Dumb question, but one I do not know the answer too!!!

[Porter]

Me and another member were talking about the existence of spalted Osage.  I've never seen it, but that doesn't mean it does not exist.... so all you callmakers and wood lovers, does it exist?  My idea is that Osage never rots since its so wonderful to work with 

Actually I've seen Osage fence posts that have been in the ground for over 50 years and they are not even close to rotting or spalting... 

Inquiring minds want to know !!!!  (and yes you can make fun of me for this dumb question!!!!)

[rutnstrutcalls]

I do not think that Osage will Spalt. It is very resistant to Rot and is used for Fence Posts going through Creeks and other wet areas for that reason. It will however get a very nice looking green tint to it if bury as a fence post or buried in mud or Pig Manure.

[callmaker69]

I can be wrong on this and I might have to ask around but I think any wood will spalt or rot. Some may and do take more time than others but this is what I think, let me also say I have been wrong on soooooo many ocasions lol, good luck, Jeff

[Bulldogmikey]

Mike Richard at Ozark can and I assume will answer this. But I read at least 20 Internet articles and none mentioned anything about decay rate. In fact just the opposite. So I am not sure.

Mike

[Strut-N]

I have never seen any......But found this website......These people call it spalted....

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://texaswoodcrafts.net/bodark/Bodark%2520162_500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://texaswoodcrafts.net/bodark/&usg=__1lJJ2NIlHepIwYonh2WhDjLxjxQ=&h=251&w=500&sz=22&hl=en&start=150&um=1&tbnid=8fnc2YJVRjToQM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspalted%2Bosage%2Bwood%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D147%26um%3D1

[letinmfly]

Mike.

Glad you asked the question.

Here's a link that shows a bowl made of Spalted Osage.

http://www.aawforum.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6042&ppuser=8166

I've searched a bit but can't find much on spalted Osage.

[Gitzit69]

Mike.

Glad you asked the question.

Here's a link that shows a bowl made of Spalted Osage.

http://www.aawforum.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6042&ppuser=8166

I've searched a bit but can't find much on spalted Osage.

Thanks alot Lou, now you got me searching the net for spalted Osage 
That piece in that link is stunning.

[letinmfly]

Mike.

Glad you asked the question.

Here's a link that shows a bowl made of Spalted Osage.

http://www.aawforum.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6042&ppuser=8166

I've searched a bit but can't find much on spalted Osage.

Thanks alot Lou, now you got me searching the net for spalted Osage 
That piece in that link is stunning.

Dave,

I'm just trying to hold up my end of the deal. 

[Ozark Custom Calls]

Honestly I didn't think osage could spalt. I have dealt with VERY old osage in various stages. The bowl in that link looks like their may have been some damage to the tree it came out of, and worked out real well for the turner. Mike I think the spalting like you are looking for like in Maples n such dosen't really happen to osage, or its rare or seldom seen. Osage can get some awesome mineral staining too. I have a call with some bright red and its beautiful!! Osage does rot though... it takes time but it does get punky and bad. Have some in the yard thats going to the furnace this winter.

Richard

[trumpetturner]

It's just my opinion, but based on experience, I'm with Richard, but with a qualification.  I think that the bowl picture is spalting, but notice that it is only in the sapwood.  I've never seen spalting of the heartwood in Osage....that's not to say it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it, nor have I seen it in photos of finished turned products.

Spalting is the beginning stages of decay, and what I understand is that the black lines are the boundary lines between colonies of fungi.  Since Osage heartwood is tremendously resistant to decay, it would be extremely rare to find spalted heartwood.  I don't think that what is being called spalting in the photos of the heartwood turning blanks is truly spalting.

Just my two cents worth.

Danny

[letinmfly]

Here's a goblet I found made of Spalted Osage.  Click on link and scroll to the middle of the page, it's called Osage Orange Goblet 05-1.  It's also called Texas Bodark.

http://www.prairiesend.com/turnings/otherTexaswoods.asp