Can-o-whoop ash + a mill

[Wolverine]

Dropped a hunk of ash that was itchin' to be milled the other day and thought I'd share a few pics.

 

[Wolverine]

I was pleasantly surprised by a little splating but I'm not sure how stable it will be as the very tops were a little soft.

 

[junkman]

Nice work

 

[Wolverine]

Not 100% on the strategy from here forward. I got some good advice on fhc about how to get the best pieces with the most crotch figure. It would mean cutting this piece shorter.





These I had to get up off the ground before we got a snow storm. Right now we're in a deep freeze so they'll get stickered when I find them a more permanent home.

 

[quietfly]

That is awesome!!! looks like your going to have some really nice boards.

 

[Wolverine]

I'll get some better pics when I sticker.

This base sure is intimidating!

 

[junkman]

I'll get some better pics when I sticker.

This base sure is intimidating!

around here it is so wet if i do not sticker as i cut it ,the sawdust molds the wood ,if frozen it should be dryer and not have as much a problem though .

 

[mdavlee]

I would cut it off and then see what the end grains look like. That's what I did to the cherry and it gave me better looking grain than cutting it the way I was going.

 

[Wolverine]

if frozen it should be dryer and not have as much a problem though .

Yep, it was about 4-5 degrees F this am. We're looking at 50mpg gusts with 20 below wind chills this weekend!

 

[HighSierras]

Nice! Those crotches can yield some really nice wood. How big is it at the base, and at the widest part of the crotch?

 

[Wolverine]

@ the base I had about an inch or 2 sticking out on my 36" bar, haven't measured the crotch.

 

[SteveSS]

That base looks very challenging. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[psuiewalsh]

Nice work. All of the wood floors in my house are ash.

 

[Wolverine]

Made some more progress yesterday.

 

[Wolverine]

As I was cutting I noticed a few honey bees moving into my dust stream. Near the end of my session I'd guess maybe 200! No swarm... no nest in the tree and they left around 4-5pm.

When I was a young'n, my father kept bees so I have no fear. Got down in there for a vid cause it sounded cool. Great sign as the bees seem to be in a state of decline the past few years. Was also a sign of spring, woot!

 

[quietfly]

My Father inLaw has an apiary on our land with around 20 hives now. nothing like honey from your own bees!!! or Beer made with honey (it's not really mead as i use other sugars and grain too)

 

[Wolverine]

More millin' today. Hit my first piece of metal. Took me almost an hour to get the chain back. Wasn't expecting it so I hit it kinda hard too.

Here's my progress.


And some of the pics along the way.

 

[Wolverine]

Not sure how much of the spalting will stabilize. Guess we'll see in 2 years!

 

[Wolverine]

Then it was on to the the big one. Decided to try out the aluminum ladder for the first time. Failed miserably, my cut was crooked as H.


So I decided to put my 2X back on get it a little better, and did.

Pretty sure my problem was the fact that I only had 3" drywall screws, which didn't go in the wood enough to secure the ladder good. Next time...
Now were cooking w/ peanut oil

 

[Wolverine]

Had to cut some bark off the edges to fit in the mill. 30" is all I can get. Damn heavy slabs!
Tape measure for reference.





Helluva pile of dust.