I have read a lot of information about spalting wood. Some people say you must put the log on bare earth, some say bury it in the earth and some say cover in wet shavings. However, a long time before I ever started turning, an old friend of mine sadly no longer with us, explained to me that you put the log in a damp shady place on its side and when you see fungus growing out of the end, which can be either black or white, leave it a further 6 months and then split and turn the timber.
I think I went overboard with the 6 months period because after turning the timber it was so soft in places I could not get a good finish on it from the tools or sanding.
After a trawl around the internet I found an article on what was described as "Magic Fluid" or to you and me, washing up liquid. I purchased 3 gallons of cheap liquid and mixed it with 3 gallons of water, submersed my part turned wood into same and left it to soak for 5 days. I then let it dry for 5 days, remounted it on the lathe and hey presto it was perfect for turning. As you will see in some of the pictures below, when the part turned bowl came out of the fluid, the soft areas took on the colour of the liquid. Mine happened to be green. However, as you can see from the final pictures the wood turned lovely, but over time the green colour has faded slightly.
