Duane Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Has anyone ever used mountain ash at all for any projects? I found a fairly large mountain ash tree in the bush, cut it down and sawed it up. The colors are amazing, a dark heart with white sapwood. I turned a few bowls with it, it really rivals some of the more exotic woods in beauty and it's available literally everywhere in Canada...well snowy northern Canada for sure. I will include some pics some of the wood. I just wonder if it's ever been used for anything involving instruments. Here's a link that shows a pic, not the best sample. http://www.lotzdollpages.com/lhitorg.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Looks kind of like hickory. Pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Posted March 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 (edited) Here's some pics.....the cool grain doesn't really show up at all. http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t255/Wa...nt=100_1384.jpg http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t255/Wa...nt=100_1382.jpg http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t255/Wa...nt=100_1381.jpg http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t255/Wa...ne/100_1380.jpg http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t255/Wa...nt=100_1379.jpg Edited March 2, 2007 by Duane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 (edited) Just an FYI, mountain ash is not related to the ashes used in guitar building like black ash (aka swamp ash) etc. American Mtn. Ash and Showy Mtn. Ash are the only species that actually make it to "tree" size. They say the wood is moderately light, low in strength, with pale brown heartwood and nearly white sapwood. It is of no commercial value. They are more related to plum, crabapple and service berry. Most of that sort of wood grows pretty gnarly and while curing can split and contort in weird directions. But if you've found large enough wood for a guitar may as well give it a whirl and tell us how it works out! After all, wood is wood, and if its cut right and stabilized, that is, cured so there is no more internal stresses, there is no reason why you can't use it. Edited March 2, 2007 by Southpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Posted March 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 I realize it's not of the "ash" family.....I think I read it was in the rose family, but I could be wrong on that one. Finding a straight, big one was pretty lucky....the wood is beautiful in real life, pics never translate at all do they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 Yeah, wood is wood, when its all cut up, sorta like meat , but you don't know what animal its from half the time. How long ago was this wood cut? They say Mtn. Ash is pretty sappy and I would think it would take a couple years to cure before you could use it. Thats the usual course for freshly cut wood other than kiln drying. Btw, is the big goose still out front? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Posted March 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 It's 5 years old.....nice and dry. And yes...the goose is here, forgot to fly south for the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 I turned a few bowls with it, it really rivals some of the more exotic woods in beauty Would you mind posting a couple of your turnings? That kind of stuff seems to show off the beauty of woods in a way guitars and other mostly flat things can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Posted March 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 I may have given them all away, but I think I have one rough one left. I will check....you're right though, turnings really show off the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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