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06-01-2010, 12:57 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | | Block of ash + harebrained scheme
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While splitting wood yesterday, I found a nice 15" wide ash log. My ADD kicked in, and I decided to try and cut a slab out if it. After about 10 min. with the chainsaw, I managed to cut a 15 x 20" 2" thick slab. It's got a nice looking grain, and has no cracks. My idea is to make a body out of it and attach a decent quality Fender P or J neck.
Should I just burn this piece of wood next winter, or is this possibly a viable project? I have some woodworking experience and tools and have friends with more. |
06-01-2010, 01:05 PM
|  | quid verum atque decens
Builder: Rickett Customs | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern Maryland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DJS  Should I just burn this piece of wood next winter, or is this possibly a viable project? | No, but you will need to dry it for awhile.
Seal the ends up with wax (If you can get some), to seal up the end grain (keep it from checking).
You'll also need to store it somewhere, preferably dry, warm is good too.
Place it on a few "slats" of wood of uniform size (possibly 3 or so inches apart) and weight it. Use a sticker to log the weight. every 2 weeks or so, weight it and resticker with the updated weight. Once the wood weight stabilizes, you should be ok. Then you can use a moisture meter, to see what the moisture content is (7% to 12% should be an acceptable range). |
06-01-2010, 01:14 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Redondo Beach, CA | | | Any way you could post a pic? I'd love to see the wood in its raw state.
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06-01-2010, 05:49 PM
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Luthier of Michael Wayne Instruments, Shop Manager ChromeDomeMusic | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH | | Me too! 
Air drying is 1 year per inch. You may want to find someone with a kiln. My crotches will take ~5 years to dry. But the cool thing will be making basses from trees that I harvested.
__________________ Blunt: a:abrupt in speech; b:being direct Quote:
Originally Posted by christw My hair is ready. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Musiclogic geeeeeez Sometimes you should put a "common sense dictates NOT doing this" disclaimer | |
06-01-2010, 06:21 PM
| | quid verum atque decens
Builder: Rickett Customs | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern Maryland | | Uhh...huh.....huh...huh......he said My Crotch......  |
06-02-2010, 08:57 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | | Thanks. I'll try and post a pic. Ash is pretty dry to begin with (it's the only wood you can cut, split, and burn without any curing time) and it has been sitting in log form for a year.
Either way, I'll weigh it and see if there is any movement, and set it near the dehumidifier. Time is on my side for this one.
By sealing the ends with wax, do you mean simply pouring wax onto the ends? |
06-02-2010, 09:00 AM
| | Registered User
Luthier of Michael Wayne Instruments, Shop Manager ChromeDomeMusic | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH | | | Yep. A couple coats of a latex paint will also work.
__________________ Blunt: a:abrupt in speech; b:being direct Quote:
Originally Posted by christw My hair is ready. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Musiclogic geeeeeez Sometimes you should put a "common sense dictates NOT doing this" disclaimer | |
06-02-2010, 09:14 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | | Thanks. |
06-02-2010, 11:34 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | 
huh huh - my wood - huh huh
I also have some much larger walnut logs This piece - to become truly square might only be about 13x19. Is that small? |
06-02-2010, 12:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyswood Me too!
Air drying is 1 year per inch. You may want to find someone with a kiln. My crotches will take ~5 years to dry. But the cool thing will be making basses from trees that I harvested. | Nice! Those will make interesting features. Do you have a sawmill? |
06-02-2010, 12:38 PM
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Builder: Classic Bass Works | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Temecula, CA | | Quote:
huh huh - my wood - huh huh
I also have some much larger walnut logs This piece - to become truly square might only be about 13x19. Is that small?
| That's some pretty wood, should make a pretty bass. Do something with that walnut too.
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06-02-2010, 05:07 PM
|  | so far, so good | | Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: US-NY-NYC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DJS I also have some much larger walnut logs This piece - to become truly square might only be about 13x19. Is that small? | 21" long is pretty standard for a bass, 19" for a guitar.
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06-02-2010, 06:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Newfoundland, Canada. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyswood Me too!
Air drying is 1 year per inch. You may want to find someone with a kiln. My crotches will take ~5 years to dry. But the cool thing will be making basses from trees that I harvested. | What do you mean by 1 year per inch?
per square inch? per inch thick? |
06-03-2010, 04:20 AM
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Owner and builder Clementbass | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Central Florida | | | pretty sure he means per inch thick
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06-03-2010, 06:30 AM
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Luthier of Michael Wayne Instruments, Shop Manager ChromeDomeMusic | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH | | | ^Yep. That is only a "standard" rule. The higher density woods will take longer.
__________________ Blunt: a:abrupt in speech; b:being direct Quote:
Originally Posted by christw My hair is ready. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Musiclogic geeeeeez Sometimes you should put a "common sense dictates NOT doing this" disclaimer | |
06-03-2010, 06:44 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by pilotjones 21" long is pretty standard for a bass, 19" for a guitar. | Maybe I'll go with a Steinberger look then. |
06-03-2010, 06:52 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by BassCycle That's some pretty wood, should make a pretty bass. Do something with that walnut too. | I need a sawmill. |
06-03-2010, 07:34 AM
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Luthier of Michael Wayne Instruments, Shop Manager ChromeDomeMusic | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH | | | I do all my cuts with a trusty Husqvarna.
__________________ Blunt: a:abrupt in speech; b:being direct Quote:
Originally Posted by christw My hair is ready. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Musiclogic geeeeeez Sometimes you should put a "common sense dictates NOT doing this" disclaimer | |
06-03-2010, 09:47 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rochester, NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyswood I do all my cuts with a trusty Husqvarna. | Good man! My slab ended up with a little curve at the end. Do you use a ripping chain?
Nice Saved by the Bell reference in your pic, by the way.  |
06-03-2010, 10:24 AM
| | Registered User
Luthier of Michael Wayne Instruments, Shop Manager ChromeDomeMusic | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH | | | Nope. Since it's rough I don't take time to swap chains. With a sharp cross-cutting chain you will see the dust fly while ripping. The wood will warp a lot as it seasons anyway. I cut to 10/4 to harvest a body.
__________________ Blunt: a:abrupt in speech; b:being direct Quote:
Originally Posted by christw My hair is ready. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Musiclogic geeeeeez Sometimes you should put a "common sense dictates NOT doing this" disclaimer | | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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