Black Ash for flooring

[KindredSpiritzz]

I have some black ash logs im thinking about getting cut up for flooring in my den. Would black ash be suitable for that or am i better off just cutting it up for firewood?
thanks

 

[1ruralmailman]

get it milled up.it should make a nice floor.i am working on putting down an ash floor in our boat,it looks awesome milled and sanded out.

 

[sachsmo]

Heh,heh,

every time I mention White Ash and Black Ash, in the same sentence, my 86 year old Mother always giggles?


BLESS HER HEART!

 

[Jim Timber]

Black ash is used for basket weaving because it comes apart easy at the growth rings. I don't know how it would hold up in flooring, but that's a lot of work to piss away if it just split up on you in a few years.

 

[Jim Timber]

Conversely, green ash is used in tool handles and baseball bats as well as guitars.

 

[Dave Boyt]

The black ash will work fine. Just be sure it is kiln dry, and been heated enough to kill any bugs.

 

[sachsmo]

Bugs only go as deep as the sapwood.

"Cambium layer"

Only the larvae is in the tree, once they become bugs they are just looking for a fresh tree to drill and lay their eggs in.



Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[greendohn]

Sorry I don't know the difference between black and white ash..
I have 400+ feet of ash woodwork I installed as trim in my kitchen/living rooms, harvested just a few miles down the road.
It finished beautifully and looks pretty good.
I struggled with milling the edges. I tried a fancy contour and even a simple roll over edge and met with splintering,,using hi-end equipment with carbide tooling. WAS NOT milling too deep, the wood just seemed very brittle.
I left all my trim "flat stock" and installed it that way.
I could take pics and post if anyone is interested, just shoot me a request, otherwise I won't fool with it.

Dohn

 

[Yooperforeman]

Sorry I don't know the difference between black and white ash..
I have 400+ feet of ash woodwork I installed as trim in my kitchen/living rooms, harvested just a few miles down the road.
It finished beautifully and looks pretty good.
I struggled with milling the edges. I tried a fancy contour and even a simple roll over edge and met with splintering,,using hi-end equipment with carbide tooling. WAS NOT milling too deep, the wood just seemed very brittle.
I left all my trim "flat stock" and installed it that way.
I could take pics and post if anyone is interested, just shoot me a request, otherwise I won't fool with it.

Dohn

Here's ash plank flooring at the cabin.

 

[Yooperforeman]

I had ash trees with the bark coming off(E.A.B). in 2012,cut them and had them sawed with a band saw.Then I had them planed and kiln dried.
I nailed the planks down with a finish nailer,then applied 3 coats of poly.It has been holding up great! I just took down some more ash trees to make lumber,but unfortunately they are only good for firewood.

 

[Jim Timber]

That floor turned out great!

 

[Yooperforeman]

Thanks, I was lucky to use those logs when they were still o.k. The Ash trees I cut last month in the same area are only good for firewood.
I thought they would be fine 'cause they're still standing,but they're too far gone.

 

[greendohn]

I had ash trees with the bark coming off(E.A.B). in 2012,cut them and had them sawed with a band saw.Then I had them planed and kiln dried.
I nailed the planks down with a finish nailer,then applied 3 coats of poly.It has been holding up great! I just took down some more ash trees to make lumber,but unfortunately they are only good for firewood.

Firewood can be a good thing this time of year!! LOL.
I actually used a light stain on mine, a near perfect match for the "Contractor Grade" kithchen cabinets.

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

wow Yoop, your picture REALLY made me want to have black ash flooring now. I figured it'd look good, but not THAT good, wow.

 

[Mike Van]

Powder post beetles will riddle any part of lumber, beam, log etc. They don't care thats it's sapwood or heart.

 

[sachsmo]

Used White Ash live edge boards for the uprights of my Shelf,

 

[john taliaferro]

I have been turning a 30" white ash log and got little white worms 4" deep with a lot of large [1/4" ] tunnels full of dust . Its gonna be nice when finished . We have a large powder coat oven so it will be 200 degrees when done

 

[Mike Van]

200 degrees will cook 'em just fine -

 

[sachsmo]

I have been turning a 30" white ash log and got little white worms 4" deep with a lot of large [1/4" ] tunnels full of dust . Its gonna be nice when finished . We have a large powder coat oven so it will be 200 degrees when done

Doubt them bugs are EAB, everything around here is only as deep as the sapwood.

It does make a stunning log with the bark all taken off by them little devils.