Thread: Dead ash, cut up or?

Several years ago (guessing 5) a twister went through the B-in-law's woods and knocked over about a dozen pretty fair sized ash trees, 30- 36" at the base. His intent has been to get them sawed up but has realized that he was never going to do thing with them so he gave them to me for firewood. We cut up one of them Saturday and they are "there" meaning not punky but seemingly not far from it. I am not that familiar with Ash, some of the other wood I work with like white Elm and Maple would be junk by the time I needed the wood if found in the condition of this Ash. What to do with it? This years and next already cut. How long will it keep if I just leave it in the woods? Cut into long lengths and stack (PITA) Cut it and cover somehow? He would realy like to get the woods cleaned up. I think I am getting firewood greed, LOL.

That ash needs to get opened up, if you can find the time, do yourself a favor, and process it.
Ash is the one wood that will burn well green, but it doesn't sit well on the forest floor. I've made the mistake of letting it sit in the past, now if I can't get to it right away, I'll cut the rounds to length, and stack them off the ground. That gives another couple years to finish the job.

Great wood for burning, lumber too, do you have a mill attachment for your saw?

My fave to burn.

I think it gets a bad rap as lumber. Back in the Victorian times, there was a huge amount of furniture, mostly Eastlake style, made from ash. Personally, I lkie the grain, which comes out nicely with a little finish.

Be sure to cover it ash will not keep well if it is allowed get wet.

I have ash 4 and 5 years old that has been kept dry real light and hot burning.

Originally Posted by woodbooga

My fave to burn.

I think it gets a bad rap as lumber. Back in the Victorian times, there was a huge amount of furniture, mostly Eastlake style, made from ash. Personally, I like the grain, which comes out nicely with a little finish.

That means you might like this cabinet that I made last spring entirely of ash:

The door and side panels are made with rails and stiles that trap plant-on panels. The plant-on panel is an attactive alternative to a typical raised panel.

The top is about 1-1/4" thick and made from laminated strips, stock that I had left over after making the rest. In addition to the top drawer, this cabinet features an internal middle shelf and a pull-out lower tray.


This cabinet blends in rather well next to the ash barrel that I made using 35 staves, each edge glued along the bevel and trimmed with walnut accents. The barrel holds my dog's toys, and the antique milk pail holds her food:

LOML said, "Make it out of ash. We have enough oak in the house." So, that's what I did. Ash is the forgotten hardwood.

I made our dining room table top out of ash, I think it sands out smoother than oak. When the stain hits it, you can't tell the two apart.

Originally Posted by Mike Van

I made our dining room table top out of ash, I think it sands out smoother than oak. When the stain hits it, you can't tell the two apart.

Beautiful work, Mike. You are right in that ash polishes up smoother than oak and does not require a filler. It's also much easier on tools as you work with it. The grain is so similar to oak that when you finish it with an oak stain, only an expert could tell them apart.

Ash is also more flexible and can be bent much easier than just about any hardwood. The only drawback that I have run into is that ash tends to chip out a little more on the thickness planer because the long grain is not quite as uniform.

Regardless, when it comes to furniture making, there ain't nothin' nicer than working with a couple of good pieces of ash.

It sounds like that Ash should be used this Winter or it will get funky. I ran into that same situation tonight as I was cutting up some Ash to sell to someone; most of it was healthy, but one tree was getting "funny" and I thought "this has to be used this season". Why don't you guys split it up and sell it? I'm sure you'd have no problems getting someone to buy it and you'd make some dough besides. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Wood Doctor

That means you might like this cabinet that I made last spring entirely of ash:

The door and side panels are made with rails and stiles that trap plant-on panels. The plant-on panel is an attactive alternative to a typical raised panel.

The top is about 1-1/4" thick and made from laminated strips, stock that I had left over after making the rest. In addition to the top drawer, this cabinet features an internal middle shelf and a pull-out lower tray.


This cabinet blends in rather well next to the ash barrel that I made using 35 staves, each edge glued along the bevel and trimmed with walnut accents. The barrel holds my dog's toys, and the antique milk pail holds her food:

LOML said, "Make it out of ash. We have enough oak in the house." So, that's what I did. Ash is the forgotten hardwood.

Fine work there, and I like the darker finish on the work of the other post. Thanks for sharing the products of your considerable skills!

Originally Posted by Butch(OH)

Several years ago (guessing 5) a twister went through the B-in-law's woods and knocked over about a dozen pretty fair sized ash trees, 30- 36" at the base. His intent has been to get them sawed up but has realized that he was never going to do thing with them so he gave them to me for firewood.

An issue we're running into here in NH, which had a tornado that cut a swath of destruction of +/- 50 miles (no exageration) is that the winds twisted and tore the trees anywhere from stump height to 20' off the ground. Much of the wood is utterly unusable as a reult of internal spintering that's not reddily noticable from the outside. Depending on your situation, might've been destine for stove fodder from the start.

Hurricane felled trees are a different story.

Originally Posted by Wood Doctor

That means you might like this cabinet that I made last spring entirely of ash:

The door and side panels are made with rails and stiles that trap plant-on panels. The plant-on panel is an attactive alternative to a typical raised panel.

The top is about 1-1/4" thick and made from laminated strips, stock that I had left over after making the rest. In addition to the top drawer, this cabinet features an internal middle shelf and a pull-out lower tray.


This cabinet blends in rather well next to the ash barrel that I made using 35 staves, each edge glued along the bevel and trimmed with walnut accents. The barrel holds my dog's toys, and the antique milk pail holds her food:

LOML said, "Make it out of ash. We have enough oak in the house." So, that's what I did. Ash is the forgotten hardwood.

hey we've got that same milk can in our house...i think popcorn came in it-butter, caramel, and cheese...my favorite.

nice work guys

Heck, we need a woodworking section on this website!..I've made some small stuff out of Ash, wall shelves, candle sconces, etc. Would like top make all of my BR furniture out of it someday. It looks really great after aging too. What is your method for making the raised panels?...I'm looking at a bit set for my router table.

Ash is all I have cut this summer and it has all been free!! Love it oak may burn a little longer but IMO not hotter I love it!! Taking my teenage boys out to our neighbors woods today to split some more can't wait to get done (i think) I can't turn it down and will have enough for hopefully a few years! Beautiful woodworking I also have a GB mill attachment for my 395xp and some ash on our property that I want to mill just on a one track to get the firewood done first!! I also heard ash will not last long in wet conditions so take that for what its worth. good luck to ya!! irishcountry