Hi everyone, I am new to this page and new to woodworking as well! After endless searching on the internet to answer my many questions, I decided that maybe I should ask other woodworkers! Currently I am making a couple solid wood, live edge shelves for my sister. I found a slab of wood that reflected her taste, simple but elegant. After this slab was drum sanded I began sanding the live edge and as I sanded through the wood I noticed a strange pattern developing. I realized quickly that this wood has a very distinct color of blue and each growth ring alternates between this bluish color to a grey/brown thus sanding the edge never created a uniform color. If I attach a picture I would love for someone to help me out here…. what is this, does it look weird and is it even a viable piece of wood? Thank you everyone!!
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The only wood I know of with naturally occurring blue is Blue Mahoe.
Here is a link to it on the wood database:
https://www.wood-database.com/blue-mahoe/
I'm not seeing blue here. The growth rings and grain pattern look like redwood to me. Is this wood hard or soft?
First photo looks like pine.
Looks like pine or fir to me. Both can get a fungus or mold (forget which it is) that has a blue-gray color to it. I can't see the blue color on my monitor in your photos.
The spalting on the edge is undoubtedly fungus which would account for the color variation. You want the live edge and that comes with it. If you cut back far enough you will most likely eliminate that.
I'd go with fir. I also don't see any blue. But colors like that are usually a result of fungus. If the bark was left on there is often fungal growth underneath.
Thank you for all the comments! The wood is soft, like cedar, maybe a photo of a raw chunk I still have will help? I guess it's not really blue per se, that was the first word that came to mind when I saw it. I am aware of the fungus that typically causes this but I've also seen lumber that has been underwater for decades take on this same look. The strange part with this is the color alternates between growth rings, and that pattern runs deep into the wood. Anyway I appreciate the comments everyone!
Looks like fir to me. Although I don't see the blue colouring, what you see is likely spalting.
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