Strange patterns in Lightning struck tree

[fossis]

I cut down some stumps that the workers had left from a Spring lightning strike, these patterns were inside.

Fossis...........

[scotto]

That is too cool!

Man, I'd love to get a slice of that sucker. Incredible.

[DigginThePast]

Is that what that is?

I've cut more trees with that same effect. I always assumed it was minerals carried up the tree but never tried to find out for sure.

Neat!

[scotto]

I just showed my wife your pic, and she said she just read someplace about people who pay some serious money for samples like that, to be able to study the patterns made by the lightning or something.

She's gonna try and remember where she read it and I'll let you know.

[fossis]

That is too cool!

Man, I'd love to get a slice of that sucker. Incredible.

I cut it up in pieces small enough to load, but I may can cut some more, dry, sand & shellac, they would be beautiful.

Fossis...........

[fossis]

Is that what that is?

I've cut more trees with that same effect. I always assumed it was minerals carried up the tree but never tried to find out for sure.

Neat!

I don't know for sure, but it's neat anyway, notice the piece of bark (lower left), that was driven into the tree.

Fossis..............

[DigginThePast]

Is that what that is?

I've cut more trees with that same effect. I always assumed it was minerals carried up the tree but never tried to find out for sure.

Neat!

I don't know for sure, but it's neat anyway, notice the piece of bark (lower left), that was driven into the tree.

Fossis..............

Yeah, and it has some other cracking too. I didn't know for sure, just throwing out what were my thoughts when I've seen that in person.

It would be really cool if it holds that look after drying and finishing. If it does I'll have to save some of that for projects when I come across it. How cool would it be to turn a bowl with a chunk of that?

[River Rat]

Pine? That's pretty neat!

[fossis]

Pine? That's pretty neat!

It's persimmon, a really old one.

Fossis............

[fossis]

Is that what that is?

I've cut more trees with that same effect. I always assumed it was minerals carried up the tree but never tried to find out for sure.

Neat!

I don't know for sure, but it's neat anyway, notice the piece of bark (lower left), that was driven into the tree.

Fossis..............

Yeah, and it has some other cracking too. I didn't know for sure, just throwing out what were my thoughts when I've seen that in person.

It would be really cool if it holds that look after drying and finishing. If it does I'll have to save some of that for projects when I come across it. How cool would it be to turn a bowl with a chunk of that?

That would be a' priceless bowl' for sure.

Fossis.............

[naturegirl]

oh wow!!! I love it! and I know where a struck tree is... thanks for sharing that!

[Produce Guy]

I think I would cut a couple of slabs of this stump and make giant coasters out of them.

[diggemall]

That "patterning" in the wood is called "spalting", and is actually caused by fungi. Spalted wood is sought after by many woodworkers & especially folks that do wood turnings. Until it becomes very "advanced" spalting does not significantly weaken most wood.

My guess is that the spalting caused that portion of the tree to contain more moisture than the rest and therefore created a more conductive path for the lightening to follow........................

Diggem'

[Mental Granny]

Fossis, I love your lightening hit tree! A peice of that sellaced when you do it I would love to see, it will be so pretty !

[ronwoodcraft]

Yes definitely cool. Others have some great ideas for woodworking projects. My first thought when I saw this was some wall clocks made from slices of it. I don't know anything about the characteristics of persimmon wood, but if it dries without too much warping or checking, would make some neat clocks.

[fossis]

oh wow!!! I love it! and I know where a struck tree is... thanks for sharing that!

You bet.

Fossis........

[fossis]

I think I would cut a couple of slabs of this stump and make giant coasters out of them.

I checked it out, but seems to be too fractured to save.

Fossis............

[fossis]

That "patterning" in the wood is called "spalting", and is actually caused by fungi. Spalted wood is sought after by many woodworkers & especially folks that do wood turnings. Until it becomes very "advanced" spalting does not significantly weaken most wood.

My guess is that the spalting caused that portion of the tree to contain more moisture than the rest and therefore created a more conductive path for the lightening to follow........................

Diggem'

Good to know, after thinking about it, the stump had several splintered places that could have soaked up more moisture, & the other areas didn't have this pattern.

Fossis.........

[fossis]

Fossis, I love your lightening hit tree! A peice of that sellaced when you do it I would love to see, it will be so pretty !

Thanks, the wood seems to be 'pretty fractured', so may not can save any.

Fossis...........

[fossis]

Yes definitely cool. Others have some great ideas for woodworking projects. My first thought when I saw this was some wall clocks made from slices of it. I don't know anything about the characteristics of persimmon wood, but if it dries without too much warping or checking, would make some neat clocks.

Thanks, it will make some beautiful pieces if it can be saved, (pretty fractured) though.

Fossis............