Fraxinus americana
White Ash is a ring porous hardwood that is heavy, fairly hard, and very tough. Ash features a light colored, nearly white sapwood; heartwood is typically tan or light brown. Ash is of the olive tree family. It grows throughout the eastern part of the United States, and represents about 3-5% of the total hardwood timber stand. White Ash grows across the entire Appalachian area. Lowland ash is generally faster growing, lighter in weight and softer textured. Timber growing at higher elevations grows more slowly and is thus heavier and harder. Ash has excellent bending and finishing qualities.
General Information
Uses |
Availability |
Price |
Furniture, paneling, flooring, fixtures, woodwork, bending stock, handles, sporting goods. |
Generally available in thicknesses from 4/4 through 12/4. |
Low to average. |
Relative Working Properties
Machining |
Resistance to splitting in nailing |
Resistance to splitting in screwing |
Gluing |
Excellent |
Good |
Excellent |
Good |
Physical Properties
Specific gravity (12% m.c.) |
Average shipping weight kilograms (kg) per cubic metre (m3) air dry |
Average volumetric shrinkage (oven dry % of green) |
Modulus of rupture (kilopascals) |
Modulus of elasticity (megapascals) |
Side hardness (newtons) |
0.6 |
594 |
13.3 |
106000 |
12000 |
5900 |