl. n.<!--end_def-->

<small><!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_ed--><!--start_d-->1733<!--end_d--><!--end_ed--></nobr> <!--start_ea--><!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->T<small>ULL</small><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/help/bib/oed2-t2.html#tull)<!--end_a--><!--end_ea--> <!--start_ew--><!--start_w-->Horse-Hoeing Husb.<!--end_w--><!--end_ew--> xx. 291 <!--start_qt-->It Spaults up from below the Staple.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><!--start_w-->Ibid.<!--end_w--> 296 <!--start_qt-->The Danger of tearing (or spaulting) up of the Under-Stratum along with the Staple.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1854<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->A. E. B<small>AKER</small><!--close_smallcaps--> (http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/help/bib/oed2-b.html#a-e-baker)<!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Northampt. Gloss.<!--end_w-->, <!--start_qt-->Spalt,..to chip, to splint.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><!--start_w-->Ibid.<!--end_w-->, <!--start_qt-->Spaltings, branches of trees that are broken off, or riven by the wind.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1876<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_w-->Surrey Gloss.<!--end_w--> s.v., <!--start_qt-->I must get a mattick,..and spalt they old stubs off.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--></small>

<!-- additions --><!-- 50232080-adds1- -->

ADDITIONS SERIES 1993



<!--start_def-->spalt, v.<!--end_def-->

<!--start_def-->Restrict dial. to sense 1. Delete ‘Hence spalting vbl. n.’ and add:<!--end_def--> <!--start_def-->2. intr. To become spalted.<!--end_def-->

<small><!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1977<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_w-->Fine Woodworking<!--end_w--> Summer 51/1 <!--start_qt-->Apple spalts, but oh boy does it crack!<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--></small>



<!--start_def-->Hence <!--start_lemma--><!--start_bl--><nobr>http://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/graphics/parser/gifs/mbb/sm.gifspalting</nobr><!--end_bl--><!--end_lemma--> vbl. n.<!--end_def-->

<small><!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1733<!--end_d--></nobr>, <nobr><!--start_d-->1854<!--end_d--></nobr> [see sense 1 above].<!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1977<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_w-->Fine Woodworking<!--end_w--> Summer 50/1 <!--start_qt-->Spalting is caused by water and fungus.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1980<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->R. B. H<small>OADLEY</small><!--close_smallcaps--><!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->Understanding Wood<!--end_w--> ii. 35 (caption) <!--start_qt-->As certain white rots develop, dark zone lines form, as on this piece of sugar maple, above. This type of decay is called spalting.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1990<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_w-->Woodworker<!--end_w--> July 723/2 <!--start_qt-->Beech..is excellent for carving on top of an already turned piece, as the spalting weakens the fibres in the wood.</small>

spalted, ppl. a.
Of timber: having a distinctive lined grain caused by bacterial decay and valued for its decorativeness.<!--end_def-->

<small><!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_ed--><!--start_d-->1977<!--end_d--><!--end_ed--></nobr> <!--start_ea--><!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->M. L<small>INDQUIST</small><!--close_smallcaps--><!--end_a--><!--end_ea--> in <!--start_ew--><!--start_w-->Fine Woodworking<!--end_w--><!--end_ew--> Summer 50/1 <!--start_qt-->There is no official documentation of spalted wood that I have been able to find. Apparently nobody was crazy enough to consider using ‘rotten’ wood in the past... One important reason it wasn't used was the lack of the kind of abrasives that are available today. Any turning done with spalted wood requires extensive sanding.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><!--start_w-->Ibid.<!--end_w--> 50/2 <!--start_qt-->Finding spalted wood at just the right point is crucial.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1982<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_a--><!--open_smallcaps-->L. K<small>ALLEN</small><!--close_smallcaps--><!--end_a--> <!--start_w-->No Lady in House<!--end_w--> vii. 67 <!--start_qt-->The unusual grain of the wood that swirled around the bottom and up the sides of the bowl as though it were alive and moving... That's spalted maple, that is.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1986<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_w-->Practical Woodworking<!--end_w--> July 344/1 <!--start_qt-->It was spalted throughout and there was enough for 25 lamps.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><!--start_w-->Ibid.<!--end_w-->, <!--start_qt-->If you want spalted timber, buy it in the round, store in damp conditions and allow the decay to proceed.<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--> <!--start_q--><nobr><!--start_d-->1989<!--end_d--></nobr> <!--start_w-->Chicago Tribune<!--end_w--> 1 Dec. <!--open_smallcaps--><small>VII</small><!--close_smallcaps-->. 52/2 <!--start_qt-->Karpowicz has been using maple that is <nobr>spaltedhttp://80-dictionary-oed-com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/graphics/parser/gifs/sp/em.gifan</nobr> early form of decay in which bacteria creates [sic] dark lines in the wood like ink drawing.

<!--end_qt--><!--end_q--></small>