black ash

[John K]

Anyone worked with Black Ash 
I cut a tree down last April split it and had it drying in my aprtment.
About a month ago i went to work on it, i'm finding out it might not be the best wood for my first bow.
After doing some reading i find out it was used for baskets because it peals apart easy with the grain.

Anyone else worked with black ash 

FB

[Hillbilly]

Never tried it personally, but I've heard people say that black, green, or blue ash aren't nearly as good bow wood as white ash. I bet it will make a bow, though-never know until you try. I would try to make it long and wide.

[John K]

I'm trying it, will see how it turns out. I have it 2inches wide at the handle and 66"long.
Tonight i try to brace it for the first time 

I'll post tomorrow how it went.

FB

[DanaM]

I think at that length your going to get some serious string follow unless you have a really short draw.
But please prove me wrong.

[Jesse]

I have a lot of black ash around me. I have also thought about making a bow out of it but never tried. I did see some on Ebay a while back being sold as staves. I contacted the guy just to see how how he made them. He sent me an Email saying it was good wood but didnt go into to much detail  I do remember him saying something about stringing it backwards when its still green and letting it dry like that. Good luck if it doesnt work for a bow soak it in water and use the fibers for a basket. I know it works for that.                                              Jesse

[Pappy]

I have hear the same thing as Hillbilly,I have made several Ash bow but to be honest I don't know how to tell the deferents.I have heard Blue Ash has a kind of blue tint but don't know how to tell
while it is standing.I would make it longer and wider than normal at least until I made one out of it
and see how it done.
   Pappy

[GregB]

You might try to put some reflex into it before stressing the wood to much. Heat treatment on the belly ought to put a little more life into it.

[richpierce]

Blue ash bark is totally different from white ash and is easy to spot.  It generally grows along streams and can have a smooth bark with corky bits on it at the base.  The oppisite branching pattern and leaves are trhe same as white ash- that's the only way I'd know it's an ash, because I generally first notice the bark in identifying white ash.

I think ash is "OK" as a bow wood.  My first ash bow snapped (I had not a clue how to make a bow then) and my recent one was hard to tiller and took some set despite low draw weight for length (45#, 68" nock to nock).  It shoots very smoothly though, but lacks the cast of a black locust bow I built at the same time, which has a similar draw weight, is 66" nock to nock, and took less set.

[Hillbilly]

I've had good luck with white ash, I consider it to be pretty good wood. You have to make the bow limbs wider than you would with a heavier wood, though. It can usually be found nice and straight, also.

[John K]

Just got back from working on the bow. The tiller is looking good pulled to 20"
After unstringing it seems i have about 1-2 inches of string follow, not sure if the moister is low enough 
I would like to get another 9 to 10 inches of draw out of it, but not sure thats going to happen, might have to give it to a kid.
Either way it has been a learning experince. 

[Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive]

could very well be good.  i have Pop Ash here in FL. its a round leaf ash tree and only grows here in the deep south as far as i know. no one knew anything about it so i cut some and i rate it better than any hickory or elm i have found. it took very little if any set and has great cast. it was also i small diameter tree top stave so its more like a d shape bow naturally.

give it a try and good luck with it- Ryan

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