Post #719671 by AlohaStation on Mon, Jun 9, 2014 6:15 AM

Being that you are in SE Texas, I would have to guess that it is Sabal Palm. The reason it is so heavy is due to the water that is trapped inside. It will get moldy, but that doesn't mean its rotten. Palm is stringy. Leave it somewhere dry so that it can lose the water inside. Don't be surprised if it becomes very light. Allow it to dry before finishing (I let some of my palm carvings dry for several weeks before finishing them). Don't worry about the mold that from the moisture inside - when the mold dies it may be dry enough to finish. DO NOT seal it till the mold stops growing - the mold will continue to grow even after you seal it.