Making Split Ash Weavers

[@circesgrandmainomaha580]

Thank you for this demonstration and careful instruction. I also noticed your hat sir, thank you for your service, from a triple blue star single mom.

[@donaldporta]

You are very welcome

[@EokaBeamer69]

I had no idea you can make weaving material from wood. I wanted to get into basket weaving but there is a distinct lack of willow in my area so I will try this.

[@josephinebennington7247]

Learning that you always need a tool you haven’t got is my most frequent lesson.

[@ValCronin]

Fascinating, beautiful video!

[@surfearth1]

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.

[@peggyd3643]

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.

[@donaldporta]

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!

[@timothylongmore7325]

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.

[@irishspiritedgal]

Thanks for demonstrating this, really helpful! 💎

[@amandadrinsinger6121]

Is it easier/harder/indifferent to do this when the tree is starting to sap/is moist green cut? I always seem blow splitting the thicker ones in half

[@30DayReviews]

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?

[@timmynormand8082]

yes Donald what do you use them for ? really good demonstration thsnk you

[@donaldporta]

adirondack back pack, next video, just need to edit it then upload.

[@donaldporta]

up next video!

[@timmynormand8082]

@@donaldporta really !!! i cant wait for that Donald thats gonna be so interesting i would like to make one

[@Shogomockid]

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

[@donaldporta]

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.

[@jeantruesdale6491]

@@donaldporta How many hours of pounding do you need to get the rings to separate?

[@chrisjohnson9645]

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.

[@donaldporta]

I have not been able to do this with these woods. We are loosing the ash in my woods also--- NW PA.

[@BillieFingers]

Is this on a freshly cut log? Or a seasoned one? I presumed fresh?

[@donaldporta]

the log came from a mill--- don't know when it was cut.

[@geraldinerobertson3481]

Do you selling your baskets and your weaving surplus,

[@donaldporta]

no

[@martylawrence9320]

Is this a dry log?

[@donaldporta]

newly cut

[@Shogomockid]

Could you please tell me what part or how thick should your risers be

[@donaldporta]

try to make them all the same, however, when selecting --- use the stiffer ones as the risers.

[@erictaylorbasketry6814]

We have a limited amount of time to process ash. Here is some info to help you get closer to that goal. Eric Taylor Basketry.

[@antonsarossy-christon3162]

Can sugar maple be used the same way?

[@donaldporta]

I don't think the layers will separate like the ash

[@buzzwerd8093]

It's easier to get splits off Ash saplings.

[@donaldporta]

I will have to try that, I would do more ash work if it was easy to process the splits.