Replies

1. 
   BG | Mar 14, 2003 08:59pm | #1

   Bob,

   I love the look and feel of ash and it would make a great workbench top.  The traditional or preferred is hard maple or beech, however, from a performance standpoint the ash is just a bit softer and has good weight.

   The real question is how will you get the dimensions you'll want?  Quarter sawn 5/4..or glue up a couple of slabs together..or mdf and ash on top? 

2. 
   oxmach | Mar 15, 2003 02:59pm | #2

   Bob, I've worked in Ash quite a bit, and love the stuff.  As BG has said, typically the tops are made of Maple of Beech, as they are much less prone to splintering.  Although hard and durable, the only problem I see with ash, once the grain is filled etc. is if you catch it with a tool (i.e. chisel, plane blade), it may turn into a long splinter that in turn becomes a void in you nice top.

   One thought may be to use a few strips of Maple where you will be doing your main hand work, and dog holes, and they filling in the rest with the Ash.  If I recall correctly, the Shaker bench in Scott Landis(sp?) book (on loan so I can't reference), had a top similar to this using 2 or three different species across the top.

   Greg

3. 
   johnspkr | Mar 16, 2003 03:59am | #3

   I cannot comment on use of ash for a work bench, but have a few thoughts on workbenches in general.

   I built a workbench last year from hard maple. It was one of the more enjoyable projects i have built. And i am more proud of it than any other project I have done. It's been more useful than any piece of furniture I have made. (Sometime I wonder if it would be strange to take guests back to my work to show it off...) Anyway, good luck with the project. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did mine.

1. 
   Turbo | Mar 16, 2003 06:50am | #4

          The compresors you mentioned will all work, some better than others.  It depends on your needs, hobby to professional, i.e., average output to 12-24 hours per day, every day except Christmas.

4. 
   vacabby | Mar 16, 2003 04:27pm | #5

   Like Greg I do alot of work in Ash.   This is a very underated and often forgotten wood.   It machines exceptionally well and is very durable.   I do like the idea  Greg has about placing some hard maple in the areas that will take a beating.(ie. dog holes, primary work area)   If I may suggest you may want to use maple for your vise jaws as well.   If you really crank down on a piece of material you stand to create an indentation in the ash.   Good luck with your project.

5. 
   chillywilly | Mar 17, 2003 05:11pm | #6

   What a coincidence!  I've been trying like heck, with no luck, to get my hands on       4 x 4 ash blanks to turn some baseball bats for my kids this spring.  Can you give me the name and # of your supplier?

1. 
   user-17340 | Mar 17, 2003 05:15pm | #7

   Yikes !!!

   My employer, and I cannot tell.....Sorry

1. 
   chillywilly | Mar 17, 2003 05:26pm | #8

   huh?  I don't understand your message.

1. 
   user-17340 | Mar 17, 2003 05:35pm | #9

   Let's try again, sorry if I was not clear. I work for a furniture making company. I have opportunity to buy wood at their price. But they don't sell to others.

   Bob in Sherbrooke, Province of Québec

2. 
   oak | Mar 17, 2003 11:56pm | #10

   hi ron...

   came across these, thought you might be interested

   http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/template/349-0100.html

   http://www.ezwood.com/mall/billets.asp

   http://heritage.woodmall.com/batblanks.html

    

    

1. 
   Biscardi | Mar 18, 2003 12:10am | #11

   I just made my second bench top out of Ash ( I have two benches in the shop). It may be less dense than maple, but you almost have to intentionally try to harm it to leave a mark in it. Recall that baseball bats are classically made of Ash. I put three coats of danish oil and  wax on it. My tops are just shy of 8/4. I shudder to think what you'd have to do to it to make it splinter. It is a bear to hand plane but stays quite flat.

   On another note, I paid $2.20 a bf for the wood so it is also economical.

   Frank