Spalted wood

[ESP]

Is spalted wood less structurally sound than  regular wood?  Will it be more likely to have a failure?  
Thanks

[Longtoke]

Yes it needs stabilized

[Possum Head]

If you use for veneers I think it can stand alone. Risers probably not.

[Tim Finley]

Spalted wood is wood with a fungus in it and is partially decayed, it wont work for handles unless it has been stabilized and reinforced but can be very beautiful in veneers under clear glass where the epoxy can penetrate through the veneers.

[ESP]

Sorry I was not very clear.  I meant for veneers. Thanks

[dhaverstick]

Idaho Curt sells a bunch of it on his Wood Vault site so I would say it's just fine for veneer. Anybody I know who uses it for anything else stabilizes it first.

Darren

[Terry Green]

As veneers...I don't think it amounts to a hill of beans...its like wall paper hello???    

[Longtoke]

Yes it needs stabilized

[ESP]

I never thought of veneers as wallpaper. Good analogy.

[wingnut]

Well not quite wallpaper because it goes under the clear glass.  therefore it does need to structurally sound or it can come apart.  Doesn't happen very often as it's so thin but it can happen.

Mike