Wood species

Ash

Fraxinus americana · Oleaceae

The working hardwood of bats and tool handles, at oak-level hardness and a utility price. Emerald ash borer has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees and put White Ash on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered in 2017.

Janka hardness: 1320 lbf
Density: 42.0 lb/ft³
Shrinkage T / R: 7.8 / 4.9 %
Origin: Eastern North America
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

Shop Ash in stock (15)All live edge slabs

(Pre-Built) Ash Live Edge Tabletop #PB221 143" x 33" - 49" x 2.6" — overhead view — Oak City Customs

Pictured: (Pre-Built) Ash Live Edge Tabletop #PB221 143" x 33" - 49" x 2.6"

About Ash

White Ash heartwood is light to medium brown, with wide beige sapwood that often blends into it rather than drawing a hard line. The grain runs straight and regular with a medium to coarse texture close to oak, minus oak's big rays, so stained ash reads as oak to most eyes. It machines and sands cleanly and takes stain and finish well; a clear finish keeps it pale and lets the grain carry the look. Ash has excellent shock resistance, which is why it goes into bat and tool handles, and it suits dining tops, desks and benches indoors. Emerald ash borer has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across North America. Ours is kiln dried in Zebulon, NC.

Working & finishing

Produces good results with hand or machine tools and responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains and finishes well; the medium to coarse, oak-like texture shows under a clear finish and darkens under stain, and stained ash reads as oak. A clear oil or hardwax keeps it pale; a film finish suits a top that needs spill protection. It can smell moderately unpleasant while being worked.

Care

Wipe spills promptly and clean with a damp cloth, no harsh cleaners. Expect a little seasonal width movement across the top and keep it out of wet or outdoor service, since the heartwood is not decay resistant. Refresh a hardwax oil finish with a thin maintenance coat when the surface looks dry.

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