preserving spalted maple

[Ron Journeau]

I just received a 12 '' diameter chunk of spalted maple, just cut down last week. It looks a tad soft or punky, but the spalting (my first piece) :D looks spectacular, and I don't want to lose it. Other than the regular end seal or old paint to prevent checking, is there anything else i can do to keep it in good shape until I am able to turn it? :confused:

[Loy Hawes]

I have never tried it but I hear freezing works.

[John Shuk]

The rotting process should stop once you start to let it dry. I have a nicely splated burl that was a little punky that I treated with Minwax wood hardener. You can get it at Home Depot and it seems to have soaked in quite a ways. I have yet to turn the piece. It should do a nice job of encpsulating any critters who might be in there as well.

[Ernie Nyvall]

The rotting process should stop once you start to let it dry. I have a nicely splated burl that was a little punky that I treated with Minwax wood hardener. You can get it at Home Depot and it seems to have soaked in quite a ways. I have yet to turn the piece. It should do a nice job of encpsulating any critters who might be in there as well.

Yes, the minwax works good. I've also read where you can mix 50/50 water and white glue for this purpose, but I'm not sure how far that mix will soak in where the minwax wood hardner goes deep.

Ernie

[Jeremiah Jordan]

I have had some spalted maple my dad cut down sheesh, like three or four years ago. After finals are done, I am going to open it up to see how many pen blanks i can lay my hands on. I am just wondering if I should coat them in minwax before i turn them?

Thanks.

[John Shuk]

If they don't feel too punky I'd hold off.