Ambrosia Maple turnings and a Red Hawthorn Plate

[CrashResq]

Here is another Wood magazine toothpick holder. This one is from Ambrosia Maple (with Marblewood finial and cup). The lidded box is from the Ambrosia Maple that was left over. The little 6" plate is from Red Hawthorn burl. I've made a few pens from the Hawthorn burl, but didn't realize how nice it is to work with until I worked on this.

[scmhogg]

Bill,

Those are beautiful. Do you do anything to keep the spalted portions intact whilst turning?

Steve

[Whaler]

Beautiful work. That Ambrosia Maple is fantastic.

[mater]

Very nice work. It is beautiful.

[CrashResq]

Thanks everyone.... I'm still trying to decide if I like the box or not... something about it doesn't look right... maybe the bead on the lid... I don't know... MIL loves it... she'll probably get it

Steve... none of this wood is spalted... the discoleration in the Ambrosia Maple is made by a worm that bores in the wood and stains it (in the third picture, you can see three little bore holes in the one streak)

[Sugarman]

They are beautiful and the plate is stunning

[DonHo]

I was right last time, you DO have this "round" stuff figured out. Beautiful work.

About your walnut bowl post, Virgil gave me a few blocks after I ordered my first lathe, but the bowl(my first try) in the piece he gave me had a hole in the bottom

DonHo

[Uncle Cracker]

Steve... none of this wood is spalted... the discoleration in the Ambrosia Maple is made by a worm that bores in the wood and stains it (in the third picture, you can see three little bore holes in the one streak)

Actually, it's even more interesting than that... The holes are bored by adult ambrosia beetles (there are actually many different distinct but related species) to be used by their larvae. The staining comes from a symbiotic fungus carried by the beetles and their young, with which they "paint" the walls of the tunnels. The fungus multiplies, and is then a source of food for the critters. They don't eat the wood, just push it out the holes. Their tastes run toward dying or dead trees, rather than healthy wood.

[CrashResq]

LOL Don - I have a few of those wood funnels too

Actually, it's even more interesting than that... The holes are bored by adult ambrosia beetles (there are actually many different distinct but related species) to be used by their larvae. The staining comes from a symbiotic fungus carried by the beetles and their young, with which they "paint" the walls of the tunnels. The fungus multiplies, and is then a source of food for the critters. They don't eat the wood, just push it out the holes. Their tastes run toward dying or dead trees, rather than healthy wood.

That's good information to know... thank you... folks are always asking "how'd you get the wood to look like that?" now I have more in depth explanation (I just knew a bug bored in it and stained it )

[Crash2510]

that is some beautiful wood and some nice work