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Ash or Maple?

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by Gabriel Hinrichs, Dec 7, 2016.

  1. Gabriel Hinrichs

    Gabriel Hinrichs n00b

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Location:
    Janesville, WI
    I'm looking to pick up a craft when slim gets back in stock but I'm still undecided on if I should get ash or maple. I don't know how much of a difference there is but I wanted to know if there's any significant change in weight and durability before I buy.
     
    Dec 7, 2016
    Jasper B. and 7Cabbages like this.
  2. Blake W.

    Blake W. Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2016
    Durability-wise, even as someone who hasn't tried the crafts yet, I can tell you Ash in general chips eeeeeeezy. One drop on the wrong surface....As for weight, ash should be lighter and maple is mid-range
     
    Dec 7, 2016
  3. Nick Lectura

    Nick Lectura Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Santa Cruz, CA
    Yeee slim life! I say go with the ash because I played an ash slim that was super broken in and it was honed. Slings were crazy but I could still lunar. Plus the ash tama will break in better than the maple tama in my opinion. Not too sure of the weights because wood varies, but ash is kind of known to be less durable than maple. The ash slim I played had a chipped basecup, so fair warning if you decide to get the ash.
     
    Dec 7, 2016
  4. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    I have had some super durable ash Kens and they don't chip too easily but then again each one will be slightly different. I find that ash has a slightly gritty feel to it as compared to maple which I have found to be smoother. Maple almost has like a velvety feel sometimes. I prefer ash though but that's just me.
     
    Dec 7, 2016
  5. Jasper B.

    Jasper B. Slayer

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    San Diego
    Ash is a wood that has amazing grain, so for a slim, the ash would perform better for handle stalls, stilts, and other bird like tricks. if you want a prime kendama out of the box go ash. If you want to spend more money, maple is INSANE for mashups, in general, ash is a better kendama as a just pure natty. I would wait for the ash slim tracker to come out, so BE patient. It will benefit you A LOT.
     
    Dec 7, 2016
  6. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    I totally agree with maple being better for mash ups. Maple with a cushion is my favorite.
     
    Dec 7, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs likes this.
  7. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Maple gets my vote!
     
    Dec 7, 2016
  8. J-Swish

    J-Swish Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Reno NV
    Ash all the way!
     
    Dec 9, 2016
  9. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    So I originally said that i prefer ash and at the time of my original post that was the case but I am changing my vote. After I started breaking in my maple ozora I have to say I don't think I'm ever going to buy an ozora that isn't japenese maple. This Kendama rocks.
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs likes this.
  10. RyanArthurWalker

    RyanArthurWalker Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Washington, DC
    I would go with maple
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs likes this.
  11. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Hmm I'm actually not sure if Ozora maples are made from a Japanese maple source... I would wager a guess they are Canadian maple, but I'll have to double check that. Japan does not have a large forestry industry, being an island state with a few hundred million people, they import a lot. OG Mugens are made from Canadian beechwood!
     
    Dec 21, 2016
  12. Kelsey Dunn

    Kelsey Dunn n00b

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    Location:
    Kentucky, USA
    I vote Ash!
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Jewbacca and Gabriel Hinrichs like this.
  13. Clayk27

    Clayk27 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    Maple but ash is awesome too
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs likes this.
  14. 7Cabbages

    7Cabbages Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2016
    Location:
    California City
    I've always heard many other people say this and for a while I thought that ash was the strongest kendama wood. I know now that it isn't from what people have told me, but I've never had an ash chip on me and I'm always playing over concrete.. Maybe I'm just lucky, but with the way I treat kendamas, I'm pretty confident in ash strength.
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs likes this.
  15. Claire Dama

    Claire Dama Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    I'd say maple, personally I'm not a fan of the way ash completes play (unless it's raw ash) and from over all experience maple is more durable. Plus if you want to mix and match you can throw a raw ash tama on it and it'll be prime.
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs likes this.
  16. James Sevilla

    James Sevilla Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2016
    Location:
    Dublin, CA (Bay Area)
    I prefer maple, because from experience, Ash chips VERY easily, and maple is like the best all around clacky and very playable wood.
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs and 7Cabbages like this.
  17. Kucdama

    Kucdama Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Jackson Hole, WY
    I've played a lot of maples and a only a few ashes. I love maple. I can see the appeal of the grippiness of ash, but the durability is unmatched for maple. Also, you can shred it with the proper break in. Maple all the way!
     
    Dec 21, 2016
    Gabriel Hinrichs likes this.
  18. Gabriel Hinrichs

    Gabriel Hinrichs n00b

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Location:
    Janesville, WI
    Thanks for the feedback! I think I'm gonna go with maple cause durability is a must have. My friend got an ash stodd mod and it seems durable but I'm just gonna be safe and go with maple. All my kens right now are pretty messed up so having a fresh durable slim that I can grind birds and handle stalls on is gonna be awesome.
     
    Dec 22, 2016
  19. AdrianEsteban

    AdrianEsteban Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Maple slim is the way to go. I also have an ash 2.0 I really like but I keep coming back to the slim every time.
     
    Dec 22, 2016
  20. charrrss

    charrrss n00b

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Ash 2.0 is what I am rockin. Def my favorite dama
     
    Dec 22, 2016
    Clayk27 likes this.