Spalted Wood

Spalted wood is beautiful. It’s a form of rotting, and it’s caused by fungi. Spalting comes in many forms: patterns, colors, textures. Until this century, the biology of spalting wasn’t well understood, and even less so any methods to produce it in a laboratory setting. We are once again joined by Javier Ribera, a wood materials scientist and mycologist from EMPA to discuss new research on spalted wood. The team at EMPA has built off of existing literature on the biology of spalting which has allowed them to artificially produce spalted wood, potentially opening a market for designer wood rot.

Topics Covered:

• History of spalted wood use in the United States
• Three kinds of spalting: zone lines, pigmentation and white rot
• Mel & Mark Lindquist’s legacy of spalted wood in woodcraft
• DIY spalting methods: the possibilities and limitations
• The mycology of zone line spalting: what species are involved? What does wood anatomy have to do with it?
• How researchers at EMPA are commercializing spalted woods
• How you can spalt your own wood at home!

Show Notes:

EMPA’s Fungal Biotech: https://www.empa.ch/web/s302

Spalted Wood The Movie: http://spaltedwood.com/

Zone Line Spalting from Science to Application: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127521000332

GIY Spalted Wood Methods: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2009/04/14/spalt-your-own-lumber

Wood Spalting Starter Pack: https://www.mossycreekmushrooms.com/product/spalting-liquid-culture-pack/

More spalting species (members only): https://www.northernspalting.com/buy-materials/fungi/

Compatible woods + examples: https://www.northernspalting.com/spalting-info/wood-species-examples/

Dr. Sara (Seri) Robinson book on Spalted Wood: https://www.abebooks.com/Spalting-101-Robinson-Dr-Seri-C/30973684244/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade-_-product_id=COM9780764360893NEW-_-keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjw3_KIBhA2EiwAaAAlipUvXMCvEPINjOPvbbXRh6epgaMoJPs504UaowGjmrDTZaOPjiLjgRoCSJIQAvD_BwE
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