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 Spalted
Beech
The pattern in the wood is
caused by spalting, after the tree falls to the ground, it picks up bacteria
and fungal spore, these eat at the wood fibres and the lines of colour you can
see are known as “Zone Lines” these come in many colours mainly black and
brown. These lines form barriers as the spores seek to protect the area they
have occupied. All of these bacteria and fungi need moisture to remain alive,
so as the wood dry’s then they all die leaving a stunning pattern in the wood
fibre. When working the wood care must be taken not to inhale the dust from
some of the spores, as this is very toxic. Once dry and the item is finished
then there is no danger whatsoever from the wood.
Wych Elm
 The
Elm, sometimes called Wych Elm when it has these colours through it and
sometimes a greenish tinge to the figuring.
Lore and traditions of Wych
Elm
Choose willow of the burn,
choose hazel of the rock, choose alder of the bog, choose birch of the
waterfall, choose ash of the shade, choose yew of the resilience, chose elm of
the braes, choose oak of the sun. Given that alder, willow and elm do not make
good firewood, this cannot be a memory-rhyme for gathering logs for the hearth.
It has been suggested that it relates to a Highland tradition of nine sacred
woods that kindled the druidical fires at Beltane and Hallowe’en. The magical
properties of wych elm are suggested by the preference of magicians for wands
made of its wood.
Laburnum
Laburnum (also called Golden Chain), They
have yellow pea-flowers on pendulous branches, which makes them very popular
garden trees. They are native to the mountains of southern Europe. Quite a
rare wood in the UK, the heartwood is a dark chocolate brown with buttery yellow
sapwood, all parts of the tree are poisonous and care must be taken when working
the wood
 RIPPLED
ASH This is
an even mass of ripple grain running at right angles to the grain of the wood.
This can be found in both white and coloured Ash. This is often caused by
the tree having to grow in an un-natural direction causing compression in
the wood. This wood type is very rare. |
