Ashwood trees produce smooth grained hardwood. They grow in the east coast of the continental US and in some parts of Canada.
It is one of the most durable hardwoods and has a beautiful straight grain and light brown hue. It’s an especially good choice for pieces and projects that would be seeing a lot of use, such as flooring, restaurant chairs and other furniture, and items that would benefit from the durability, such as baseball bats, oars, hockey sticks, and tool handles. It’s also used in cabinets, millwork, and moldings.
Types
All ashwood tress belong in the same genus – Fraxinus. For those looking to get into the woodworking industry, this information is important to remember because there are some trees that also have “ash” in their name, but aren’t really ash trees. One example is the Mountain Ash which grows in Australia and is actually a Eucalyptus tree. Another Mountain Ash variety is from Europe and is actually a member of the rose family.
There are dozens of ashwood trees in the US, and three of the most common are white ash, green ash, and black ash.
White ash has a light heartwood color. Compared to Black ash, it has wider spaced growth rings.
Green ash, also known as red ash, looks the same as white ash.
Black ash has a slightly darker color with growth rings that are closer to each other. It’s not really black. It looks more like medium brown. The tightly packed rings make for a unique look, which should be taken into consideration when making furniture or panels with a specific style in mind.
Properties, Advantages and Disadvantages
Workability – It has decent workability partly due to its ability to bend, which is not commonly found in hardwood. It’s easy to machine, glue, and polish. It absorbs stains well, which makes it a great choice for flooring, decks, and furniture.
Color
Unlike other tree families in which there’s a noticeable variation in color between heartwood and sapwood, the difference in Ashwood isn’t significant. Most of the varieties are quite light, with the exception of Black ash. The wood will darken a bit over time.
Grain
Ash wood typically has a straight grain, although some may have unique patterns due to the conditions that affected its growth, such as strain or pests.
Density and Durability
Ash wood has a density and grain that is similar to oak, which is one of the best choices in hardwood. The Janka hardness test can be used to determine the durability of wood, and according to ratings, ash wood is stronger than red oak, cherry, and walnut, but is a bit ‘softer’ compared to white oak and maple. It has a rating of around 1200, whereas oak is at 1290, which makes ash wood a solid alternative to oak. Note that this varies depending on the specie so if you’re looking for something that meets very specific hardness requirements, you’ll need to take a closer look.
Shock Resistance
Ash wood is also incredibly shock resistant, which is why it’s used in sports equipment. It can withstand impact without breaking.
Lightweight
One of the remarkable properties of ashwood is that despite its density and hardness, it’s relative lightweight compared to oak and hickory.
Please Share This Article 🙂
