Very cool video. I had no idea they were made this way. Thank you so much. I must say I feel I lost some important detail during the splitting process of the log and the proper alignment of the growth rings. I’d love to see how this was done in more detail. Is it just simply quarters until you get the widths. It would seem some growth rings would work and others that are super thin would not and you would have to discard it…? Also do you do this with green wood? I assume so for the flexibility.
Enjoyed this so much. I have done this before so know how much hard work it entails. I have never seen the log split then pounded only pounded as in the full round. I have saved my black ash strips from long ago and want to get back into making baskets. For the uprights, are they normally left as the full growth ring or split into 2 layers as like the weavers? Also, are all the weavers and uprights smoothed with the knife or are the uprights sometimes left rough? Thanks so much for doing these videos. Brings me right back to my youth growing up in northern Michigan and learning what I could of the ways of the Ojibwa people of that area. I hope you will do a video on making handles, too. I never did acquire the skills to make my own split and carved handles. I think they are especially beautiful.
will do. I find the easiest way making handles is to use spruce root of a larger dimension, they bend very easily with no steaming and no cracking. that video is next up!
As for splitting I've found it depends on what your making and how thick your splints are. I know , sounds obvious , but I watched every video I could find on this subject and everybody elses ash groth rings seem to be thicker than the ones I've done. I'm making adirondack baskets for rugged use and will not split them in two. If your making smaller baskets you may want split for weavers and un-split for stakes ( uprights). The strips in this video are are thicker after splitting than mine prior to splitting. My splits are like a satin ribbon. Very pliable but don't have the strength needed for a trappers basket. I'm in norther NY so maybe long winters short growing season slows growth ? I usually scrape both sides as slivers from these can be deadly. I would suggest you make some and experiment. The split ones are a joy to work with and double what you have to work with. I'm in the process of making a pounding machine to produce splints easier and have more to sell.
thats interesting. iM using ash right now to bend ribs into a canoe. how long will it take you to to that hole log? will you be showing us what you did with it after you where done scaping it?
I assume this is green wood. The bark peeled like it was. Can it be done with dry logs? Also can you do it with other woods like walnut and cherry. I ask because all the ash in my area is dead from the emerald ash borer.
I have been looking for a Black Ash tree,no luck. This ash tree is a white ash? We have a quite a bit of ash here in NB Canada, or at least where I live I have cut three ash trees now and not one is a black ash.So, my question sir if that log is a white or green ash, you don’t have to have black ash to make a basket? The video was very good, and informative. I guess my question to you is most types of ash could be used for risers and weavers. Thanks again, I’ll be watching for more info
yes, any of the ash can be used, my friends at the mill work with trees every day and they still have trouble identifying the different ash. I believe the black ash will split easier with less work. but all will work.
