Spalted pecan

[Bigdrowdy1]

Ok question I cut this log about 3 years ago and raised it off the ground to dry. Figured it had rotted by now. Found the log to still be good and solid. I cut some off this pass Thanksgiving and sealed the ends and removed the bark. Problem is they seemed to crack from outside in not on the ends. I thought by removing bark wood stop any decay and remove what grubs and bugs were there.
Do I leave the bark on to slow the drying process or remove? Do I need to seal the outsides up or wrap them?
I haven’t seen much curl but they have definitely spalted fairly well.

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

Ends were sealed after taking pictures.

 

[Mr. Peet]

Rod,
Intact bark slows drying, then the ends check because they dry faster. When the bark is removed, the outside of the log drys faster than the inside. So it wants to shrink a bit, but the inside of higher moisture is still swollen and shrinks slower, thus the check from the outside in. Kilns are the only way you could dry without checking other than perfect weather coincidences along with great luck.

You can wrap the log to slow the process or build a moisture control tent (basically a kiln). The spalt looks like a lot of white-rot and stages of blue-stain, Not the black-line many prize. Looks like the wood has softened a good bit with borers into the heartwood. If you don't do stabilization, I'd cash in and mill blanks now before it goes beyond your use level.

 

[JonathanH]

Rodney, the bowl blank that you gave me cracked from the pith area also. I filled it with CA and rough turned it yesterday. The outside sap areas were real soft. Once it got down into the heartwood it was still hard. Hard enough that I needed to sharpen up a couple of times.

The rough turned bowl is in the middle of a brown paper bag filled with shavings from the lathe. I'm hoping that this will prevent further cracking.

It has some nice color in it and I believe that the finished piece will turn out nicely.

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

I have a 15’ long piece of that same log I am going to try and put up. May do like Mr Peet said and cut down to spindles and such. Maybe even PMs if I can. Going to turn some smaller bowls and do like you and pack them in some shaving.
I have a large Oak and another big pecan that needs worked up to. Here is some pics of the Oak.

 

[Mr. Peet]

I have a 15’ long piece of that same log I am going to try and put up. May do like Mr Peet said and cut down to spindles and such. Maybe even PMs if I can. Going to turn some smaller bowls and do like you and pack them in some shaving.
I have a large Oak and another big pecan that needs worked up to. Here is some pics of the Oak.
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Rodney,

What brand of oak is that one? I lack several Texas species of oak. Other item, the pith was off centered in a few of those pictures. An offset pith often means load-wood and tension wood can play a big role in distorting things when drying. Compression wood is a more common term. Think @phinds has a link telling more.

 

[JonathanH]

You should be able to get some good turning materials from those logs.

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

Not sure on type will get some leaf pictures. Don’t have no sanding materials up here in Oklahoma

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

hope this helps @Mr Peet

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

@Mr. Peet

 

[Mr. Peet]

@Mr. Peet

Sleeping....Ya, that looks like 'Black jack oak, Quercus marilandica. Give it a a look up and see if you agree.

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

Most of my trees up here are growing alongside a creek bank. The soil here is very sandy and a lot of them are on bank sides as well. This is all bottom land that floods in spring time except last few years we been in a severe drought. The oak was perfectly heathy and died during the mid spring.

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

That’s what I have always heard it referred to growing up.

 

[Mr. Peet]

That’s what I have always heard it referred to growing up.

I'll buy some. I have a single sample over pith from a small tree. Looking to add a flatsawn sample and a 1/4 sawn sample to the reference collection. Not sure if Paul would want any, @phinds

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

Once I get back home I will work on some and see what I can come up with,

 

[phinds]

I'll buy some. I have a single sample over pith from a small tree. Looking to add a flatsawn sample and a 1/4 sawn sample to the reference collection. Not sure if Paul would want any, @phinds

@Bigdrowdy1 if it does have any blackline spalting, I'd like a piece, otherwise, I'm good.

 

[Mr. Peet]

@Bigdrowdy1 if it does have any blackline spalting, I'd like a piece, otherwise, I'm good.

I tagged you for the Black jack oak, not the Pecan, so wanted to make sure we were on the same page (sort of).

 

[Don Ratcliff]

I don't want any of this now, stoopid nails!

 

[phinds]

I tagged you for the Black jack oak, not the Pecan, so wanted to make sure we were on the same page (sort of).

Thanks Mark. Yeah, I missed that. I would like any sample of blackjack oak.

 

[Bigdrowdy1]

I don't want any of this now, stoopid nails!



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That’s a board on a hay trailer. Yours has the hidden staples. I would get you something that easy to see! I am not a stoopid monkey !