Cracking rate for ash cookies?

[kelLOGg]

For me its about 0, unlike any other wood. I have sawn about 900 ranging in diameters from 2" to 16", thicknesses from 0.5" to 1.5" with moisture contents about 14%. So far, only 2 have cracked - they were 16 inches diameter and 3/4" thick and 14% MC.  I have put some in the kiln so I will find out what happens at 8%.
What has been your experience?

[WDH]

I only cut ash cookies from one tree, about 50, but they all cracked. 

[chet]

Mine always turned out like WDH's, self splittin' firewood.  :D

[xlogger]

I cut about 6- 3" thick a few weeks ago. Cracking now.

[kelLOGg]

At what MC did they start cracking? Mine are all very close to air tried and a few test pieces are in the kiln - still only 2 cracks out of ~900.

[aigheadish]

I can't speak for cookies, at least like you guys are talking about, but I've cut a fair amount, intending them to be bowl blanks and everything cracked to the point of me being a relatively new turner to be a bit scared of putting them on the lathe.

[kelLOGg]

Most of my cookies have small voids in the center which may account for my luck in minimal cracking.
The 2 cracked ones are on top in the 1st pic.



 

  

[doc henderson]

the larger the diameter, the more likely they are to split.  also there is an unknown magic thickness relative to species and diameter, that I wish I knew.  i think that @GeneWengert-WoodDoc toured a facility that does a lot of them but was sworn to secrecy.  but maybe had some hints that if he tells us, he does not have to kill us.   8)  (secret agent sunglasses).     ;)   :D :D :D

[Joe Hillmann]

When I am sawing cabin logs I find ash is probably the worst wood when it comes to splitting when drying.

[WDH]

Cookies that I cut from walnut that were 6 - 8" in diameter and 5/8" thick had very minimal cracking.  I have found thinner = less severe cracking. 

[Downstream]

My experience on the larger ones in the first photo is no better than 50% non cracking.  On the smaller ones in the second photo I have had much better results with probably 80% non cracking.  My method on those is to cut 100's and throw them into a set of older mower rear bagger bags hanging from the wall.  The bags are heavy duty and also open mesh for a slightly controlled drying rate.  After a few months of sitting in the bags I dump them into rubbermaid 18 gal totes for long term storage until use.

[21incher]

I have not had good luck with ash. Walnut and cherry give me better results. Yours look fantastic.

[kantuckid]

FWIW, you can cut cookies-thick or thin from Catalpa and they'll not crack tangentially. I got one ~ 30" dia on my front porch with three long legs as a table.