From a Texas shade tree to the Salt Shaker shop, Allen Ash carries its story forward.
Allen Ash
The Story
When I met Mr. Allen, I discovered a craftsman who, like me, had spent years reclaiming wood others overlooked. Parkinson’s had forced him to step away from the shop, but his careful stockpile remained — stacks of lumber gathered from curbs, storm-felled trees, and trades over time.
In that collection was a set of Ash boards, pale and resilient, each one marked by the patient eye of someone who valued the story behind the wood as much as its grain. To most, they were scraps; to him, they were possibilities waiting for the right hands.
Taking this Ash into my shop meant more than rescuing good material. It meant carrying forward the spirit of a fellow woodworker whose way of collecting and creating mirrored my own — a reminder that every piece holds not just the life of a tree, but the legacy of the one who saved it.
About the Tree
The Texas Ash stands tall with a light-colored trunk and a wide, rounded canopy that offers welcome shade in the summer heat. Though not as common today as in years past, Ash trees still dot yards, pastures, and parks across the state. Their upright strength and graceful crown make them easy to admire — whether you’re standing beneath their branches or viewing them from a distance.
It’s this blend of strength and beauty that has made Ash a valued presence in Texas landscapes — a tree appreciated in life and remembered through the wood it leaves behind.
About the Wood
Ash is prized by woodworkers for its balance of strength and workability. Its pale color and open, straight grain make it both distinctive and versatile — able to stand alone or complement darker woods in contrast. Often compared to oak for its durability, Ash carries its own character: lighter in tone, yet equally resilient.
From baseball bats to furniture, Ash has long been trusted where toughness and beauty need to meet. In reclaimed form, those same qualities shine through — whether left in its natural pale finish or brought to life with stain, every board tells the story of a tree that once stood tall and now lives on in new hands.
Why It Matters
Every board of Allen Ash carries more than the grain of a tree — it carries the story of a craftsman who gathered and saved wood with care, even when he could no longer work it himself. By bringing this lumber into my shop, the pieces he once collected are given new purpose rather than being lost to time or the landfill.
To me, that’s what reclaimed woodworking is about: honoring both the life of the tree and the hands that valued it. Each piece made from Allen Ash is a continuation of that legacy — proof that good wood, and good stories, are never wasted.
Made from Allen Ash
Hand-turned pepper mill made from reclaimed Allen Ash — a one-of-a-kind piece that has already found its home.
Bottle cap opener made from reclaimed Allen Ash — turning everyday use into a story worth sharing.
Salt mill turned from reclaimed Allen Ash — a one-of-a-kind piece that has already found its home.
Allen Ash is more than wood — it’s a story reclaimed. Each piece honors the tree it came from and the craftsman who saved it. Whether it becomes a board, a mill, or something entirely new, Allen Ash carries its history into every home it reaches.