the use of ash for lumber

[Tom L]

are there any other uses for ash trees other than baseball bats and such

I visited a jobsite yesterday with a lot of ash trees down. owner does not know what to do with them, but he has a lot of need for lumber

would the ash trees make good lumber or are they not recommended

anyone use them for framing or boards?

[WDH]

It makes nice furniture.  Powderpost beetles love it, though, so not so good for some outdoor applications.

[T Welsh]

Tom L, Its called poor mans oak in our area! It has good strength, it like,s to twist,its fairly easy to work with and takes finishes well! You can build anything you would like with it. Draw backs are,did I say it likes to twist! Does not hold up to weather well. I have a buddy that used it to build hay wagons with and they are really nice!. He had two logs that he didn't know what to do with and had me saw them into beams,cross framing,boards and up rights. Tim

[thecfarm]

Could it be used to build with? I suppose using it green,right off the mill, would work better?

[davidv]

I like the grain of ash alot, it's good for furniture and craft projects. Hardwood flooring maybe?

[Okrafarmer]

I like the grain of ash alot, it's good for furniture and craft projects. Hardwood flooring maybe?

I'm sure you make bows out of it too. My dad made quite a few from ash. Arrows, too.

It is great for tool handles, rocking chairs, and the afore-mentioned baseball bats.

[learner]

It's been 30 years but I remember installing a lot of ash trim in houses.  It's not a wood your average trim carpenter or cabinet maker Today can work right.  But a Master carpenter can do wonders with it if it's dried right.  The main problem with ash is its hardness.  Not easy to nail, screw or sand when used for finish work.
It takes a stain nicely if rubbed in but like i said, you wont find many carpenters today that know how to work with it the right way.

[Lud]

Don't transport it for firewood as EAB can be a risk.   But once the barks off and it's lumber ,  I agree with all the above comments.

[learner]

I look forward to getting some Ash.  But being a new start up mill, the word hasn't got arround about us yet.  So far all i've had the pleasure of sawing is red oak, white oak, post oak, cedar, pine, sweetgum and black walnut.

[WDH]

Don't get us started on sweetgum  :D.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Don't get us started on sweetgum  :D.

I'm sitting in my Lazy Boy, dozing.....YAWNING.........Did somebody say Sweetgum?  say_what

[WDH]

I have an extra 5 gallons of gas if you need it  ;D.

[learner]

Tis better to suffer the hardships of picking the fruit, rather than let the fruit rot on the vine.  You never know when hunger will strike and that Sweetgum might feed you.
;D

[Okrafarmer]

Tis better to suffer the hardships of picking the fruit, rather than let the fruit rot on the vine.  You never know when hunger will strike and that Sweetgum might feed you.
;D

Talking about food already?  Sweetgums are a poor substitute for food.  :-\

[SwampDonkey]

I like ash. I just do hobby work, but I've probably handled 500 feet of it over the years between the table saw, the planer, steam chest, band saw and lathe. We don't have much oak around here for a market, but we have an endless (seems so) supply of ash. ;D As far as twist, I don't think ash is any more prone than maple or birch or cherry.

[Axe Handle Hound]

Ash makes beautiful furniture lumber.  I actually prefer it over many other species.  Here's a couple of pictures of a bathroom vanity I made out of green ash.  This is all air dried lumber and it's stayed reasonably flat.  Very little twist or warp, but it's helpful to pay attention to grain direction during construction.   



  




 

[WDH]

Wow, that is a beautiful piece!

[Lud]

Very nice.  The deep shadow on the front panels looks like an inward slope.  Does that act as a finger grip?  Or will there be other hardware upon completion?

[GeorgeK]

Very nice.

[Axe Handle Hound]

Thanks guys.  I built this thing for my house and then realized it wasn't going to work out so I've had it sitting in my shop for a while now.  Thankfully, my brother is going to take it off my hands so I can have my valuable floor space back. 

Lud- the shadow is just the result of the terrible lighting I have in my shop.  Those are flat panels with square rails and stiles, but your comment is really an interesting idea.  Using the rail profile to create a pull would give a really clean look to the front of a piece.  I'll have to file that one away for future use. 

[metalspinner]

I've made some furniture with ash lumber and loved working with it.  The grain is finer than red oak and I like the blond color.  But the figure can be wild and matching boards for different furniture components takes some extra time.

[SwampDonkey]

realized it wasn't going to work out so I've had it sitting in my shop for a while now.  Thankfully, my brother is going to take it off my hands so I can have my valuable floor space back.

I just sent a couch and chair I never use down to my brother to make more room for stuff. :D

[WDH]

Chris,

I love the challenge of wild grain  :D.

I made a fireplace mantle out of ash for my In-laws, and it was very beautiful.  Dogy Loner's Aunt paneled her greatroom from walls to cathedral ceiling with v-groove ash.  That is my favorite room ever, period.

[Larry]

I used ash to build a little cabinet over the commode in the shop.  Matching vanity and medicine cabinet not pictured.  Grain was a bit interesting I thought.

[WDH]

Simply beautiful!