Worm Tracts

[Jrmysell]

I ordered a piece of Spalted myrtle wood from Cook Woods a few years ago and when I cut into it after letting it dry there are worm tracks. They are filled with looks like packed sawdust (I'm assuming it's waste from the larva as they burrow through). To send it off to be stabilized should I pick it all out first? I'm thinking about just filling them with colored resin and using them like that. Will the stabilization process harden all that where I won't be able to get it out?

 

[weo]

To send it off to be stabilized should I pick it all out first? I'm thinking about just filling them with colored resin and using them like that. Will the stabilization process harden all that where I won't be able to get it out?

I'd call and ask whoever is going to stabilize them. The holes and dust might (probably will) get saturated with resin, but I'm not sure how it will look.
I also think it will be quite difficult to pick out the dust. The holes most likely wander around through the block.

 

[argel55]

it will be fine to have it stabilized with the material in the tract. It may be a little lighter in color but will still be fine. I have maple and pecan that way.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Most likely termites.
Leave it in the tracks. It stabilizes well and makes a very neat looking effect as you grind and shape it. I have a bunch of spalted persimmon that the termites got into and it is one of my favorite handle materials.

 

[weo]

and makes a very neat looking effect as you grind and shape it.

I'd really like to see a pic. I can't imagine it looking good. But perhaps my bias is from having to replace all the wood on my old house from about knee height down to the ground (sill plates, joists, posts, flooring, and studs) due to powder post beetle damage years ago.

 

[Jesse Latham]

Here is a handle of maple with worm tracks.

 

[Brock Cutlery]

This is a worm hole oak I stabilized. I like the character, but these are small holes and I didn't notice much filling in them. Very old holes I think.