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Wood Identification Ash?

705 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  ibewjon, 
adot45
6
I've looked at the websites suggested here, very helpful. Also a few other places for help identifying lumber and I have settled on this lumber being some sort of Ash. ? Could anybody else come up with an opinion please? As for the "who cares what it is" comment that will come, my answer is when I make a bowl and take it to a craft show and someone asks what wood it is I'd like to be able to tell them. Actually, I like to put it on the bottom of my bowls.
Wood Rectangle Automotive tire Font Art


Brown Wood Floor Flooring Wood stain


Black Wood Natural material Hardwood Building material


Thanks a lot.

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B
That does look like Ash. I also see those little bug holes-could be the EAB.
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adot45
That does look like Ash. I also see those little bug holes-could be the EAB.

- Bill_Steele
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Thank You Bill, yeah, I noticed the holes too.
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mnguy
It looks like ash to me, also.

I have found that ash has a distinct aroma when being worked, so one suggestion is to get a piece that is known to be ash, experience the aroma, and then compare to your unknown wood.
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adot45
Thank You for your reply mnguy, very good information.
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LesB
It probably is ash. Those bug holes could have a problem unless the wood was kiln dried after they occurred. If the pieces you are going to use are small enough I would put them in the microwave oven to heat the wood up and kill any that might still be there. Or, a clear plastic bad set in the hot sun light for a couple of hours. It takes 140 degrees + for about an hour to kill them. They are most likely powder post beetles.

Ash borer larva live in the cambium layer just under the bark and leave random curving tunnels between the bark and the wood.
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adot45
It probably is ash. Those bug holes could have a problem unless the wood was kiln dried after they occurred. If the pieces you are going to use are small enough I would put them in the microwave oven to heat the wood up and kill any that might still be there. Or, a clear plastic bad set in the hot sun light for a couple of hours. It takes 140 degrees + for about an hour to kill them. They are most likely powder post beetles.

Ash borer larva live in the cambium layer just under the bark and leave random curving tunnels between the bark and the wood.

- LesB
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Thank You Les!

It's funny but when I saw the little holes this morning after I planed a few boards my first thought was just what you suggested. I'm making a segmented bowl with this wood so after I get all my pieces cut It won't be a problem to do that. I'm thinking do it before I glue up rings…..I don't know how TB Quick and Thick would react to being in the microwave since it's water based. Thanks again for your suggestion!
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Lazyman
Heat is the enemy of most glues, including PVA, so definitely microwave before glue up. You can also put larger pieces in a regular oven at its lowest setting but watch it carefully as it can get too hot during heating cycles. My oven actually has a halogen light bulb in it that will heat the oven to nearly 200°F as long as the door is closed.
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adot45
yep, definitely before glue ups, just a couple of minutes in MW for cheap insurance. Thanks Nathan
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bandit571
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Wood Creative arts Triangle Rectangle Brick


Some of the Ash I have been working with.

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1thumb
Beautiful grain pattern. Poly make that pop. Hang it on the wall as is
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adot45
It looks like ash to me, also.

I have found that ash has a distinct aroma when being worked, so one suggestion is to get a piece that is known to be ash, experience the aroma, and then compare to your unknown wood.

- mnguy
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I didn't get a whole lot of aroma when cutting sticks and segments but when I microwaved the segments before gluing them up, I did get a powerful aroma…..very pleasant and vaguely familiar. Now I "got" the smell…..thanks again.
s
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therealSteveN
I would suggest your heat treating for bugs before doing any dimensioning. Heat when drying wood can make it move. Parts that used to be a segment, may end up being a mistake.
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I
The emerald ash borer makes "D" shaped exit holes. Native ash borers make round exit holes. I lost 4 nice ash trees to EAB. Since the borders live in the cambium just under the bark, the inside is safe to use. The native borers make straighter tunnels under the bark and don't kill the tree. The EAB bores tunnels like a drunken sailor..up and down and left and right, cutting off the trees food supply.
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