White Ash (Fraxinus spp.)

Description: The sapwood is light-colored to nearly white and the heartwood varies from greyish or light brown, to pale yellow streaked with brown. The wood is generally straight-grained with a coarse uniform texture. The degree and availability of light-colored sapwood, and other properties, will vary according to the growing regions.

Main Uses: Furniture, flooring, doors, architectural millwork and moulding, kitchen cabinets, paneling, tool handles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, skis, oars and turnings.

Physical Properties: Ash has very good overall strength properties relative to its weight. It has excellent shock resistance and is good for steam-bending.

Availability: Readily available.

Working Properties: Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and gluing, and can be stained to a very good finish. It dries fairly easily with minimal degrade, and there is little movement in performance.

Strength and Mechanical Properties: (inch-pound)

Source: American Hardwood Information Center, Species Guide