Hiya, still feeling my way with green woodworking with some success, I have the opportunity to acquire some green ash billets/logs which are over 10 inches in diameter and about five feet in length. There is, I would assume, quite a bit of volume in the logs. The ash will used for Windsor chair seat backs and arms in particular and maybe a few rockers. The ash has been already felled and it is about six month old. I understand that to steam bend successfully with few 'tears' the stock needs to be as green as green can be with a high content of sap to facilitate the steam bending process. The degree of sap content is seasonal - I know that bit.
My question therefore; Is there an optimum age of ash, or any other wood for that matter, that is considered to NOT be viable to steam bend. In other words at what stage do you walk away from a supply. My dilemma is do I go ahead and purchase this supply and finish up 'crying' in my beer because the ash his insufficient moisture content to respond to the steaming process. I would appreciate any advice please. Thanks in anticipation.
Regards
Stanford Peverill