Never seen oak age/spalt like this

[Randy Anderson]

I've turned a fair amount of oak but I've never seen a piece age and spalt like this one. Such a clear distinct boundary between the heartwood and sapwood. The dark color and spalting lines dead stop at the boundary. The grain follows through but not the coloring. I see differences in the heartwood and sapwood as wood ages but this is one like I've never seen before. Can't decide if it's unique and interesting, or just odd.

 

[Richard Coers]

I've seen walnut that had sapwood that would crumble in your hand and the heartwood was just perfect. Not really uncommon in many wood species.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

I have seen it like that however in the north woods where I live the sap wood is much less so it usually just looks discolored on the edge.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

interesting definitely....have nothing to add but will follow discussion

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

Definition of Spalted per Hoadley's "Understanding Wood" {Partially decayed wood characterized by irregular discolorations appearing as dark zone lines on the surface}.
That is the definition I remember from when the term first came into use in wood turning and flat work and usually the mostly usable spalted wood was maple.
The current definition available on line just says rot so I prefer to go with Hoadley.

 

[hockenbery]

Certainly dramatic,

fairly common for sapwood to spalt or rot away an leave the heartwood untouched by the process.

Piece on the left is red oak with similar sapwood spalting

 

[R Henrickson]

I've found that this is characteristic of what is called 'pin oak' in Kentucky. I've seen it less often with other varieties of oak.

 

[Tom Albrecht]

I've turned a fair amount of oak but I've never seen a piece age and spalt like this one. Such a clear distinct boundary between the heartwood and sapwood. The dark color and spalting lines dead stop at the boundary. The grain follows through but not the coloring. I see differences in the heartwood and sapwood as wood ages but this is one like I've never seen before. Can't decide if it's unique and interesting, or just odd.

That’s a cool looking piece of work. Was the darker spalted rim fragile or punky?

 

[Randy Anderson]

Thanks. Solid except for a few small tear out places at the peak of the wings but near the edge on the outside. Nothing soft and fits the overall look fine.