WOOD SPECIES:
Ash
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Fraxinus americana
OTHER COMMON NAMES:
White Ash, American White Ash, Biltmore Ash
TYPICAL USES:
Turning baseball bats and tool handles, flooring, millwork, plywoods and veneers, furniture and cabinetry.
SOURCES:
United States and Canada
AVG BENDING STRENGTH:
15,000 psi
SPECIFIC GRAVITY:
0.60
AVG WEIGHT:
43 lbs/cu.ft.
SAPWOOD COLOR:
Ash sapwood is virtually white in color.
HEARTWOOD COLOR:
Ash heartwood may vary from a pale yellow or cream color to a light, grayish brown.
GRAIN:
Straight, regular grain is typical of most ash species. Occasionally, curly or figured lumber may be found.
TEXTURE:
Medium to course texture.
LUSTER:
Above-average luster.
MOVEMENT:
Ash possesses superior dimensional stability when properly cured.
DURABILITY:
Ash heartwood is considered perishable with little to no resistance to decay. The sapwood is susceptible to fungus and/or powder post beetle infestation.
BLUNTING EFFECT:
Average blunting of cutting tools.
CUTTING RESISTANCE:
Little to no cutting resistance.
PLANING:
Easy to plane, leaving a nice clean surface.
TURNING:
Ash is used frequently in the turning of baseball bats, tool handles, etc.
BORING:
Bores easily.
GLUING:
Responds well to most gluing applications.
NAILING:
Above-average nail holding characteristics with little risk of splitting.
SCREWING:
Ash typically holds screws very well.
POLISHING:
Excellent polishing properties.
STAINING:
Responds extremely well to most staining and finishing applications.
STEAM BENDING:
The straight grain of Ash lumber lends itself well to most steam-bending applications.
