Spalted persimmon

[Dave Boyt]

Here's a new one (to me, at least)-- spalted persimmon. A friend brought over some persimmon logs from a tree that blew down a year and a half ago in the Joplin, MO tornado. I really didn't expect to find much, since it rots so quickly, but we threw it on the band mill. Turns out it had been down just long enough to get some brown color and a little spalting. He was absolutely tickled with his haul. He's a custom woodworker, and it'll be tough to wait for the two years he'll let it season to see what he does with it. Persimmon, by the way, is in the ebony family.

Of course, I had to hit just one...

 

[Mac88]

Interesting looking wood, Dave. Any idea what your friend has in mind for it. It would sure make for an interesting looking table top.
Get yourself a metal detector. It will save a lot of sharpening.

 

[discounthunter]

nice find. because of the family i wouldnt think persimmon to spalt. walnut is the only on i know of not to(i have seen several possible pieces) persimmon looks to spalt similiar to maple.

 

[Dave Boyt]

Probably a table top or bench. He does a lot of that sort of work, and has his pieces in area galleries. For a retired history teacher, he's pretty talented. Yeh, I've got a Log Wizard metal detector, but I hadn't hit metal in a while, and got careless.

I've never seen spalted Osage orange, either.

 

[Mac88]

Probably a table top or bench. He does a lot of that sort of work, and has his pieces in area galleries. For a retired history teacher, he's pretty talented. Yeh, I've got a Log Wizard metal detector, but I hadn't hit metal in a while, and got careless.

I've never seen spalted Osage orange, either.

We hit one a while back. Same reason, got careless (or forgetful). At least the blade is salvageable.

 

[Cody Colston]

That Persimmon was also infested with borers...like all the Persimmon I've seen that's been down for any time at all. I've turned some bowls from it that were like sieves due to the borer holes. They won't hold soup but they make interesting-looking pieces.

I have seen OO sapwood spalt but never the heartwood...even after 50 years in the ground as a fence post.

 

[john taliaferro]

I have never seen one that large , does it ruin the band when you do that to a nail ? O good job on hitting it length wise at least you the nail the wright way .

 

[qbilder]

Doesn't look like spalt to me. Looks like natural inclusions. The butt end shows what looks like ring shake or mineral absorption, and the black dots are representative of that. Spalt is more irregular lines and color fading in spots. Either way, that's some stunning wood. Lucky find! I have always wanted to find some figured or colorful persimmon but haven't been lucky yet.

 

[Dave Boyt]

"I have never seen one that large."
John, are you talking about the nail or the log? Hit lengthwise like that, I probably trashed the blade, but will see what the guy at the sharpening shops says. He'll have to remove a lot of metal and re-set the blade, if it can be salvaged at all. It was well worth the loss of a blade, though. I've cut through a lot of nails with cobaltized (bi-metal) blades with no problems, but had a regular blade on the mill at the time.

Thanks for enlightening me as to the nature of the color of the wood. Qbilder, shall I set some aside for you next time I get some?