About the wood
Ash
Fraxinus americana
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
- 1320 lbf
- Density
- 42.0 lb/ft³
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- IUCN Red List
- Critically Endangered
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.