Is Ash a good wood for a bench top?
I’ve been looking for a good wood to “New-Fanglize” my workbench, Mostly for edging and the planing board.
In his article, John White uses Douglas Fir, but the big stores here (Memphis) don’t seem to sell Doug Fir. One recommendation I’ve seen is Southern Yellow Pine, but it is just so darn ugly. Hard Maple at my local supplier is $8-10 a board foot, so that’s out. Beech is about the same. I’m looking for a cheeper alternative.
My local dealer has some large, clear planks of Ash for about $5/board foot. I have no experience with this wood. Is it good for this application?
Since I’m asking questions . . . Where is the best site to see the relative hardness, stability, and recommended uses for various types of wood?
Any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated,
Danny
Replies
Danny,
Try this: http://www.constructionweblinks.com/Industry_Topics/Specifications__Technical_Data/Specifications_and_Technical_D/Wood_and_Plastics__Specificati/wood_and_plastics__specificati.html
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
In the latest issue of Woodworking Magazine, Christipher Schwartz builds yet another bench, an adaptation of a Hoffza....something or other...can't remember how to spell it...anyway, the frame is made from maple but the top is made from "highly figured ash"...so apparently ash is a good choice.
Neil
I found a load of 4/4 Ash in a bargain bin (at $1/bf!) at the lumber yard and glued it up 3.4" thick for my bench top and then planed to 3" finish for the top. I mixed in some 8/4 Jatoba and made the base out of Jatoba. Finished it with Danish and Wax. Turned out nice and after 6 months of use I think the Ash will stand up well.
If I had it to do over I would have thought twice about using 4/4 for the top as it was ALOT of work over using 8/4 but the price was right!
Scott
This week I finished a bench made of Hard Maple. I paid $7.67 per BF, but I love to work with it. I planed the 14 inch wide top from 2 and 1/4 down to a little over 2 inches and it took me about 5 hours.....a lot of enjoyable work! I used ash on the dust tray and a back part. I bought the ash for a $1 a Bf so I try to use when I can. I was talking to the mill guy and he was kidding, but said a lot of people buy the Hard Maple for benches and should last 200 hundred years, but the ash will only last around 180, then he asked how old I was!!
DANNY, ya need to get away from the Big stores, find a sawyer in the country. I have a place in east Tn . and my neighbors use local hickory for tobacco stakes as it grows like weeds up here (read real cheap). I am planning a bench top made of 8/4 x 4 dressed smooth (say 1 3/4 x 3 3/4 x 10' strips) to make a 32 x 96 top. I expect to spend less than $150 but it will be hard on the tools even the carbides. I will however do this only once and with three sled bases under it I don't think it will wobble or move, ya think, hah. Paddy
btw. these sawyers may well have your ash as well at a great price, it was my second choice. pfh
Danny,
This has been discussed here many times. Ash will make an excellent bench top.
It's unfortunate that there are preconceptions about using certain woods, just because they happen to be in common use for certain applications. Maple is probably the most familiar workbench material. It's an excellent choice, but just because it's a commercial favorite, doesn't mean it's the only one to use. Ash has all the requisites needed.
Rich
I have two ash benches ( 8/4). it is relatively stable. It is hard to dent. I think it looks nice and works well.
Danny,
They make baseball bats outa ash, I bet it would make a good benchtop too. :-)
Cheers,
Chris.
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