Shopsmith Forums

I am in the process of making three oak doll cradles and found I needed some 5/4 oak for the feet.

Off I went to my local wood supplier to brouse through his scrap bin and found a piece marked: oak, 3', 2.0 bd ft. Upon getting it home, I noticed markings on the side that indicated it may be 5/4 Ash.

Since I have never worked with ash, I wondered what the difference in colour might be if I used this piece as planned. The cradles will be natural and finished with wipe on poly.

I expect I will be returning the piece tomorrow but just wondered. Any comments?

John

John

I assume that you are using red oak. The ash will be more white but the grain is hard to tell apart. Ash and flat sawn white oak are sometimes hard to tell apart when finished. I have mixed all 3 before on jobs that have a dark stain.

The biggest difference between ash and oak is; when in a project, the oaks have very visible rays. Ash's rays are not noticeable as ribbons on the radial face, or darker lines on the tangential (flatsawn) face. White oak has the largest rays that form wide ribbons on the radial face (quartersawn). Red oak has ribbons, but not as dramatic as it's white brother.

We once had a set of kitchen cabinets made from ash. They looked something like oak until an oak piece was placed next to them. It is the ring porous structure of ash that replicates oak. The lack of visible rays is apparent, giving ash a more flat appearance.

Chuck gave an excellent answer. Let me add another. When you stain or finish oak those rays take the finish far different that Ash will.

The piece was ash. Besides the marking on the edge suggesting it may be ash, I sanded a little on one edge, this was rough wood, and did not get the little darker flecks(?) that appear on red oak.

I took it back to the store today and traded it for a piece 9" longer with no extra charge so I guess I came out ahead if we don't count the gas and 45 minutes it took. But then again I got to spend more time in a lumber store, that's a plus.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

John

john wrote:The piece was ash. Besides the marking on the edge suggesting it may be ash, I sanded a little on one edge, this was rough wood, and did not get the little darker flecks(?) that appear on red oak.

I took it back to the store today and traded it for a piece 9" longer with no extra charge so I guess I came out ahead if we don't count the gas and 45 minutes it took. But then again I got to spend more time in a lumber store, that's a plus.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

John

At my house its considered a financial burden when I spend to much time in a lumber store. The rules must be different at your house. Jim