I’ve just learned that here in San Francisco I can get ash for roughly half the cost of maple, $2.84/bf for 4/4 and $3.96/bf for 12/4. Has anyone built a benchtop from ash?
As a former ballplayer, I think it’s almost fate that this is looking like the best wood for this job…
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This discussion has occured here before. Do a search for workbench and ash.
I was one of the ones who strongly encouraged the poster to use ash. I have made lots of ash furniture. It will serve you well as a work bench. However, it will be difficult to swing at any fastballs.
Rich
I was sure someone had posted about this before, but couldn't find it by searching. Thanks for accommodating me and confirming my suspicion that ash will make a great bench.
And you're right, the biggest bats I ever used were 34"/31oz'ers. I think 80"/16000oz would make it tough to foul off the inside heat.
The search engine is being weird again. Here's a big ash bench thread:http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=31476.1
Search tips: always use "advanced search" The other search function must be just for show, LOL. If "workbench" doesn't work (I got zero hits) try simply "bench." Final, and most important tip: Prayforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Apparently, maple makes a great baseball bat too.
Years ago I made a trestle table for our dining room out of ash. It is very dense wood and think it should work well for a workbench. I was very concerned about the “open grain” when compared to maple or birch, but I put a lot of coats of Deft lacquer on it and the wood sealed up nicely. I’m planning to use the table as an assembly table in my new workshop when I get it set up.
I have two benches made of ash. It is very hard, doesn't move much and stays fairly flat. I scrape mine off twice a year and put formby's "tung oil" on it to keep glue drips from sticking.
Regards,
Frank
Very serviceable, but like all wide surfaces, provisions for seasonal changes are essential.
Routers
Edited 1/31/2007 11:48 am ET by Routerman
I had posted this same question last year...I came into a lot of ash that I wanted to use for a workbench.
I got differing opinions from "yes, definitely no problem" to " no way, it will splinter" , etc.
I am using the Ash for the base and Beech for the top.
Though it is my opinion and experience that Ash will be fine.
To prove it, I made a mallet out of the same Ash and used it to knock on the end of my Hirsch mortise chisel as I made 40+ mortises for a set of tables.
It didn't splinter at all and it dented very mildly -- the thing took a beating with very little "damage".
Go for it, use Ash....besides it is very heavy!!
good luck,
erik.
I shudder to think of what you'd have to do to an ash bench to make it splinter. ?split firewood on it?
Frank
Hi Rob,
I built a workbench out of ash last summer and am very happy with it. I used shellac to finish it. This kept the wood light coloured and easily repairable. No problems with tooling it either (splintering, etc.).
I left the bottom open to allow room for a tool chest at a later date. The dimensions of the top are 28 x 72".
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Nathan
Nathan,
That's a very nice bench. Thanks for the information. I may have to consider ash since I have a lot of past experience with it.
Nathan,
That's a beautiful bench. Very nice work. Are the legs solid pieces or glued up?
Maybe this will end doubts about ash as a suitable workbench material.
Rich
Thanks Rich,
The legs are glued up (two pieces of 8/4 ash). I used 8/4 ash for everything. The base joints are is mortice & tennoned with the strechers being held together with carriage bolts for disassembly.
This was a fun project and I have often thought of doing another one for resale to see if there was a market (locally).
Wow. Just wow.
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