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Ash beatle question

R

Rachel Aberle

Joined
Aug 7, 2021
Messages
140
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36
Location
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
We harvested an ash tree that I finally got time to turn today. Once removing the bark, looks like the ash beetle had gotten to it…squigley line under bark.

Is it worth working with or saving? So far it seems okay in spots then others the wood grain is sparse/separated.
 
I’m still pulling down a fair bit of dead stand Ash, and turning what is still structurally sound. I don’t like to bring the damaged/infested wood into the shop out of concern for what may have taken up residence in the softer “squiggles. My practice is to slice off the outer layers with the chain saw and leave the detritus on the burn pile, haul the sound wood into the shop and go to work!
 
The ash beetles don’t bore into the wood, just go between wood and bark. This leaves the tracks you see. So if you remove the bark and brush off any beetles you are good to go. If you have holes inside the wood, it’s a different kind of beetle.
 
And even if there are other worm holes and critter trails inside the wood I still turn it and work it into the look. For many the obvious insect activity adds to the character of the piece. I have a large dead ash tree on my property now that I need to take down. I should have last year so I'm sure it will be full of character.
 
Just don't haul any wood with bark on outside your neighborhood. Not all of us have the EAB, but if/when it comes to our town, it's going to be devastating as 85% of mature trees in town are ash.
 
Only real comment I can make is to burn the bark. Other than that, my favorite ash is the stuff that has the olive brown center. If you sell, you can not keep that on your shelves... Just one of those nice warm brown colors that every one loves.

robo hippy
 
robo hippy said:
Only real comment I can make is to burn the bark. Other than that, my favorite ash is the stuff that has the olive brown center. If you sell, you can not keep that on your shelves... Just one of those nice warm brown colors that every one loves.

robo hippy
Click to expand...
Robo,
Do you have any idea why some have the brown color. I have three ash trees, two are white with some patches of brown and were dead about a year. The other has been dead for three or more years and still standing. The wood is dry when cut and all is the dark brown -- beautiful.
 
Thank you for the feedback. I’ll post a pic in a day or two of the ash I turned. I’ve been primarily turning walnut and when turning I can get it looking pretty good but ash it seems to get a good cut my lathe speed needs to be higher for the grain.
 
Black Ash AKA Swamp Ash has the dark heart wood, over here the Black Ash is the only Ash species growing, still.

Where I lived before, in southern Ontario it was all White and Green Ash, of course they are all gone now.

Here are a couple pic's of Black Ash that I turned, even one that was shot, still had the lead bullets in it.

Black Ash nat. edge and some brass in soft spots.
Black Ash with brass.jpg
Black Ash burl bowl.
Black Ash burl.jpg
Black Ash that got shot and has still several bullets in it, only a couple showing on the inside.
Didn't get away, he got shotn .jpg
Black Ash bowl with swirly grain.
Black Ash bowl.jpg
 
Last edited:
Richard Coers said:
Haven't they removed all shipping restrictions of ash? It's so widespread there was no advantage left of trying to control it. Edit; they did. https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...ald-ash-borer-domestic-quarantine-regulations
Click to expand...
Maybe everywhere that counts already has it, but not us. Some day a guy in an RV will bring firewood from home in Minnesota and our town will change from a green oasis in the brown western landscape to, well, an arid, brown western landscape. The city has a plan to spend $3-5 million a year fighting it, but ultimately almost all the big trees will be gone. Their replacements will be maples and lindens, and 30 years after I croak, it'll finally stop looking like a new subdivision.

Regardless of rules, PLEASE keep your ash, and your lyme disease, at home.
 
No idea what causes the brown heart wood, other than age. I did get one tree, maybe 30 inches in diameter. About 2/3 of it was brown heart wood. We get a long growing season here in western Oregon, and lots of rain. I do believe it was a native species, and not the eastern species. Had to roll the pieces out of the woods, maybe 50 yards or so. I was a lot younger then.... 20+ years ago.

robo hippy
 
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