Ash Staff

[DaveBromley]

Got myself a cracking peice of ash yesterday to make my first stick, my question is do i need to leave it to season or can i whip the bark off right away?

Thanks Dave

 

[launditch1]

In the past when ive made sticks ive stripped the bark right away as its a pig to remove after its dried...If i do that i leave it overlong at the ends in case it splits during seasoning, you can then cut the split bits off when its dry.

 

[Noddy]

...............

 

[Ruvio]

I've never used Ash for some reason or other, but I generally take the bark off straight away

Good luck

 

[Simon]

Take bark off, dip ends in a bit of eggshell paint, or similar (hot wax also works) to seal the ends for drying and it shouldn't split.

 

[Laurentius]

Take bark off, dip ends in a bit of eggshell paint, or similar (hot wax also works) to seal the ends for drying and it shouldn't split.

Where is the fun in that? If it splits so be it, ever heard of plastic wood? (ooh blasphemy)

Whatever - good old fashioned linseed oil or the boiled variety is all the treatment it should need.

 

[william#]

lauditch is right the bark will be a pig to get off after seasoning doesnt have to be a totally clean strip as once nicely seasoned sandpaper is your friend

 

[sam_acw]

Get the bark off to help it dry - I've read that leaving sticks in water for a couple of days can help the drying as the water forces sap out and evaporates faster when you take it out the water - I've tried it with pine for carving and it didn't cause a problem but I didn't have a "control" that wasn't soaked.

 

[pedrobedro]

Why take the bark off ? It will look like you are carrying a white stick and looking for your dog. Ash is wood which can be worked or burnt while it is still green, furniture is made from it straight from the tree by chair bodgers.

 

[DaveBromley]

i plan on staining it a lot darker than the base wood, and i dont like it with the bark on. just personal preference i guess

Thanks Dave

 

[John Fenna]

I prefer Ash poles with the bark intact - visually much better than naked wood...at least to my eye!

 

[Boston973]

I make canes as a hobby and I had this problem for awile. Stripping the bark is a real pain once it dries but taking it off does add to the chance of the wood splitting. My wife ordered me a book on irish shillelagh and in it they suggested stripping the bark and oiling the stick. So I rub a coat of oil in after I strip it and a few more coats every few days as the wood dries out. What you are doing is replacing the water in the wood with oil that it adsorbes as it dries. The result is a much harder stick that I have also found takes stain far better than when I just dry the wood without it. Also I have never had a split since I started. Once I get a new charger for my camera I will post some pics of some of my sticks.

 

[Redeye]

Nice find. It's hard to get the staff these days.