Have you seen Spalted Pacific Maple limbs? Pics

[Ryan Sanpei]

My hunting partner just got his bow last week.  He ordered these limbs.  I just had to share!  You can't see it in the picture but in the sun it shows up a little "curly" too.

 

 

[rastaman]

Very nice Ryan!  

[FerretWYO]

Those are pretty cool.

[Ray Hammond]

spalted wood is something we used to call "punky" wood- its decaying, caused by fungal action and the discoloration is the effect of decay.

In order to use that wood it surely must be "stabilized" like knife handle material. Interesting natural camo effect.

[Bjorn]

Great camo effect too. Beautiful wood.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Originally posted by Ray Hammond:
spalted wood is something we used to call "punky" wood- its decaying, caused by fungal action and the discoloration is the effect of decay.

In order to use that wood it surely must be "stabilized" like knife handle material. Interesting natural camo effect.

Thanks for the info Ray!    
Learn something new everyday.

[cacciatore]

Very nice.

[Izzy]

Never have seen it before  but it sure is nice looking.

[Cal bow]

Very nice

[Mike Vines]

beautiful wood, and the grain looks great too.

[beetlebailey1977]

Spalted sycamore is very good looking.

[GREATBROWNKNOCKEMDOWN]

I heard that having wood stabilized makes it to heavy to use for limb lams.  is this true??

[Ray Hammond]

I wouldn't think so. They're very thin and it's density is pretty light to start with due to decay but I could be wrong about stabilization too maybe they just "kill" the cause of spalting using heat or something else

Since veneers just decorate anyway as long as they're 'dead' I guess it would be fine

Sure would be interesting to hear what bowyer says- they're gorgeous!!!!! My favorite knife has spalted maple handle

[PEARL DRUMS]

I had a splated pecan Bush Bow that was stunning.

[Ryan Sanpei]

I'll try to give South a buzz today.

[owlbait]

I recognized South's work. I'm betting that with his woodworking experience he knows that veneer is fine. He definetly has an awesome supply of woods for those bows. Hope he makes it to KaZoo with his new longbow this coming January.

[KYArcher]

Sweet!    .... KY  

[Bivyhunter]

I'd imagine that there are multiple products out there for use on stabilizing woods, but the one I use is "Clear Penetrating Epoxy", also sold as Restore It (same product, same company).  It changes the cellulose of the wood, dissolves the sap and oils-- strengthening and reinforcing it.  It is a solvent based product that is about the viscosity of water, so it penetrates really well.  The product I use is made by Smith and Company in Richmond, CA.
   Yup Owlbait, I'll be there with the new takedown longbow and with any luck, one or two of the new one piece hybrid longbows as well.  Looking forward to seeing you guys there.