Ash as a ramrod??

[Darrin McDonal]

Has anyone used or heard of using ash as a ramrod wood?? I found a have a half dozen pieces that, if they were hickory I would be dancing a jig. Being ash, I dont know if I should cut'em up and burn them or put them to use.
Thanks for the input.
Darrin

[D. Bowman]

If the growth rings are tight it should make a fine ramrod. Also makes good arrow shafts.

[Elnathan]

I don't see why they wouldn't work well. Ash used to be the standard wood for spear shafts, axe handles, and the like back in Europe, and while American Ash isn't quite so good as the European variety I imagine that it would still be a quite appropriate wood for the application.

I just finished making an axe handle from ash and found it very pleasant to work with.

[Darrin McDonal]

Well thanks. Thats good news. Now I need to try to bandsaw following the growth ring. Somebody mentioned this technique before as apposed to splitting it. This is dry, I certainly dont want to fight with splitting it. I tried that with a piece of dry hickory. Let me tell you, that sh** will fight you tooth & nail when its dry. I am sure it was very comical to watch me trying to split this 3/4" x 4" board.  Ash cant be much more forgiving can it?
Darrin

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I agree that a fine grained piece of ash will make decent ramrods.  I made up a set of arrows to go with my English warbow from a board at the local hardwood dealer's.  I ripped it on the table saw into 1/2" squares and using an electric drill, ran them through a dowel making jug I bought at Lee Valley Tools.  The shafts came out at a little more than 7/16", most with a bit of a warp to them, but easily straightened by burnishing the high side.  These are tapered to each end down to 3/8".

[alyce-james]

D. Taylor Sapergia; Sir,  the arrow set shown looks great, I like them. Are they with a finish or have rubbed in oil finish ?? Thanks, AJ.

[Mike Brooks]

Ash should work. They used to use it for well pump rods in the old days. Don't be afraid to split it dry, I actually find it easier to split dry than green.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Ash was commonly used for ramrods on British and other European guns.

dave

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

a-j...rubbed down with Tung Oil Circa 1850 brand.  Thanks for the compliment.

[Darrin McDonal]

I suspected it should work. Maybe I will post the process / progress of it though I wont get to it for a little while.
Mike I will try splitting it first since I have dove in yet. I might as well, before sawing it. Split has got to be better.
Darrin
Darrin

[mark esterly]

straight grained ash will work BUT most all of the production guns years ago, t c, cva etc. were supplied with ash rods and most was cross grain "cause it looked good" and they I believe are the ones that gave wood rods a bad rep.    woods have their various uses for a reason and have stood the test of time .