Some help with a grey mark please...

[RobR]

Working on a spalted beech blank, and when I was sanding I noticed this ugly grey mark, which I can't seem to get rid of by sanding or turning further.

Can anyone suggest what's caused it, or is it just part of the wood (it seems so out of place).

Or do I just bin it and start again?

Thanks,

Rob.

 

[Phil Dart]

I think you're going to find that it's part of the decay caused by the spalting Rob, and I suspect that no amount of sanding will remove it. It's not uncommon in spalted beech, and you often find it in spalted birch too.

Try putting some sanding sealer on it. It won't help to get rid of it, but it will put something that's the start of a finish over it, which will help to galvanise your thoughts as to whether you think it's an asset or an eyesore.

 

[RobR]

Thanks Phil. I'll try some sanding sealer in the morning, but I suspect that now I've seen it it will stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[flexi]

Phil is correct, it is not only pretty black lines you get with spalted blanks but soft punky patches too.... A lot of people stabalise spalted wood to get around this, but you still get the discolouration.