Yesterday I was going over some plans with my WW instructor at the comunity college that includes the use of spalted maple for drawer fronts. He told me an amusing story about a guy who spalts his own.
I guess there's a well-known surfer and surfboard maker by the name of Greg Knoll (my instructor is also a mad surf enthusiast). Apparently he makes beautiful handcrafted solid wood surfboards that people by for $$$ and use as art objects. Kinda the Sam Maloof of surfboards. Anyway, it seems the demand for his boards made with spalted woods was outpacing his supply. So, to resolve the problem, he goes out to his wood pile first thing every morning and empties his bladder on his inventory. After about 6 mos. of exposure to high humidity (No. Cal.), nitrogen, uric acid, etc., he's got a good spalt going.
At $15-20 a b.f. most places are asking for spalted maple, makes you think about having another beer.