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Ash Platter
- Thread starter pfduffy
- Start date
Well, it showed up - - no small miracle. Looks pretty ruff, and is, until it received about 8 coats of wipe-on poly and buffed. Then, it was delivered to my older dau. for a Christmas present. She loves it.
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 3,540
- Likes
- 19
I like it. Ash is going to be ash regardless. Close grain shines, coarse grain never, unless you (horrors!) fill it. The blue tint sort of confuses. Is that black ash, the softer kind that grows in bottomlands, or the white ash of higher ground?
All I get is black, and it's almost always full of wind shakes. Spoil your day at any moment.
All I get is black, and it's almost always full of wind shakes. Spoil your day at any moment.
I like it also, all woods do not have to be smooth. In fact it is a refreshing change to see the contrasting grain and texture. Watch out for that UP Black Ash!
I agree with Michael that the grain is always going to be there. That's what makes ash attractive to me. We get plenty of it in Austin. I'm not sure which species.
It's not a particularly stable tree here and tends to have branches of all sizes crack and break off. While I haven't gone out and analyzed it, this branch loss seems to lead to the demise of some trees as it allows disease and rot to get in through the open wound.
It's not a particularly stable tree here and tends to have branches of all sizes crack and break off. While I haven't gone out and analyzed it, this branch loss seems to lead to the demise of some trees as it allows disease and rot to get in through the open wound.
We have three different types here in Arizona that I know of. It can be a real treat to turn green but pretty tough dry. I enjoy trying dyes and texturing with Ash. I like the way you lined up the grain.
Tip?
When all I had to turn was Jersey black oak and ash, I had huge problems with tearout when second-turning the dry blanks. Got a hint from an old-time turner that worked out really well. Keep a quart-size spray bottle of water with a drop of dish detergent added at the lathe and keep the gouge sharp. Just before each cut, lightly spray the surface to be cut with the water. Worked like a charm to eliminate the tearout and (most) of the tool chatter, but didn't effect the dried piece because I was cutting off the moistened fibers each time.
M
When all I had to turn was Jersey black oak and ash, I had huge problems with tearout when second-turning the dry blanks. Got a hint from an old-time turner that worked out really well. Keep a quart-size spray bottle of water with a drop of dish detergent added at the lathe and keep the gouge sharp. Just before each cut, lightly spray the surface to be cut with the water. Worked like a charm to eliminate the tearout and (most) of the tool chatter, but didn't effect the dried piece because I was cutting off the moistened fibers each time.
M
Richard Baker
RIP
Phil,
I think the grain is beautiful! Nice job.
I think the grain is beautiful! Nice job.
I Like Ash
I have had great luck with purchased, dry ash bowl & platter blanks. It sands better than oak but when inlayed with minerals it is hard to clean out the colored dust from the summer growth. People are impressed with the strong grain even if as turners we don't like that the summer growth is softer and sands out into little valleys. I always seem to leave ash platters and bowls a little thicker in wall thickness than I do maple or walnut. I think it just looks and feels better that way. Ash bowl blanks are alot more affordable than other woods so I would recomend it to new turners or turners on a budget. My two cents worth.
Frank
Attached Pict of 10 inch Figured Ash Platter, or at least that is waht my hardwood shop called it. I have a couple more of these blanks with alot more figure.
I have had great luck with purchased, dry ash bowl & platter blanks. It sands better than oak but when inlayed with minerals it is hard to clean out the colored dust from the summer growth. People are impressed with the strong grain even if as turners we don't like that the summer growth is softer and sands out into little valleys. I always seem to leave ash platters and bowls a little thicker in wall thickness than I do maple or walnut. I think it just looks and feels better that way. Ash bowl blanks are alot more affordable than other woods so I would recomend it to new turners or turners on a budget. My two cents worth.
Frank
Attached Pict of 10 inch Figured Ash Platter, or at least that is waht my hardwood shop called it. I have a couple more of these blanks with alot more figure.
Attachments
Nice figure on that ash platter Frank! Ash is real affordable if you get hooked up with a tree trimmer (free).
Jeff you are consistent
Jeff you sure are consistent in your 'all wood is free' campaign. Here is my take on it. I work in a stressful job and do well financially by some standards, we're not Hollywood but ain't missing meals. I turn to relieve stress and enjoy myself, lately turning has made me a few bucks to, but in general turning is a wonderful enjoyable hobby worthy of spending some disgressionary income on. Dry wood goes right to the lathe saving time to feel that happy creative juice that takes away all the troubles of the world. On occasion I also enjoy slabbing up a log, but I am not ashamed to buy wood once in a while, sometimes more often. I also enjoy trading blanks with other turners. I have a turning friend that I met on the internet that turns almost exclusively platters and from very cool wood, he sends me his corners that I make into stoppers. I send him something I have too much of that fits his interest. You are right that a turner can turn forever on free wood but I think part of the excitement is to try different things that may not be available on the side of the road. I think a broad range of materials and products turned make us better craftsman and gets the most from our hobby.
Frank
PS: Thanks for the nice comment on the platter. I am not scolding you just sharing a point of view, so please don't be offended. I don't want to be assigned to outside traffic direction on the interstate when I volunteer at the Symposium so really I mean no disrespect if I did speak sacireligous in your eyes.
Jeff you sure are consistent in your 'all wood is free' campaign. Here is my take on it. I work in a stressful job and do well financially by some standards, we're not Hollywood but ain't missing meals. I turn to relieve stress and enjoy myself, lately turning has made me a few bucks to, but in general turning is a wonderful enjoyable hobby worthy of spending some disgressionary income on. Dry wood goes right to the lathe saving time to feel that happy creative juice that takes away all the troubles of the world. On occasion I also enjoy slabbing up a log, but I am not ashamed to buy wood once in a while, sometimes more often. I also enjoy trading blanks with other turners. I have a turning friend that I met on the internet that turns almost exclusively platters and from very cool wood, he sends me his corners that I make into stoppers. I send him something I have too much of that fits his interest. You are right that a turner can turn forever on free wood but I think part of the excitement is to try different things that may not be available on the side of the road. I think a broad range of materials and products turned make us better craftsman and gets the most from our hobby.
Frank
PS: Thanks for the nice comment on the platter. I am not scolding you just sharing a point of view, so please don't be offended. I don't want to be assigned to outside traffic direction on the interstate when I volunteer at the Symposium so really I mean no disrespect if I did speak sacireligous in your eyes.
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 3,540
- Likes
- 19
Frank's platter is obviously white ash of some sort, but I'm still not sure about the original. These are pretty true to color. Black ash and really black ash. Not free wood, though. Bought a twelve-pack for the two logs that sawed to about 160 BF. Had to give the sawyer cash, though.
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Frank - I agree with you points. There is a saying about "free wood" in that it is rarely actually free. All the time and energy expended on the "free" part of it could have been spent on working on the final product. For me, it is fun to get out and get some exercise in cutting and moving the wood. I have a desk job and it's easy to get out of shape. But I certainly have nothing against folks who want to focus their effort on the final product, and chainsaws aren't for everyone! :cool2: