The Accurate Reloading Forums
white ash for a stock?
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
09 July 2020, 05:18
ClaymanWow! I never considered ash as a stock material, but it looks great! The figure is very nice, I'm sure it's hard as hell, and it's colored about like a light shade of walnut. Really pretty!
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No safe queens!
Very nice rifle; yes, ash makes good stocks; it is used on long rifles far more than bolt actions. Better get it now; soon it will go the way of the American Chestnut; died off.
The bottom one is curly Ash; I have built a few of them.
First: very nice stock
always thought ash was like oak, prone to spliting. but they do use it for bb bats.
09 July 2020, 06:50
Use Enough GunBeautiful rifle!
09 July 2020, 06:54
Aspen Hill AdventuresBeautiful work, Vapo. Ash is a wonderful wood for many things. Sadly, all of the ash on my land is dying from EAB. What a waste.
~Ann
09 July 2020, 19:00
clowdisRespectively I'd like to disagree on ash as a gunstock. I understand that it can have some lovely figure but it's coarse grain makes it more suitable for it's primary use as a Louisville Slugger. I also understand that almost every American hardwood has been used as a gunstock at some point in history including oak, hickory, ash, and fruitwoods such as apple, none of them ever became popular in the craft of gunmaking. There must be a reason for this!
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
09 July 2020, 20:00
vapodogquote:
it's coarse grain makes it more suitable for it's primary use as a Louisville Slugger.
This has not been my experience so far. As a matter of fact I've found it finer grained than black american walnut as the pores in finishing are much easier filled than black american or claro.
I've used it for many furniture builds including roltop desks and find it hard and strong. As a matter of fact it's the only wood so far that can actually cut my hands due to the hard, fine grained, and sharp edges that it can hold.
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
09 July 2020, 21:51
Clayman"Coarse" would not be the way I'd describe the grain in the stock above. I'm assuming it's been properly filled, but even still. Vapodog, is the weight similar to a walnut stock? How do the two compare?
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No safe queens!
If you don't like it; don't use it, but I would guess that very few people have ever even seen an Ash stock, much less own one. Figured and curly Ash is way more rare than in Walnut, and it is yellow in color, are the reasons it is not used.
The weight varies like walnut does; but it is on average, harder and denser than typical black or claro.
It is not prone to splitting and has long straight grain, and is widely used for Ax handles for that reason. Hickory too.
Some of the pores can be larger; but filling them is easy.
09 July 2020, 23:01
vapodogquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
If you don't like it; don't use it, but I would guess that very few people have ever even seen an Ash stock, much less own one. Figured and curly Ash is way more rare than in Walnut, and it is yellow in color, are the reasons it is not used.
The weight varies like walnut does; but it is on average, harder and denser than typical black or claro.
It is not prone to splitting and has long straight grain, and is widely used for Ax handles for that reason. Hickory too.
Some of the pores can be larger; but filling them is easy.
yep.....well said.
I might add that the main reason I'm using it now is not only for it's strength and hardness but I got three beautiful blanks absolutely free.....that's a big kicker in my world.
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
10 July 2020, 05:29
Claymanquote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
I might add that the main reason I'm using it now is not only for it's strength and hardness but I got three beautiful blanks absolutely free.....that's a big kicker in my world.
Well, the price was right!
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No safe queens!
10 July 2020, 10:49
AtkinsonOther than I prefer gun stocks to be as close to black and soft shell European walnut as I can get, your rifle is beautiful, and nice work for sure..
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
10 July 2020, 17:53
clowdisquote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
I might add that the main reason I'm using it now is not only for it's strength and hardness but I got three beautiful blanks absolutely free.....that's a big kicker in my world.
That would certainly have a positive influence on the use of this wood in my case also.
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
10 July 2020, 18:12
TexasJohnI would be very proud to own that stock. Ash is very strong without a doubt and this piece finished beautifully. What's not to like about it?
10 July 2020, 20:48
Use Enough GunI might add that I love blondes! (Stocks that is). I have a number of them, but out of other wood.
10 July 2020, 21:13
lindy2Vapodog
Did you mill that one from the blank? Really nice!
10 July 2020, 22:56
vapodogquote:
Originally posted by lindy2:
Vapodog
Did you mill that one from the blank? Really nice!
It's like this:
1. I cut down the tree for lumber.
2. Upon sawing lumber I noticed some beautiful burl-like grain.
3. I set the next three saw cuts thick enough to make gunstocks.
4. I air dried the three blanks for three months
5. Then had the Amish in Wisconsin kiln dry them to 6% moisture
6. Band saw cut stock blanks and sent them to Dennis Olson in Plains Montana for routing to fit Weatherby vanguard barreled actions. (Howa)
7. I finished them from there. (includes bedding the barreled action and glass bedding, installing pistol grip cap and forend tip[American black walnut root wood] cutting bolt handle recess and ejection port ramp, installing butt plate, installing sling swivel studs, finishing the stock and checkering.
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
Not usually that fond of Blond stocks but that one is a looker for sure.
Aut vincere aut mori
10 July 2020, 23:36
IOWADONI cut down an ash tree long ago for firewood for my mother-in-law and then decided to have 7 feet or the trunk sliced up for lumber. It got used for different stuff but there was some highly figured stuff which got used for smaller cabinet doors. And it really sets those cabinets off. I was very surprised!
11 July 2020, 21:50
butchlocwell chit- i like it - now i wonder what a stock would look like from black ash - otherwise known as Japanese walnut- they drag those trees out of the swamps in minnesota with hellicopters
12 July 2020, 03:58
sharpsguyDamn nice rifle. You did a good job on that.
12 July 2020, 16:03
Heym SR20Ash, over here has long been used for aplications that require toughness and spring. Material of choice for axe, hammer and other tool handles. Also used for wheel spokes and framing for coach and car bodies. Morgans are all ash framed. Makes good Bows as well. As a gunstock - has most of the properties needed. Possibly a bit heavy. It does move a bit when subject to moisture, but free floating and bedding and proper sealing then why not.
13 July 2020, 23:18
Brian CanadaI have a Mountain Ash tree in the garden that I am going to cut down. Would it make a nice gunstock?
I guess that ash is used for oars, hence the expression "Ash breeze".
IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
14 July 2020, 19:39
butchlocno on the mou9ntain ash - although as lumber it has several color variations which can be quite nice - also yu9 need a log thatis about 20"in diameter to be able to cut a stock out of
14 July 2020, 23:22
Brian Canadaquote:
Reply
Butchloc, Thanks. That is what I needed to know. Brian
IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
15 July 2020, 07:41
lost okieI cut some of this for knife handles bunch of years back.
Very hard with lots of figure.
Was great as knife handles.
15 July 2020, 08:36
NormanConquestI once had a nice piece of Bois D Arc that I sent to Hulet at Bishops + was told never to do that again as the hardness of that wood wrecked his chisels.
Never mistake motion for action.
16 July 2020, 09:56
Michael RobinsonWe have a big white ash on our property. Big old tree, but it’s dead. We’re having it removed this October. Not sure what killed it. Damned shame, though.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
19 July 2020, 07:56
Snellstromquote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
We have a big white ash on our property. Big old tree, but it’s dead. We’re having it removed this October. Not sure what killed it. Damned shame, though.
EAB killed it most likely.
The Emerald Ash Borer
19 July 2020, 10:08
NormanConquestThe Mesquite is beautiful wood as well. It is rare to see one get to stock size before the wood borers get into the heartwood. Why they are so expensive I suppose, but that is truly a fine piece of wood.
Never mistake motion for action.
19 July 2020, 20:55
butchlocmyrtle is another wood you used to see and was quite attractive my son has kitchen cabinets from brown ash color is very close to butternut that would make another interesting stock
All White Ash trees will soon be gone; same as the American Chestnut. Like the Corona Virus (so far) there is no immunity and no cure; and for the trees it is 100% fatal. The Chinese Chestnut, is immune; all chestnuts you see now are Chinese. American trees will only grow until they bloom; that triggers the blight to attack.
Ash trees last a few years but death is inevitable.
I bought this "just because" , Pop and I drove up from SanFran to Eugene winding up at the knife show. This was in 4/2000. Stopped in at a place that was selling Myrtlewood stuff.
24 July 2020, 21:40
AtkinsonI bet a little Alkanet root would look nice on that wood?? Duane would probably know if it would take...
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
25 July 2020, 00:06
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)Well...I've made a few Myrtle stocks, but Never experimented with color enhancement. Interesting wood..kinda gives off a lemony smell when working it.
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
25 July 2020, 09:30
DCS MemberTalent.
I meant to be DSC Member...bad typing skills.
Marcus Cady
DRSS
25 July 2020, 10:55
georgeldVery lovely grained.
Fellow on another board, I think has since died as
he's no longer on the board, nor in the house.'
Had a big myrtle cut into blanks 15 years or so ago.
Planned on supplementing his retirement. I bought three. All rough cut.
Sanded them to the wood to see what the grain was like.
Not a line of any kind in any of the three planks!
They'd make some dandy pattern material, or stocks
for those that paint 'em.
Before you get excited about any wood for stocks.
Clean the boards up so you can see the grain. Do that first thing so you don't waste years drying them.
George
"Gun Control is NOT about Guns'
"It's about Control!!"
Join the NRA today!"
LM: NRA, DAV,
George L. Dwight
26 July 2020, 02:45
Brian Canadavapodog, awesome wood, craftsmanship and shape/lines.
Brian
IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.