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Hey I just found pictures of spalted maple and decided it might look good as
the laminate top on my guitar. However, when I was googling some pictures
of it, I realized almost all of them were transparent finishes. Can spalted
maple be dyed? I know it can be finished with a burst, but I wasn't sure if
there was any difference.

And I also heard that finishig this type of wood is not good for diy'ers and
should be left for a pro. Is this true, or is Warmoth just trying to get more
customers?

I am no botanist but I believe spalted figureing is a fungal infection in the wood. If this is right then there could be heath issues to deal with when preparing the wood. Finishing with any finish that uses volatile solvents is a health risk

Spalted woods have soft & hard spots in them from the decay process.
The dye would look blotchy at best.
Try a sealer of shellac and then coloring your finish.

Mike

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Mike Collins

Here is a link to an armoire I built using spalted maple. I especially like the wood and how it works easily. Unfortunately, staining it does give you a blotchy effect. Even if you seal the soft spots, it would never be even. I have never tried dying it yet. You might give it a shot. Soft maple is cheap... in my parts anyway. Spalting is almost always included at no extra charge! 

armoire

good luck,
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

If you want to apply color put it in the finish. Seal it with epoxy before finish, shoot a couple coats of clear then spray your color coats, then clear.

I woudl not apply the color to the wood. This stuff can be really punky and it will absorb more in the poreous spots, and less in the hard areas. I doubt you will get the look you are going for that way.

It is beautiful stuff though.

I presume this is an electric guitar?

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[QUOTE=MichaelP]I am no botanist but I believe spalted figureing is a fungal infection in the wood. If this is right then there could be heath issues to deal with when preparing the wood. Finishing with any finish that uses volatile solvents is a health risk [/QUOTE]                               this heath sees no heath issues

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sweat the small stuff.