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How to Work With Black Ash Woodsplint
By Susi Nuss

Splint from the Black Ash tree (Fraxinus nigra) is a popular basketry woodsplint material. When weaving with black ash woodsplint, you should keep the following things in mind.

Difficulty Level: Average    Time Required: Variable

Here's How:

1. Black ash splint is a wood product and as such will have inherent qualities that will need consideration, including grain.
2. Run your hand along the length of each splint to check for defects before using.
3. Routinely grade out all but the most minor of defects.
4. Determine which side you want to show to the outside of the basket. Double satin black ash splint does not have a bad side.
5. Most weavers will not require thinning down (grading) when two overlap at joins. Thin when necessary, so that the two layers do not create a noticeable bulge.
6. When you start a new weaver, overlap both old and new weaver over at least a spoke count of 4 and conceal the ends.
7. The splint should be worked moist enough to remain flexible, but keep in mind that the splint swells on its width when wet, so that the wetter you have it, the more it will shrink up as it dries.
8. Allow yourself enough time for the weaving to dry thoroughly before turning down and tucking the spokes, so that shrinkage will not cause problems
   

Tips:

1. Black Ash is also called Brown Ash, hoop ash, swamp ash, water ash, basket ash, wikp (Maliseet), Wiskoq (Micmac) and Frêne noir (Que).
2. Black Ash woodsplint has a beautiful satiny sheen that requires no other finish than careful handling of the finished basket.

Related Information:

• Identify the Black Ash Tree
• Black Ash Basketry
• Free Black Ash Basket Pattern
• Black Ash Projects and Patterns
• Directory of Black Ash Basketmakers