Have a project underway using some salvaged white ash. When using a pattern bit with my router the end grain burnt even though the bit was reasonably sharp and I kept the speed up. When I cut some mortises with my Multico mortise machine(sharp bit) smoke poured out of the mortise being cut. When I tried to use my 1" belt sander to even out a tenon the end grain burnt. I've used the same procedure(s) to machine red and white oak but did not experience this much blakin'n. What's with my ash? According to my Woods of the World cd(don't be a sucker and buy this like I did) and another reference, the stuff should machine like red oak but is difficult to mortise. The only thing nice about this stuff, so far, is it doesn't have a smell. It's not like the cat pee smell of red oak when it's machined. Larry
- posted
20 years ago