Ash problem?

[Paul.J]

I had four large blanks of Ash that i have been saving but unfortunately they had all split quite bad apart from one which i tried turning today but noticed i was getting bad tear out on the outside all in patches all over the blank. :?
When i started turning the inside out i noticed that the tear out or bad grain went right through on all the patches :shock:
I've never come across this before with any of the other woods i have turned so is this common in Ash or is just a bad piece i have :?:
So any ideas what i can do with it,apart from burning it .
I have soaked it in sealer to harden the fibres but i reckon it will still show when the finish is applied??

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Sounds like it has started to rot - can you cut out the bad patches and salvage something from the remainder?

Regards Mick

 

[KimG]

I agree, sounds like the early stages of spalting, certain fungi make the white "punky" areas. I have almost finished a bowl with much the same appearance.

 

[Paul.J]

Thanks both
There is some spalting on the blank a sort of creamy mottled effect but the torn grain is in the good parts of the Ash,the spalted areas are nice and smooth as i have tried shear scraping the piece but just can't get these patches clean.
I can't see how i can make a feature of it either to be honest,not been arty

 

[Doug B]

You'd get a few pen blanks from it mate :shock: :lol:

 

[Paul.J]

:lol:
I aint gluing all those shavings back together Doug for some more pen blanks
I did cut the other three up into smaller blanks though so managed to salvage summat from it all,this ones neary finished apart from the finish

 

[procell]

You could try CA glue to stabilize the areas. I had a similar problem on a piece (not sure what wood) a while back. plenty of thin CA on it and allowed to soak in and it helped a lot

 

[CHJ]

Haven't got a clue what you have stumbled across there Paul, can't say I've ever come across woolly areas in Ash,
rotten core area that has already taken on a dark brown colour long before quite often, but never in what appears to be normal growth wood.

Sorry to say it sounds as though it may be one to put down to the lesser attractive joys of turning and move on to something more productive.

 

[Paul.J]

You are right about the woolyness Chas as it was very wooly when i was trying to do the tenon?
The sealer seems to have done some good with it as i have managed to sand it smooth now,so gave it another dose and left till in the morning now,but i suppose i will get patches showing when finished?

 

[KimG]

The mottled patches you describe Paul are exactly what I see on the one I am working on, I have found it pretty much impossible to get a clean finish off the tool regardless of how sharp, however, with reasonable care you can sand it smooth, I used 120 to start and rather than have the lathe spin for all of it, I did that for a few rotations to even it up, then stopped the lathe and just worked carefully on the worst bits trying not to make it too uneven, then turn the lathe back on to even it all up, apart from a small hollow near the rim (it's a natural edge so it isn't too obvious) it looks fine, I'll post a picture when it's complete, the mottling actually looks pretty good, what is less good, and seems to be a part of the same process of decay is a plethora of black dots in the region just below the bark. I assume this is part of whatever causes Ash to spalt (i.e. the fungus species)

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

If you really like it enough to not just move on and abandon it, poke out the bad bits where you're having difficulty getting a finish, tape up any leakage points then fill the void with a ca glue and dust (colour matched) paste so its proud of the void and leave overnight. When you come to turn that back and sand it will be like porcelain almost if the dust was fine enough and will achieve a smooth finish. It will of course leave a dirty great mark but if the piece is a bit wabi sabi in the first place then that may well fit.

It is however a bit of hassle so I only tend to do that on pieces I really don't want to chuck in the fire bin. I do find Ash quite a brittle wood to turn a lot of the time.

 

[Paul.J]

Great minds think alike Kim mines also a natural edge
I spent another half hour this morning sanding it starting with 80grit as the tear out was that deep,power sanding the worst patches with the lathe stationary as yo usay Kim.
It seems the bad grains not going right through as i am getting a decentish finish,but had to stop it to try and get the shed roof fixed,its leaking in so with a nice dry two days thought i'd better try and do a quick repair before tomorrows storms come in.
Bob- i do like it so will try and keep it,though now i've added the sealer yesterday and sanded, the Ash looks dirty now??

 

[JimB]

I've been turning some ash legs and I was surprised at the tear-out in patches as well as the whipping. In the end it was sharpen and hone and in parts using one hand to steady the work. I can understand why the old bodgers used it green.

 

[Paul.J]

Oh well looks like its the end of the line for this piece.
Checked the shed earlier this morning for leaks as we had a great thunderstorm go through,and all was dry
So looked at the bowl,took the plastic bag off and it had splits on the rim and about half way down,three small ones that have opened up??
Jim- i haven't turned much Ash but what i have turned in the past has been fine so was surprised at how this piece was :?

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

the Ash looks dirty now??

I hate that. That's the primary problem with very blonde woods isn't it? Once you've had at it with your man made's to fix some bit, unless you're Michael Angelo.....it has a tendency to look hideous