Spalted Big Leaf Flame Maple Drop-Top #45

Species: Big Leaf Flame Maple (Acer Macrophyllum)
Length: 23.4375″
Combined Width: 16.3125″
Thickness: .265″
Disclaimer: Please review all photos carefully before purchasing

This set contains Spalted Wood. Spalting or Spalted Wood is caused while a tree is standing/living or when a tree has died or been felled laying on the ground. Considered a form of tree cancer. A cancer that actually does not kill the tree. A fungus that starts to stain the wood in the tree. If the fungus is allowed to grow it will penetrate the tree further by staining the wood causing multiple colors and erratic fungal black lines. If the spalting is well developed it can cause a total breakdown of the wood cellular structure causing heavy rot, rendering the wood useless for structural purposes. This is known as “Punky Wood”. Our supplier categorizes their spalted products in three categories:
1. Firm Spalt –Which is the most desirable for woodworkers/instruments.
2. Mid Tier Spalt—This is the most common spalt that is sold. It will have a combination of some firm wood, predominantly soft wood, and some punky or super soft wood.
3. Punky Spalt—This is the softest and least desirable spalt from a wood working stand point. It’s important to reference that the more colors and black lines in the wood in general the wood tends to be more toward the “Punky” or soft side of the spectrum.